Automatically trigger workflows when customers text specific keywords or phrases to your Australian business. Handle STOP requests for ACMA compliance, power loyalty programs, manage events, automate support—all through simple SMS commands your customers already know.
SMS keyword matching automatically detects when customers send specific words or phrases to your Australian mobile number, instantly triggering automated workflows. Instead of manually monitoring every incoming SMS for commands like "STOP", "HELP", or "BALANCE", DataFlows SMS detects these keywords in real-time and connects to Zapier to execute your custom automation—whether that's updating a database, sending a reply, or creating a support ticket.
Handle legally required opt-out commands instantly. STOP, UNSUBSCRIBE, CANCEL, OPT-OUT, and REMOVE are automatically processed to maintain ACMA compliance and avoid penalties.
Provide instant help and information through automated responses. Guide customers to resources, create tickets, or route to appropriate teams based on their SMS commands.
Create unique commands for your business. Loyalty programs (POINTS, REDEEM), events (REGISTER, TICKETS), competitions (WIN, ENTER), or any custom workflow you need.
DataFlows SMS detects keywords in real-time and triggers your Zapier workflows instantly. No polling delays, no manual checking—just automated responses the moment your keyword is detected.
A customer texts your Australian mobile number with a message containing your monitored keyword.
DataFlows SMS platform receives the message and instantly scans for your configured keywords. Matching is case-insensitive and word-based.
The Keyword Matched trigger fires your Zap via webhook (no polling delay). All message data is passed to Zapier for your workflow.
Zapier runs your custom workflow based on the keyword detected.
Within seconds, your customer receives an automated SMS response relevant to their keyword command.
See how Australian businesses across industries use keyword-triggered SMS automation to improve compliance, engage customers, reduce costs, and scale operations without additional staff.
Automatically handle opt-out requests (STOP, UNSUBSCRIBE) to maintain ACMA compliance and avoid penalties. Process requests instantly without manual intervention.
Let customers check points balance, redeem rewards, and access exclusive offers by texting simple keywords to your Australian business number.
Allow attendees to register for events, receive tickets, and check in using simple SMS keywords. Perfect for Australian festivals, conferences, and sporting events.
Provide instant support by letting customers text keywords like HELP, STATUS, TRACK to get automated responses and create support tickets for Australian businesses.
Run SMS competitions where customers enter by texting a keyword. Automatically validate entries, pick winners, and notify participants. Fully compliant with Australian competition laws.
Let Australian patients and clients manage appointments by texting keywords. Reduce no-shows, confirm bookings, and reschedule—all via automated SMS commands.
Allow Australian subscribers to manage their accounts via SMS commands. Handle upgrades, downgrades, pause requests, and payment issues through simple keyword triggers.
Native Australian mobile numbers (04XX XXX XXX) and dedicated short codes. Customers text local numbers they trust, not international or unfamiliar numbers.
Automatically handle STOP, UNSUBSCRIBE, and other opt-out keywords as required by Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) regulations. Avoid penalties and maintain trust.
No polling delays. The moment a keyword is detected, your Zapier workflow fires. Critical for time-sensitive use cases like STOP requests (legally must be processed "promptly") and customer support.
Pay only for SMS sent/received. No per-keyword charges, no per-trigger fees. Perfect for Australian small businesses with tight budgets but big ambitions.
Connect keywords to any app in the Zapier ecosystem: Google Sheets, Airtable, Shopify, Zendesk, Slack, HubSpot, Mailchimp, Salesforce, and thousands more. Build exactly the workflow your business needs.
Track which keywords are used most, when they're used, and by whom. Identify trends, optimise your keyword strategy, and measure ROI of SMS automation initiatives.
Fully compliant with Australian Privacy Act 1988. Customer data is encrypted in transit and at rest. No data shared with third parties. GDPR and SOC 2 certified.
Configure keyword triggers through Zapier's visual interface. No technical skills required. Australian business owners, marketers, and support teams can build automations without IT help.
SMS works on every mobile phone in Australia—smartphones, feature phones, old Nokia bricks. No app downloads, no internet required. 100% reach across all demographics.
Take your SMS keyword automation to the next level with these proven strategies from successful Australian businesses.
Create conversational flows where one keyword leads to another. Example: HELP → menu → BILLING → billing options → DISPUTE → create ticket.
Implementation: Use Zapier's "Update Contact" action to store conversation state, then reference it in subsequent triggers.
When customers send unrecognised text, analyse it and suggest relevant keywords. "Looking for help? Try: HELP for support, TRACK for orders, BILLING for payment questions."
Implementation: Use "New SMS Received" trigger + Zapier AI to analyse intent + Send SMS with suggestions.
Tailor automated responses based on customer data. VIP customers get priority routing, repeat customers get special offers, new customers get onboarding.
Implementation: Look up phone number in CRM when keyword triggers, then use Zapier Paths to route based on customer segment.
Same keyword, different action based on time. HELP during business hours creates live chat, after hours creates ticket for tomorrow.
Implementation: Add Zapier Filter checking current time (AEST/AEDT), then use Paths for different workflows.
