Introduction
The automated MOT reminder service is designed to efficiently generate MOT reminders for your vehicles, utilizing data sourced from the DVSA to maintain accurate MOT due dates. This article outlines the configuration settings available upon activation of this service. If you would like this configured, please do not hesitate to contact us at 0117 9 428678 or utilize the live chat feature within VGM.
Accessing the Automated MOT Reminder Settings
To access the settings for the automated MOT reminder service within VGM, navigate to Config > Settings > Messaging. Here you can see which settings you have turned on. If you would like to adjust these settings please contact us at 0117 9 428678 or send us a message via the live chat in VGM
Setting: Enable Automated DVSA Service
The primary checkbox, labelled 'Enable automated DVSA service', activates the service for your branch. Once enabled, the service will undertake the following actions:
Identify future MOT reminders where the due date provided by the DVSA service does not align with the existing due date. If the DVSA service does not return an MOT due date, your existing date will be retained.
Verify that any date disparities are not substantial; this may occur if a reminder has already been scheduled for the subsequent year, and the DVSA service data is not yet updated.
Rectify discrepancies by updating queued MOT reminders to reflect the DVSA MOT due date, taking into account your message template settings.
Log the date and time of message updates to maintain transparency regarding any modifications made by the service.
Enabling this setting also permits the service to automatically generate MOT reminders for new customers and vehicles, contingent upon the settings detailed below:
Setting: Create SMS Reminders Automatically
When activated, this feature instructs the MOT Reminders service to generate SMS MOT reminders utilizing the template selected from the dropdown menu. Custom templates can be configured under Messaging > Message Templates, utilizing the 'MOT Reminder' message type and 'SMS' send mode.
Setting: Create Email Reminders Automatically
Upon activation, this setting directs the MOT Reminders service to produce Email MOT reminders utilizing the designated template. Custom templates can be configured within Messaging > Message Templates, utilizing the 'MOT Reminder' message type and 'Email' send mode.
Setting: Create Printer Reminders Automatically
Enabling this option instructs the MOT Reminders service to generate Printer MOT reminders using the designated template. Users must create a custom template, as no default option is available. Customization can be performed within Messaging > Message Templates, utilizing the 'MOT Reminder' message type and 'Printer' send mode.
The aforementioned reminders will adhere to customers' messaging preferences, emphasizing the importance of obtaining customer communication consent to ensure deliverability.
Customer's Last Activity Threshold to Send MOT Reminders
By default, this option is set to 2 years, ensuring that reminders are only generated for customers who have engaged with your services within the preceding two years. Last activity is determined by the most recent booking, jobsheet, sales invoice, credit, or quotation associated with a customer record.
Automated Creation of MOT Reminders
The service operates on a 24-hour cycle and executes the following steps:
Identifies vehicles lacking future MOT reminders and whose last activity falls within the configured threshold (default: 2 years).
Generates a distinct list of these vehicles based on their registration to prevent duplicate messages.
Retrieves the MOT due date for each vehicle from the DVSA.
Constructs message templates for each vehicle according to the configured settings.
Creates MOT reminders based on the DVSA MOT due date, factoring in the message send date offset configured within the message template.