Workflows: Twilio

The Twilio workflow allows you to integrate your Clappia apps with your own Twilio account. This lets you trigger Twilio actions directly from Clappia workflows using your existing Twilio subscription.

This step is useful when you want to manage messaging or communication through Twilio while controlling usage and billing directly from your Twilio account.

‍

Configuring Twilio Workflow Step

1. Open your app, go to Design App > Workflows.
2. Choose the workflow where you want to add Twilio:
   
   • New Submission Flow - runs when a new submission is created.
   • Edit Submission Flow - runs when an existing submission is edited.
   • Review Submission Flow - runs when a submission’s status changes.
3. Click Add Step and select Twilio from the list of available workflow steps or add it after an existing workflow step.

Once added, select Twilio to configure it using the right-hand panel.

Step Name

You can provide a name for this workflow step.

By default, it will be named Twilio, but you can rename it for easier identification (for example, Send message via Twilio).

‍

Account SID

The Account SID identifies your Twilio account.

To find it:

1. Log in to your Twilio account at https://www.twilio.com/console.
2. On the main dashboard, locate the Account SID under your account information.
3. The Account SID always starts with AC.
4. Copy this value and paste it into the Account SID field in Clappia.

‍

API Key SID and API Key Secret

These credentials allow Clappia to securely authenticate with your Twilio account.

To generate them:

1. In the Twilio Console, open the account menu and go to API Keys & Tokens.
2. Create a new API Key if you do not already have one.
3. After creating the key, copy the API Key SID (this usually starts with SK) and the API Key Secret shown at the time of creation.

Important Note:

• The API Key Secret is shown only once. If you lose it, you must create a new API key.
• Keep this value secure and do not share it publicly.

Enter both values into the API Key SID and API Key Secret fields in Clappia.

‍

Authenticate with Twilio

After entering the Account SID, API Key SID, and API Key Secret, click Authenticate with Twilio.

This verifies the credentials with Twilio.
Authentication must succeed before the workflow step can be saved and executed.

Once you click Authenticate with Twilio and the authentication is successful:

• A confirmation message Connected to Twilio is displayed.
• The button label changes to Re-authenticate with Twilio.

You can use Re-authenticate with Twilio if you later update your Twilio credentials or need to reconnect the account.

After successful authentication, additional configuration options become available in the Twilio workflow step.

Service Type

After authentication, you will see a new required field called Service Type.

From the Service Type dropdown, select how you want to send messages using Twilio.
The available options are:

• SMS
• WhatsApp

Depending on the service type you select, you get additional options to configure.

Service Type: SMS

When Service Type is set to SMS, additional message configuration options are displayed.

Message Type

Select the type of SMS you want to send:

• Direct Message
• Template Message

Each message type shows a different set of options.

SMS - Direct Message

When Message Type is set to Direct Message, the following fields are available:

SMS Sender Phone Number

Select the Twilio phone number that will be used to send the SMS.
This list is populated from the phone numbers available in your connected Twilio account.

Receiver Number

Specify the phone number to which the SMS should be sent.

You can insert values from your app submissions by typing @ and selecting a field variable.

For example, if your app has a phone number field, you can insert that field’s variable here so the message is sent to the number provided in the submission.

Message Body

Enter the text content of the SMS.

This field also supports dynamic values.
You can type @ to insert variables from your app, such as names, submission IDs, or values from text or multiline text fields.

‍

SMS – Template Message

When Message Type is set to Template Message, the configuration changes to support Twilio message templates.

SMS Sender Phone Number

Select the Twilio phone number that will be used to send the message.

Receiver Number

Specify the recipient’s phone number.
You can insert a field variable by typing @ and selecting the appropriate app field.

Template

Select a message template created in your Twilio account.
Only templates available for SMS in your Twilio account are shown here.

Template Parameters

If the selected template contains placeholders, corresponding input fields are shown.
You can map these placeholders to app field variables by typing @ and selecting the required fields.

Media (if applicable in the template)

If the selected template includes media support, you will see media configuration options:

• Static - you can upload a file directly from your system.
• Dynamic - select a file from a Camera, Images and Files block in your app.

For SMS, media attachments are attached with a link.

‍

Service Type: WhatsApp

When Service Type is set to WhatsApp, the message type is fixed to Template Message. Direct messages are not available for WhatsApp.

The following fields are displayed:

WhatsApp Sender Phone Number

Select the WhatsApp-enabled sender number from your Twilio account.

WhatsApp Receiver Number

Specify the recipient’s WhatsApp number.
You can insert a dynamic value by typing @ and selecting a phone number field from your app.

Template

Select a WhatsApp message template configured in your Twilio account.

Only approved WhatsApp templates are shown.

Template Parameters

If the selected template contains placeholders, input fields are displayed for each placeholder.
You can map these to app fields by typing @ and selecting the relevant variables.

Media (if applicable in the template)

If the selected WhatsApp template supports media, you can attach files.

For WhatsApp templates, supported media types include:

• Images
• Videos
• PDF documents

Media can be provided in two ways:

• Static - upload the file directly.
• Dynamic - select a file from a Camera, Images and Files block in the app.

‍

Parent Step

The Parent Step determines when this Twilio step runs in the workflow.

• If the parent step is Start, the Twilio step runs immediately when the workflow is triggered.
• If another workflow step is selected, the Twilio step runs only after that step completes.

This allows you to control the exact sequence in which actions are executed.

‍

Enable This Step

This toggle controls whether the Twilio step is active.

• Enabled: the step runs as part of the workflow.
• Disabled: the step is disabled (and all workflow nodes below it), even if it is connected in the workflow.

‍

Using Twilio vs built-in SMS and WhatsApp nodes

Clappia also provides built-in SMS and WhatsApp workflow nodes, which are subject to Clappia-managed limits and add-ons.

The Twilio integration is an alternative that allows you to:

• use your own Twilio account
• manage usage and billing directly through Twilio
• integrate Twilio into workflows without relying on Clappia notification quotas

Both options can be used independently based on your requirements.

Notes

• Valid Twilio credentials are required for the workflow to run successfully.
• If authentication fails, the workflow step will not execute.
• Any changes made to the Twilio node configuration apply only after the workflow is saved.