How to Set Up and Use Text Messaging in Bravo

Last Updated: July 9, 2025

Bravo’s text messaging feature helps you stay connected with your customers quickly and easily—whether it’s a loan reminder, layaway update, birthday greeting, or promo message. You can send messages manually or automatically, customize with templates, and schedule texts in advance.

This guide covers everything you need to confidently set up and manage text messaging in your store.

Table of Contents

• Set Up Text Messaging in Bravo

• Customer Opt-In and Opt-Out

• Send a Text to a Customer

• Sending Notices

• Scheduled Mobile Events

• Customize Your Text Templates

• Customer Contact History

• Additional Info About Text Messaging

Set Up Text Messaging in Bravo

To allow employees to send text messages:

1. Go to System Configuration from the Dashboard

2. Expand the Store menu

3. Expand the Employee menu

4. Select the employee

5. Click the Security tab > Edit

6. Set SMS Text Message Integration to Allowed

💬 Want to start using Mobile Messenger? Contact Bravo Sales at 888-407-6287.

Customer Opt-In and Opt-Out

Opting In

When adding or editing a customer:

• Enter their mobile number in the Mobile field

• Leave the DNT (Do Not Text) box unchecked

If configured correctly, a chat bubble icon appears next to the DNT checkbox, indicating texting is enabled.

Opting Out

Customers can opt out by replying STOP to any text. This will automatically check the DNT box. You can also manually check it anytime.

Customers will not receive texts again until the DNT box is manually unchecked.

Send a Text to a Customer

To send a one-off message:

1. Open the customer’s profile

2. Click the chat bubble icon

3. Type your message and click Send

Management Areas

You can also send one-off messages from:

• Layaways

• Loans/Buys

• Repairs

• Customer Management

On the right-side menu click Send Mobile Message, compose your message, and choose to send now or schedule.

Texting Hours: Messages send immediately between 9:00 AM – 8:59 PM (local time).

Sending Notices

Loan Notices

1. Click Send Loan Notice on the task manager

2. Highlight one or more loans (use Shift/Ctrl for multi-select)

3. Click Send Mobile Notice in the right-side menu

4. Or click Send Mobile Notices for All to notify the full list

Layaway Notices

1. Click the Layaway Overdue task manager

2. Highlight one or more layaways

3. Click Send Mobile Notice in the right-side menu

4. Or click Send Mobile Notices for All

Scheduled Mobile Events

Use Schedule Mobile Event to send automated texts triggered by:

• Birthdays

• Store Anniversaries

• Courtesy Loan Reminders

• Layaway Reminders

• Past Due Notices

• Promotional Campaigns (e.g., Holiday or Seasonal Sales)

Create a Custom Event

1. Navigate to the Customers menu

2. Click Schedule Mobile Events

3. Click the green + button

4. Choose the event type

5. Enter name, date, and time

6. Choose Delivery Method: Auto, SMS, or MobilePawn

7. Choose Target Customers

8. Draft your message

Notes:

• Auto delivery: Sends via MobilePawn if available, then falls back to SMS

• Target Customers: Based on last transaction year

• Use variable placeholders for dynamic data (e.g., [Loan Amount])

• Keep final message within 160 characters

Customize Your Text Templates

To edit your text templates :

1. Go to System Configuration

2. Click the Configuration tab

3. Click Edit

4. Scroll to Text Messaging Config and expand the section

5. Click the pencil icon on any template to edit

 

Customer Contact History

All messages (manual, auto, notices) are stored in the customer’s Contact History.

Where to find it:

• Inside the customer’s profile

• In any management screen (Loans, Layaways, etc.)

• Click Customer View > Contact History

You can filter by employee or status. System-generated messages show the employee as System

Additional Info About Text Messaging

Message Limits & Billing

• Max: 12,000 messages per 4-hour window

• Limit: 160 characters per message

• Longer messages = split and billed as multiples

Example:
300-character message = 2 texts
To 25 customers = 50 total texts billed

Manage Usage:

• Narrow your audience

• Use AI to stay within character limits

• Prefer MobilePawn (no character limit, no SMS usage)

To allow longer messages:

• Go to System Configuration > Configuration tab

• Enable Allow Long Message Body

When Messages Can Be Sent

Per TCPA regulations:

• No texts before 9:00 AM or after 8:59 PM (local store time)

• Bravo will block off-hours texts

• Avoid scheduling events at exactly 8:59 PM

Invalid Numbers & Cleanup

Bravo will queue texts for any mobile number—even invalid ones like:

• Placeholder numbers (e.g., 111-111-1111)

• Duplicate numbers

• Unsupported international numbers