Logistics & delivery · Rwanda

SMS for couriers and logistics firms in Rwanda

Couriers, moto delivery services and freight companies in Rwanda use SMS to tell customers when something is coming and to confirm it arrived. A clear dispatch message with a rider's number and a delivery code cuts failed deliveries and disputes over who received the parcel.

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MTN, Airtel Delivery reports From RWF 21 per SMS

TWENDEEXPTransactional

Twende Express: parcel {ref} is on its way. Rider Eric, 0788 000 000, arrives 11:00-12:00. Give code {code} on delivery. Pay RWF {amount} by MoMo {merchant}.

165 chars · 2 segments · GSM-7

Rwanda context

What makes logistics & delivery messaging different in Rwanda

Kigali streets carry codes such as KN, KG and KK, linked to Nyarugenge, Gasabo and Kicukiro districts, with house numbers. Asking customers to confirm a street code by link before dispatch saves the rider calls.
A large share of last-mile deliveries in Kigali go by motorcycle, so a message with the rider's name and phone number lets the customer guide them in the final metres.
Cross-border freight moves through Rwanda to and from the DRC, Uganda, Tanzania and Burundi. Truck drivers and clearing agents often carry foreign SIMs, which eSMS can also reach across 54 African countries.
Cash on delivery is common, but many recipients pay by MoMo on arrival, so the delivery SMS should state the amount due and the merchant code.

What to send

Messages logistics & delivery teams in Rwanda send

Dispatch with rider details

When the parcel leaves, send the rider's name, number and an estimated arrival window. Customers who know who is coming answer the phone, and the rider spends less time waiting at the gate.

Delivery code for proof of delivery

Send a short code that the customer gives the rider on arrival, and record it in your app. It settles disputes about who received a parcel without a signature.

Failed delivery and rescheduling

If nobody is home, send a link to choose a new slot or a pick-up point. A same-day message works better than a missed call.

Freight and clearance updates

Tell shippers when a container arrives at the dry port, when clearance is complete and when a truck leaves. Use templates with merge fields for consignment numbers.

Collection reminders

For parcels held at a branch, send a reminder after two days and a final notice before the parcel is returned to the sender, with the branch address, opening hours and the collection code.

Sample messages

Copy-ready templates for Rwanda

Character counts and segments are calculated with the same GSM-7 and Unicode rules used for billing. Replace the example brand and values with your own.

Out for delivery Transactional

Twende Express: parcel {ref} is on its way. Rider Eric, 0788 000 000, arrives 11:00-12:00. Give code {code} on delivery. Pay RWF {amount} by MoMo {merchant}.

165 chars · 2 segments · GSM-7

Missed delivery Transactional

Twende Express: we missed you at KG 9 Ave today. Choose a new slot or pick-up point: twende.rw/r/{ref}. Parcel held for 5 days.

129 chars · 1 segment · GSM-7

Colis disponible Transactional French

Twende Express: votre colis {ref} est disponible a notre agence de Kicukiro, lun-sam 8h-18h. Presentez ce code: {code}.

123 chars · 1 segment · GSM-7

Rules that apply

Compliance for logistics & delivery SMS in Rwanda

A practical summary with sources, not legal advice. Check the regulator's current text for edge cases.

Dispatch, delivery code and missed-delivery messages complete a transaction the customer agreed to, which falls within the Article 4 exclusions of the RURA regulation, so they can be sent outside 07:00 to 19:00 when a delivery runs late.
If you use delivery numbers to market your own courier services, that is a commercial communication: it needs consent, the source of the number and a free opt-out in two languages.
Recipients' names, numbers and addresses are personal data under Law No 058/2021. Share with riders only what they need, and register with the NCSA as a controller.
Keep logs of what was sent, when and to whom. RURA Article 20 asks service providers to keep logs that let them deal with complaints, and delivery reports provide that record.

Across Rwanda

Telecom regulator: Rwanda Utilities Regulatory Authority (RURA)
Data protection: Law No 058/2021 on the protection of personal data and privacy, National Cyber Security Authority (NCSA)
Languages: Kinyarwanda, English, French, Kiswahili
Payments: MTN MoMo, Airtel Money

RURA Regulation No 001/R/STD-CMR/RURA/018 governs unsolicited commercial communications. Messages must identify who sent them and state the source of the recipient's data.
Every commercial message needs a free opt-out (stop, end, cancel, unsubscribe or quit). Sending must stop within 24 hours of an opt-out, and the opt-out must be confirmed.
No commercial communications between 19:00 and 07:00 local time unless the recipient explicitly agreed.
Under Law No 058/2021, people can object to direct marketing, and data controllers and processors must register with the NCSA.

Sender ID registration in Rwanda

Send it

From your system to MTN and Airtel in one call

1Create an account and copy a test key (esms_test_...) to try the integration without spending credit.
2Request your sender ID for Rwanda. Until it is approved you can send from the eSMS default sender.
3Call the send endpoint from your app, or upload a CSV in the dashboard with merge fields like {{name}}. Delivery reports arrive by webhook.

Need one-time codes? eSMS Verify generates, sends and checks them in two calls. Full reference in the API docs.

curl -X POST https://sms.esmsafrica.io/api/messages/send \
  -H "Authorization: Bearer $ESMS_API_KEY" \
  -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
  -d '{
    "to": "+250788123456",
    "text": "Twende Express: parcel TX4471 is on its way. Rider Eric 0788000000. Delivery code 5821.",
    "sender_id": "TWENDEEXP"
  }'

Live pricing

SMS pricing in Rwanda

Per-SMS rates for one segment, updated live. Pay as you go with no monthly minimum; volume rates apply automatically by monthly spend.

Basic

RWF21

per SMS· USD 0.0142

Monthly spend USD 1 - USD 1,000

Business

RWF16

per SMS· USD 0.0108

Monthly spend USD 1,001 - USD 4,999

Enterprise

RWF10

per SMS· USD 0.0068

Monthly spend USD 5,000+

Estimate a campaign with the SMS cost calculator or compare all countries in the Africa SMS pricing index.

FAQ

Logistics & delivery SMS in Rwanda: common questions

Can a delivery SMS include the rider's phone number?

Yes. The rider's work number helps the customer guide them in, and it relates to a delivery the customer arranged. Use a company phone where you can, so riders' personal numbers are not shared. Keep the customer's own details off any message that goes to the rider.

How do we send different ETAs to hundreds of customers?

Use the bulk endpoint with per-recipient variables, for example {{name}}, a time window and a delivery code for each row. Your dispatch system can call it when a route is finalised, and delivery reports come back by webhook so you can see which customers were reached.

Can we reach drivers on Ugandan or Tanzanian SIMs?

Yes. eSMS Africa sends to numbers in 54 African countries from the same account and API, priced per destination. Format numbers in international form, for example +256 or +255, and check the destination price on the pricing page before you send at scale.