Introducing Store and Forward OWH – Automated SMS Queuing for Complete TRAI Compliance

We’re excited to announce a powerful new feature in SMPP Center v7.6 that helps you maintain 100% compliance with TRAI’s time-of-day restrictions while ensuring your promotional campaigns reach customers during optimal hours: Store and Forward OWH (Outside Working Hours).

🎯 What is Store and Forward OWH?

Store and Forward OWH is an intelligent SMS queuing system that automatically holds promotional and service-explicit SMS messages sent outside permitted working hours and delivers them the next business day during allowed hours.

Instead of your messages being rejected or failing due to timing restrictions, they’re safely queued and automatically sent when regulations permit – ensuring maximum delivery success and complete TRAI compliance.

💡 Why You Need This Feature

1. Maintain TRAI Compliance Effortlessly

No more worrying about sending promotional SMS during restricted hours (9 PM – 9 AM). The system automatically handles compliance for you.

2. Prevent Message Delivery Failures

Messages sent outside working hours won’t fail – they’ll be intelligently queued and delivered at the right time.

3. Improve Campaign Success Rates

Your carefully crafted campaigns reach customers during peak engagement hours, not during restricted periods.

4. Save Time and Resources

No need to manually schedule campaigns around working hours – the system does it automatically.

5. Better Customer Experience

Customers receive your messages during appropriate hours, improving engagement and reducing complaints.

👥 How Users Can Enable Store and Forward OWH

Step 1: Navigate to Your Profile

Log in to your SMPP Center user panel
Click on your Profile from the top navigation menu

Step 2: Access SMS Attributes

Scroll to the SMS Attributes section on your profile page
Look for the “Store and Forward OWH” toggle with the information icon

Step 3: Enable the Feature

Click the toggle switch to turn it ON (green with checkmark)
The setting is saved automatically in real-time via AJAX
You’ll see a success notification confirming the update
No page reload required – instant response!

Step 4: Disable When Needed

Simply click the toggle again to turn it OFF (red)
The change takes effect immediately
A confirmation message appears instantly

Visual Guide for Users:

✅ Toggle ON (Green): Store and Forward OWH is enabled – promotional SMS sent outside working hours will be automatically queued and delivered during permitted hours
❌ Toggle OFF (Red): Store and Forward OWH is disabled – SMS will be sent immediately (subject to TRAI restrictions)

🛡️ How Admins Can Manage Store and Forward OWH for Users

Administrators have full control over this feature and can enable or disable it for individual users as part of their account configuration.

Step 1: Access User Management

Log in to the SMPP Center admin panel
Navigate to Users → Manage Users

Step 2: Edit User Settings

Click the Edit icon/button for the user you want to manage
Navigate to the SMS tab (usually second tab)

Step 3: Configure Store and Forward OWH

Scroll down to find the “Store and Forward OWH” toggle
Click to enable (green) or disable (red) the feature for that specific user
Click Save or Update to apply changes

Step 4: Verify the Change

The setting is stored in the user’s userFlags JSON attribute
The user will immediately see the updated toggle state in their profile
All changes are logged with username, timestamp, and IP address for complete audit trail

Admin Best Practices:

✅ Enable for bulk senders: Users sending large promotional campaigns benefit most from automated queuing
✅ Enable for time-zone challenges: Especially useful for users operating across different time zones
✅ Enable for new users: Helps prevent compliance issues and delivery failures from day one
✅ Enable for high-volume campaigns: Users running continuous promotional campaigns need this protection
✅ Monitor activity logs: Check logs to track when users or admins change this setting

🔧 How Store and Forward OWH Works Behind the Scenes

1. Detection Phase

When you send a promotional or service-explicit SMS, the system checks:

Current time against your configured working hours
Message type (promotional/service-explicit vs. transactional)
Whether Store and Forward OWH is enabled for your account

2. Queuing Phase

If the message is sent outside working hours AND the feature is enabled:

The message is securely stored in the queue
All message details (content, recipients, sender ID, template) are preserved
The system calculates the next permitted delivery time

3. Delivery Phase

When working hours begin:

Queued messages are automatically retrieved
Messages are sent in the order they were queued (FIFO – First In, First Out)
Delivery reports are generated as usual
You receive confirmation just like regular SMS delivery

4. Logging Phase

Throughout the process:

All actions are comprehensively logged
Audit trail includes: queueing time, delivery time, user details, IP address
Logs available for compliance reporting and troubleshooting

📊 Technical Specifications

Storage Method

Setting stored in database table
Key name: storeAndForwardOwh (value: 0 or 1)
Backward compatible with existing user attribute system

Security Features

Rate Limiting: Maximum 10 toggle updates per 5 minutes per user (prevents abuse)
Session Validation: All changes verified against active user session
Activity Logging: Every change logged with full context (username, IP, timestamp, old value, new value)
Error Handling: Toggle automatically reverts if save fails
CSRF Protection: All AJAX requests protected with secure tokens

