Text back missed calls automatically

When your team can't get to the phone, the missed-call follow-up automation texts the caller back automatically — usually within seconds — so the lead starts a conversation with you instead of dialing the next company on Google. It's a built-in workflow: open Automations → Workflows, find the card whose trigger is "When an inbound call is missed", and flip it on.

Before you start

• You need a phone number in Dispatch Bros receiving calls (buy a number) and an SMS-ready sender (SMS status).
• Your phone plan must include automated SMS — otherwise runs are skipped with a plan reason in the Runs tab.

Step 1 — Turn it on and write the message

1. Open Automations → Workflows and click Configure on the missed-call card.
2. Edit the Message Template — something short and human works best, for example: "Sorry we missed your call! This is {company_name} — reply here and we'll get right back to you." Placeholder chips under the box insert variables like {company_name} (all placeholders).
3. Under Send Timing, keep Send immediately — speed is the whole point of this automation.
4. Press Save Changes and flip the toggle. The card shows the Active badge when it's live.

Step 2 — Pick the sender number

In the editor's Sender Number panel choose:

• Use source default number — the reply comes from the number assigned to the matched job source. As the editor notes, "Messages will send from the number assigned to each job source. Configure in the Sender Numbers tab." (assign sender numbers)
• Use company primary number — one number for everything.
• Use specific number — pick any SMS-ready number from the list.

Best practice: reply from the same line the customer just called, so the text shows up in the phone thread they already recognize.

Step 3 — Decide what a reply does

Leave Stop on Reply on (its description: "Cancel if customer texts back"). When the caller texts back, any still-queued automation message for them is cancelled and the conversation lands in your Messages inbox for a human to answer.

What your customer sees

Within moments of hanging up, the caller gets a text from your business number. Replying opens a normal two-way conversation with your team — nothing about it looks automated on their end.

Troubleshooting

Open the Runs tab and read the Reason column:

• "Deferred (quiet hours)" — the call was missed inside your quiet-hours window; the text was rescheduled to the morning. If you want after-hours callers texted immediately, widen the Quiet Hours window in the editor.
• "Customer opted out" — this caller texted STOP before; they are never auto-texted.
• "Phone can't receive texts (landline)" — the caller's number is a landline; there is nothing to deliver to.
• "Sender number not ready" — the sending number hasn't finished SMS verification (fix it).
• "SMS limit reached" — your plan's SMS allowance is used up for the period.
• No run appears at all — confirm the card's toggle shows Active, not Draft, and that the call really went unanswered (answered calls never trigger it).