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Question

Sending SMS reminders from Excel using Zapier

  • July 22, 2025
  • 4 replies
  • 29 views
S
  • SOF
  • New
  • 2 replies

Hello,

 

            I am working on a Zap to send text reminders to participants in an online group.  I want to send it to the participants 24 hours before the online meeting.  I have an excel spreadsheet with the meeting date/time in one column and participant phone numbers in another column.  I have connected it with Delay by Zapier and SMS by Zapier, and while the test works it does not work in real life.  I have tried using Copilot to build the basic steps, but I feel that the issue may be with something niche like the excel formatting.  Any help would be greatly appreciated.

This post has been closed for comments. Please create a new post if you need help or have a question about this topic.

4 replies

DavidLGS
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  • DavidLGSZapier Solution Partner
  • Zapier Solution Partner
  • 208 replies
  • July 22, 2025

Care to share any screenshots?

 

What is your trigger? How do you get the phone number? How are you testing vs. how do you expect it to run live?

Zapier's my jam
Troy Tessalone
Zapier Orchestrator & Solution Partner
Forum|alt.badge.img+14
  • Troy TessaloneZapier Orchestrator & Solution Partner
  • Zapier Orchestrator & Solution Partner
  • 34068 replies
  • July 22, 2025

Hi ​@SOF 

You may want to try using Airtable instead of Excel.

In Airtable, you can configure logic such that records enter Views when Filter conditions are met.

e.g. Formula field calculates the time difference between NOW and the DateTime in “hours”.

Then you can configure a View Filter condition for hours < 24.

When a record enters a View that can trigger a Zap to run.

 

Airtable Views help: https://support.airtable.com/docs/getting-started-with-airtable-views

Airtable Zap app: https://zapier.com/apps/airtable/integrations#triggers-and-actions

 

⚡ Troy Tessalone - AutomationAce.com | Platinum Authorized Zapier Solution Partner | #1 Zapier Community Contributor
S
  • SOF
  • Author
  • New
  • 2 replies
  • July 23, 2025

Care to share any screenshots?

 

What is your trigger? How do you get the phone number? How are you testing vs. how do you expect it to run live?

Hi David,

 

          My trigger is an updated row in my excel spreadsheet.  The participants provide us their phone numbers and we put them in an excel spreadsheet.  When I run a test of the Zap, I get a text message.  However, when I put in a meeting date/time and my personal phone number in the excel spreadsheet, I do not get a text message.  I do know that SMS by Zapier does not work with T Mobile, but I have AT&T so I know that is not the issue.   Below are a few screenshots, hopefully these help.  I am considering using Twilio instead of SMS by Zapier, if you have any recommendations I am open to them.

f27c8b10acdfbc2fc174fbcb94ea0b57.png
 

5114f22a67b4b6f86c36604eaae99c93.png

This post has been edited by a moderator to remove personally identifiable information (PII). Please remember that this is a public forum and avoid sharing sensitive details.

S
  • SOF
  • Author
  • New
  • 2 replies
  • July 23, 2025

Hi ​@SOF 

You may want to try using Airtable instead of Excel.

In Airtable, you can configure logic such that records enter Views when Filter conditions are met.

e.g. Formula field calculates the time difference between NOW and the DateTime in “hours”.

Then you can configure a View Filter condition for hours < 24.

When a record enters a View that can trigger a Zap to run.

 

Airtable Views help: https://support.airtable.com/docs/getting-started-with-airtable-views

Airtable Zap app: https://zapier.com/apps/airtable/integrations#triggers-and-actions

 

Thanks for the advice, Troy!  I will check that out!  I am still new to Zapier, so this helps a lot!

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