User Experience

Real-time Updates: No page reload required – instant AJAX save
Visual Feedback: SweetAlert notifications for success/error states
State Management: Toggle disabled during save to prevent double-clicks
Responsive Design: Works perfectly on desktop, tablet, and mobile devices
Bootstrap Toggle: Professional on/off switch with smooth animations

Performance Optimization

Lightweight AJAX: Minimal data transfer for fast response
Cached State: Current state loaded from database on page load
No Polling: Event-driven architecture (no background polling)
Database Efficiency: Single query to update, uses existing table structure

✅ Benefits Summary

For Users:

✅ Never worry about TRAI compliance again
✅ Zero message failures due to timing restrictions
✅ Improved campaign success rates
✅ Better customer engagement (messages delivered at optimal times)
✅ Peace of mind with automated queuing
✅ Simple one-click enable/disable control
✅ Real-time status updates with instant feedback

For Administrators:

✅ Centralized control over user compliance
✅ Reduce support tickets related to timing issues
✅ Complete audit trail for regulatory compliance
✅ Easy bulk management via Edit User interface
✅ Detailed activity logs for monitoring
✅ Helps users achieve better delivery rates
✅ Comprehensive security with rate limiting and logging

For Your Business:

✅ Complete TRAI compliance without manual intervention
✅ Higher SMS delivery success rates
✅ Better ROI on promotional campaigns
✅ Reduced operational overhead
✅ Improved customer satisfaction
✅ Competitive advantage with intelligent automation

🎓 Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Q1: Does this feature apply to all SMS types?

A: No. Store and Forward OWH only applies to promotional and service-explicit SMS messages. Transactional messages are sent immediately regardless of time, as they’re exempt from TRAI time restrictions.

Q2: What are the permitted working hours?

A: The permitted hours are defined in your account configuration (typically 9 AM – 9 PM as per TRAI guidelines). Check your Profile → SMS Attributes → “Posting Hours” to see your specific working hours.

Q3: Can I see which messages are queued?

A: Yes. Queued messages appear in your SMS logs with a “Queued” status. Once delivered, the status updates to “Sent” or “Delivered” with the actual delivery timestamp.

Q4: What happens if I disable the feature while messages are queued?

A: Queued messages will still be delivered during the next working hours window. Disabling the feature only affects new messages sent after the toggle is turned off.

Q5: Is there any additional cost for using this feature?

A: No. Store and Forward OWH is included in SMPP Center v7.6 at no additional cost. SMS credits are deducted only when messages are actually delivered, not when they’re queued.

Q6: Can admins force this feature ON for all users?

A: Yes. Admins can enable Store and Forward OWH for individual users via Edit User → SMS tab. Users can then disable it from their profile if they prefer.

Q7: How long are messages stored in the queue?

A: Messages are stored until the next permitted working hours window begins. If queued on Friday at 10 PM, they’ll be delivered on the next business day (typically Monday) at 9 AM.

Q8: Can I get reports on queued vs. delivered messages?

A: Yes. Your SMS delivery reports and message logs will show the queuing timestamp and the actual delivery timestamp, along with the status transition.

Q9: What if my working hours are different from standard TRAI hours?

A: The system uses YOUR configured working hours (visible in Profile → SMS Attributes). Contact your administrator if you need to adjust your permitted working hours.

🚀 Getting Started Today

For Users:

Log in to your SMPP Center panel
Go to Profile
Find SMS Attributes section
Toggle Store and Forward OWH to ON
Start sending worry-free promotional campaigns!

For Administrators:

Log in to admin panel
Go to Users → Manage Users
Edit any user → SMS tab
Enable Store and Forward OWH for users who need it
Monitor activity logs for compliance tracking

📞 Need Help?

If you have questions about Store and Forward OWH or need assistance configuring this feature:

📧 Email Support: support@smppcenter.com
💬 Live Chat: WhatsApp
🎫 Support Tickets: Create a ticket

🎉 Upgrade to SMPP Center v7.6 Today!

Store and Forward OWH is just one of many powerful features in SMPP Center v7.6. Other highlights include:

✅ Enhanced Security Monitoring System with real-time IP blocking
✅ Bulk Sender ID Creation (add up to 5 sender IDs at once)
✅ Advanced Export Enhancements for large datasets
✅ Comprehensive VAPT security fixes
✅ jQuery 3.7.1 upgrade with latest security patches
✅ Multi-tier rate limiting across all forms
✅ And much more!

Start using Store and Forward OWH today and experience effortless TRAI compliance with zero delivery failures!

About SMPP Center: SMPP Center is a leading enterprise SMPP Software platform trusted by thousands of businesses worldwide for reliable, compliant, and scalable bulk SMS messaging solutions.

Recent Articles:

SMPPCenter v7.6: Enhanced Security & Vulnerability Fixes

🎉 Introducing Recurring SMS: Automate Your Messaging Campaigns Like Never Before

Introducing User Automation System: Transform Your Customer Engagement with Smart Email Campaigns

SMPP Center Journal