Collect customer data over time through keyword interactions. WIN → ask name, REGISTER → ask email, BIRTHDAY → ask birthdate for future campaigns.
Implementation: Store partial customer profiles in Airtable/Google Sheets, update with each keyword interaction.
Create scavenger hunts, trivia games, or challenges using keywords. Each correct answer (keyword) unlocks the next clue. Great for events, launches, brand engagement.
Implementation: Track progress in Google Sheets, use Zapier Filters to verify correct keywords in sequence, send next clue via SMS.
STOP, HELP, CHECK BALANCE, REGISTERCHECK BALANCE not CHECKBALANCESTOPChoosing the right keywords and promoting them effectively is crucial for successful SMS automation. Follow these best practices from leading Australian SMS marketers.
Keyword matching is case-insensitive and matches exact words or phrases in incoming SMS messages. You can set up multiple keywords (STOP, HELP, INFO) and even multi-word phrases ('CHECK BALANCE'). The trigger fires instantly when DataFlows SMS detects your specified keyword anywhere in the message. For example, 'STOP' will match 'stop', 'STOP', or 'Stop sending me messages' because 'STOP' appears in the text.
Yes! You can create multiple Zaps with the same keyword trigger. Each Zap will run independently when the keyword is matched. This is useful for logging to different systems (e.g., one Zap logs to Google Sheets, another creates a CRM record, and a third sends a Slack notification—all triggered by the same 'STOP' keyword).
Absolutely. The Keyword Matched trigger is essential for ACMA compliance. Australian law requires businesses to provide a clear opt-out mechanism (typically 'STOP' or 'UNSUBSCRIBE'). With DataFlows SMS and Zapier, you can automatically process these requests within seconds, maintaining compliance and avoiding penalties. We recommend confirming the opt-out with a final SMS as per ACMA guidelines.
If an SMS contains multiple keywords you're monitoring (e.g., 'STOP HELP'), both triggers will fire, and each associated Zap will run. You can use Zapier Filters to handle priority (e.g., always process 'STOP' first, ignore other keywords). We recommend designing your keyword strategy to avoid conflicts—use distinct, unique keywords for different purposes.
The Keyword Matched trigger uses exact word matching, not partial matching. 'STOP' will match only the word 'STOP', not 'STOPPING' or 'UNSTOPPABLE'. For more complex matching (regex, partial matches, or multiple variations), we recommend using the 'New SMS Received' trigger followed by Zapier Formatter to extract and match patterns using custom logic.
Instant! DataFlows SMS uses webhooks (not polling), so the moment an SMS with your keyword arrives, Zapier is notified within 1-2 seconds. The entire workflow—from keyword detection to automated response—typically completes in under 5 seconds. This is crucial for time-sensitive use cases like STOP requests or customer support commands.
Yes! Every time the Keyword Matched trigger fires, you can log the event to Google Sheets, Airtable, or your analytics platform. Track metrics like: keyword used, customer phone number, timestamp, and message content. This helps you understand which commands customers use most and optimise your keyword strategy accordingly.
Use simple, memorable, single-word keywords in UPPERCASE: STOP, HELP, START, INFO, JOIN, WIN. Avoid: complex phrases, numbers (unless necessary), or ambiguous words. Always promote keywords clearly: 'Text STOP to 0400123456 to unsubscribe'. Test keywords with real users before launching. For loyalty programs, use intuitive commands: BALANCE, REWARDS, POINTS, REDEEM.
Absolutely! Each keyword trigger can have its own Zap with customised actions. For example: 'STOP' → Send unsubscribe confirmation. 'HELP' → Send help menu. 'BALANCE' → Look up and send loyalty points. You can use Zapier's 'Send SMS' action to reply automatically with contextual messages based on which keyword was detected.
You have two options: 1) Create separate Zaps for common typos ('STOP', 'STPO', 'SOTP'), or 2) Use the 'New SMS Received' trigger with Zapier Formatter to calculate string similarity (fuzzy matching) and catch typos. For critical keywords like 'STOP', we recommend monitoring common typos to ensure no opt-out requests are missed due to spelling errors.
| Feature | DataFlows SMS | Traditional SMS Gateway | Manual Monitoring |
|---|---|---|---|
| Response Time | <2 seconds (webhook) | 2-15 minutes (polling) | Hours to days |
| Setup Complexity | 5-10 minutes (no code) | Hours (coding required) | Immediate (but manual) |
| ACMA Compliance | Automatic (via Zapier) | Manual setup required | High risk of delay |
| Cost for 1,000 triggers/month | Only SMS costs | Platform + API fees | Staff time ($500+) |
| Zapier Integration | Native (6,000+ apps) | Limited or none | None |
| Scalability | Unlimited keywords/triggers | Limited by plan | Not scalable |
| 24/7 Operation | Yes (automated) | Yes (automated) | No (business hours only) |
Connect DataFlows SMS with Zapier and start handling STOP requests, loyalty programs, events, and customer support automatically. No coding required, live in minutes.