Smart COD Control v1.3.1 supports Vonage (formerly Nexmo) as an SMS provider for OTP verification. Vonage offers competitive rates across South Asia, the Middle East, and Southeast Asia — regions where Cash on Delivery is most popular. This guide walks you through the full setup.

What You Will Need

• A Vonage API account (free trial available)
• Smart COD Control v1.3.1 or newer installed and active

Step 1: Create a Vonage Account

1. Go to vonage.com and click Sign Up Free.
2. Verify your email. Vonage provides free trial credit so you can test SMS immediately.
3. Once logged in, go to the Vonage API Dashboard.

Step 2: Get Your API Credentials

1. On the dashboard, find the API key and API secret at the top.
2. Copy both values — you will paste them into Smart COD Control.

Tip: Never share your API secret publicly. Treat it like a password.

Step 3: Set Your Sender Name

With Vonage you can use an alphanumeric sender ID (e.g., MyStore) in most countries. Go to Account → API settings in the Vonage dashboard to configure your default sender name. Note that some countries (like India) require a registered DLT sender ID — check Vonage documentation for your region.

Step 4: Configure Smart COD Control

1. Go to WooCommerce → Smart COD Control → OTP Settings.
2. Toggle Enable OTP Verification to ON.
3. Under SMS Provider, select Vonage.
4. Enter your API Key and API Secret.
5. Set the From Name (your brand name or phone number).
6. Click Save Settings.

Step 5: Customise the OTP Message

Use the {otp} placeholder in your message. Keep it under 160 characters. Example:

Your MyStore COD verification code is {otp}. Do not share this code.

Step 6: Test It

1. Open an incognito window and go through checkout.
2. Select Cash on Delivery.
3. Enter your own phone number and click Send Code.
4. You should receive an SMS from Vonage within seconds.
5. Enter the code and complete the order.

Vonage vs Twilio — Which Should You Choose?

Feature	Vonage	Twilio
Best for	Asia, Middle East	Global / US-heavy
Pricing	Competitive in APAC	Standard global rates
Sender ID	Alphanumeric supported	Numeric only in many regions
Free trial	Yes	Yes

Both providers work seamlessly with Smart COD Control. Choose based on your geography and pricing preference — you can switch at any time from the plugin settings without losing data.

Smart COD Control supports two SMS providers for OTP verification: Twilio and Vonage. This guide walks you through setting up Twilio — the most widely used SMS API worldwide — step by step.

What You Will Need

• A Twilio account (free trial is fine for testing)
• Smart COD Control v1.3.1 or newer installed and active
• A verified Twilio phone number

Step 1: Create a Twilio Account

1. Go to twilio.com and sign up for a free account.
2. Verify your email address and phone number during signup.
3. Once logged in, you will land on the Twilio Console Dashboard.

Step 2: Get Your API Credentials

1. Find the Account Info section on the dashboard.
2. Copy your Account SID — it starts with AC.
3. Copy your Auth Token — click the eye icon to reveal it.

Step 3: Get a Twilio Phone Number

1. Go to Phone Numbers → Manage → Buy a Number.
2. Filter by your country and ensure the number has SMS capability.
3. Click Buy (free trial accounts get one number at no charge).
4. Copy the number in E.164 format, e.g. +14155552671.

Note: On a free trial, Twilio can only send SMS to verified numbers. Upgrade to a paid account to send to any number.

Step 4: Configure Smart COD Control

1. Go to WooCommerce → Smart COD Control → OTP Settings.
2. Toggle Enable OTP Verification to ON.
3. Under SMS Provider, select Twilio.
4. Paste your Account SID and Auth Token.
5. Enter your Twilio phone number in the From Number field (include the + and country code).
6. Click Save Settings.

Step 5: Customise the OTP Message

Use the placeholder {otp} where you want the code to appear. Example:

Your verification code for your COD order at MyStore is {otp}. Valid for 10 minutes.

Step 6: Test It

1. Open your store in an incognito window and add a product to cart.
2. At checkout, select Cash on Delivery.
3. Enter a verified phone number, click Send Code, and enter the received OTP.
4. Complete the order to confirm everything works.

Troubleshooting

• SMS not arriving — Double-check your Account SID, Auth Token, and From Number. Trial accounts can only send to verified numbers.
• Invalid credentials error — Re-copy credentials from the console and watch for accidental whitespace.
• Country not supported — Some countries require a local Twilio number. Check Twilio coverage docs.

Once connected, customers receive OTP codes within seconds and your COD cancellation rate will start dropping immediately.