Requirements
Before installing the plugin, make sure your environment meets the following requirements:
Required: Shopify Basic plan or higher. You also need a valid RCSzilla account with an active API key.
Installation
Follow these steps to install the RCSzilla plugin on your Shopify store:
Download Shopify Plugin- 1 Visit the Shopify App Store and search for RCSzilla, or use the direct link on the Plugins page.
- 2 Click Add app and approve the requested permissions.
- 3 You will be redirected to the RCSzilla configuration screen inside your Shopify admin.
- 4 Paste your API key and click Connect.
- 5 Choose the order events (placed, fulfilled, cancelled) that should trigger notifications.
- 6 Save settings and place a test order to verify delivery.
Configuration
After installation, open the RCSzilla settings panel inside your store's admin. You will find the following sections:
Important: Always save your settings before navigating away, otherwise changes will be lost.
- 1Order notifications — choose which order statuses trigger an SMS or RCS message: order placed, payment confirmed, order shipped, delivered, cancelled, or refunded. Each status has its own toggle and message template.
- 2Abandoned cart reminders — enable automatic SMS reminders to customers who added items to their cart but did not check out. Set the delay (e.g. 30 minutes or 2 hours) and customise the message with a direct link back to the cart.
- 3New customer welcome — send a welcome SMS automatically when a customer creates a new account. Great for first-purchase incentives and brand introductions.
- 4Message templates — personalise each message using dynamic placeholders:
{{order_id}},{{customer_name}},{{order_total}},{{store_name}},{{tracking_url}}, and more. - 5Sender ID — set the sender name or number that appears in outgoing messages. Alphanumeric sender IDs (e.g. MyShop) require activation for some countries.
- 6Delivery window — restrict sending to business hours (e.g. 09:00–20:00) to avoid sending messages at night. Messages queued outside the window are sent at the next opening time.
- 7Admin alerts — receive an SMS on your own phone every time a new order is placed, so you're always informed even when away from your dashboard.
Finding your API Key
Your API key is available in the RCSzilla dashboard under Account → API Keys. Click Create new key, give it a descriptive label (e.g. Shopify Store) and copy the key shown. Treat it like a password — do not share it or commit it to version control.
You can create multiple API keys — one per store or integration. If a key is ever compromised, revoke it from the dashboard and generate a new one without affecting other integrations.
Testing the integration
Use the Send Test Message button in the plugin settings to verify that your API key is valid and messages are delivered correctly. Enter a real phone number you have access to (in international format, e.g. +40712345678) and click the button — you should receive the SMS within a few seconds.
A successful test confirms: your API key is valid, your server can reach RCSzilla's API over HTTPS, and the selected SMS channel is active and correctly configured.
For a full end-to-end test, place a real or test order in your store and verify that the order placed notification arrives. Then change the order status to Shipped in your admin and confirm a second SMS is received. This validates the entire webhook pipeline.
Troubleshooting
Enable Debug Log in the plugin settings to capture full request and response details. The log is written to your store's standard log directory and is invaluable for diagnosing delivery failures.
- 1API key invalid / authentication error — check for leading or trailing spaces when pasting the key. Try regenerating a new key in the RCSzilla dashboard and re-entering it. Make sure the key belongs to an active account with an active plan.
- 2SMS not sending after an order status change — confirm the relevant status is enabled in the plugin's Order Notifications tab and the plugin itself is set to Active. Check the debug log for any HTTP error responses from the API.
- 3Abandoned cart reminders not sending — verify the feature is enabled and the delay is configured. The check runs on a scheduled interval; make sure your store's cron (WP-Cron, OpenCart cron, etc.) is running correctly. Customers must be logged in when they add items to cart.
- 4Messages delivered but with wrong content — review your message templates and check that placeholders are spelled exactly as documented (e.g.
{{order_id}}, not{order_id}). Test with a real order to see the resolved values. - 5Plugin not appearing after upload — ensure the ZIP archive is not double-nested. The ZIP should contain the plugin folder at the top level, not a parent folder wrapping it.
- 6PHP errors on activation — verify your server meets the PHP version requirement. Check your store's error log for the exact error message and contact support if needed.
- 7Customers receiving duplicate messages — check that you have not installed the plugin on multiple environments (dev + production) sharing the same API key. Use separate API keys per environment.
If the issue persists, contact our support team via the contact form and include your debug log output and the RCSzilla account email address.
Changelog
- 11.0.0.1 — Current release. Improved webhook reliability, added delivery-window setting, abandoned cart reminder improvements, updated compatibility with the latest Shopify version.
- 2Previous version — Added multi-template support, sender ID customisation, and admin order alert SMS.
- 3Initial release — Core integration: API key authentication, order event hooks, SMS and RCS delivery.