Getting Started with Shika Connect SMS Gateway

Introduction to Shika Connect

Think of Shika Connect as your business's personal Post Office inside your dashboard. It’s a tool that allows your website or app to send text messages (SMS) to your customers automatically—like sending them a login code or a "Happy Birthday" greeting.

1. Your SMS "Stamps" (Credits)

To send a message, you need Credits.

• Starting Out: We’ve already given you 100 free credits to test things out.
• Checking Balance: Your current balance is always visible at the top of the SMS page.
• Buying More: If you run low, go to "Buy Credits." You buy them in packs of 100. It costs KES 80 for 100 messages (which is just 80 cents per text). It will generate an invoice you can pay instantly via M-Pesa or card.

2. Practice vs. Real Life (Sandbox vs. Production)

• Sandbox (The Practice Field): This is where you start. You can only send messages to your own phone number. This lets you test everything for free without bothering customers.
• Production (The Real World): Once your domain is verified, you can send messages to anyone!

Summary of the Sending Process:

1. Get a Key: Generate your digital key in the "API Keys" section.
2. Pick a Mode: Start with Sandbox to test sending a code to yourself for free.
3. Go Live: Verify your Domain, buy some Credits, and start sending real messages to your customers!