How to Set Up a Manual SMS Action in Sparkforge Workflows

By Sparkforge Support Team ·Last reviewed May 3, 2026

A Manual SMS action pauses a workflow so a team member can write and send a personalized text. Configure it in the workflow builder, then complete pending sends from Conversations or the mobile app.

Manual SMS actions pause an automated workflow at a chosen step so a real person on your team writes and sends the text. Use them when a message needs human judgment, approval, or context that an automated send can’t cover.

When to Use a Manual SMS Action

Personal replies. A live team member responds to a high-value lead instead of a templated blast.
Approval gates. A manager reviews and authorizes the send before it goes out.
Verification steps. Confirm subscription, contact details, or policy acknowledgment before continuing the workflow.
Multi-team handoffs. Drop a checkpoint where another department can intervene before the next automated action runs.
Time-sensitive sends. Trigger an SMS only when staff is ready to handle the response.

Set Up a Manual SMS Action in Workflows

Open Automation → Workflows and edit (or create) the workflow.
Click the + between steps and pick Manual SMS from the action list.
Choose the user (or user group) responsible for completing the send.
Pre-populate the message body with merge fields if you want a starting draft — staff can edit before sending.
Save the action and publish the workflow.

Complete Pending Manual Actions

Desktop

Go to Conversations → Manual Actions. Pending sends appear in the queue with the contact, draft message, and source workflow.

Mobile App

Open the hamburger menu and tap Manual Actions.
Tap the blue Play button to open the next pending action.
For manual calls, the call pop-up appears and the outcome you select is logged in call reporting.

Campaigns (Deprecated)

Manual SMS actions also exist in legacy Campaigns and Triggers, but those builders are being retired. Build new automations in Workflows — it covers everything Campaigns and Triggers do, plus multi-channel branching.

FAQ

See the questions below for the most common Manual SMS issues.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where do users complete pending manual SMS actions?

On desktop, Conversations → Manual Actions. On mobile, open the hamburger menu and tap Manual Actions, then use the Play button to step through the queue.

Can I pre-fill the SMS body for the assigned user?

Yes. Add merge fields and template copy in the action setup. The assigned user sees the draft and can edit before sending.

What happens if the assigned user doesn’t complete the action?

The workflow stays paused at that step until the action is completed or canceled. Use a wait-and-branch step if you need a fallback path.

Should I still build manual SMS in Campaigns?

No. Campaigns and Triggers are being deprecated. Build all new manual SMS logic inside Workflows.

Can a manual SMS be assigned to a user group?

Yes. Assign to a group and any member can claim and complete the action from the queue.