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Devices ​

Introduction ​

Devices are Android phones running the Paymently Payment Automation App. They forward SMS transaction messages from your mobile financial services (MFS) accounts (e.g., bKash, Nagad, Rocket) to your server for automatic payment verification.

Access the Devices module from the sidebar under MFS Automation to view connected devices, manage balance verification, and connect new devices.

Why devices matter ​

Connected devices are essential for automatic payment verification:

  • Collect SMS data automatically — No manual entry required for most transactions
  • Keep payment verification seamless — Customers get instant confirmation
  • Enable balance and smart verification — Detect fraudulent SMS automatically
  • Allow multiple wallets — Run different MFS accounts across multiple devices
  • Reduce manual workload — Eliminate the need to manually check every transaction

How devices affect non-API gateways ​

For Personal, Agent, and Merchant (non-API) gateways, customers send money directly to your MFS account and then submit their transaction ID during checkout.

When a device is connected ​

  • The Paymently app reads SMS messages from the device
  • SMS data is automatically sent to your server
  • System verifies the customer's transaction ID against SMS Data
  • Payment is automatically marked as Completed if match found

When no device is connected ​

The verification process depends on your gateway's Pending Payment setting:

Pending Payment disabled:

  • Customer sees error: "Transaction not found, please try again later."
  • No payment record is created
  • Admin can manually add SMS data later
  • Customer can then retry verification with the same transaction ID

Pending Payment enabled:

  • Payment is created with Pending status
  • Customer is redirected to Pending page (no error shown)
  • Admin can approve manually after verifying the transaction

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Always connect at least one device for smooth, automatic payment verification. Enable Pending Payment as a fallback for when devices go offline temporarily.

Available actions ​

For each connected device:

  • Balance Verification — Manage balance verification settings for this device
  • Delete — Remove the device from your account

WARNING

Deleting a device will stop automatic SMS forwarding. All payments requiring verification through that device will fail until you reconnect it or enable Pending Payment.

Connect Android App ​

Click Connect Android App to link a new Android device.

A modal appears with two sections: Download Android App and Connect Android App.

Step 1: Download the App ​

Click Download Android App to download the Paymently app to your Android phone.

What the app does:

  • Reads SMS from your bKash/Nagad/Rocket SIM card
  • Automatically sends transaction data to your dashboard
  • Enables instant payment verification
  • Shows verified transactions in SMS Data section

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Install the app before moving to Step 2. Make sure you grant all SMS permissions when the app asks.

Step 2: Connect Your Device ​

Two ways to connect:

This is the fastest method:

  1. Open the Paymently app on your phone
  2. Tap "Or log in with QR code" at the bottom
  3. Point your camera at the QR code shown in the dashboard modal
  4. Done! Your device connects automatically

Option B: Manual Login ​

If QR code doesn't work:

  1. Open the Paymently app
  2. Enter your Base URL (e.g., https://yoursite.paymently.io)
  3. Enter your admin Email
  4. Enter your admin Password
  5. Tap Login

WARNING

Important: The phone must have the MFS SIM card (bKash/Nagad/Rocket) inserted. The app reads SMS directly from that SIM.

What Happens After Connection ​

Once connected, you'll see your device in the Devices list showing:

  • Device name (e.g., Samsung)
  • Status badge: CONNECTED (blue)
  • All device details (model, Android version, app version)

The app now automatically:

  • ✓ Reads incoming transaction SMS
  • ✓ Sends data to your dashboard
  • ✓ Verifies customer payments instantly

Troubleshooting Connection ​

QR code not scanning?

  • Ensure good lighting
  • Hold phone steady
  • Try manual login instead

App closes automatically?

  • Go to phone Settings → Apps → Paymently
  • Disable battery optimization
  • Allow background activity

SMS not being read?

  • Grant all SMS permissions
  • Ensure correct SIM is inserted
  • Check that SIM is active

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Best practice: After connecting, make a small test transaction to verify everything works. Check if the SMS appears in your SMS Data section within a few seconds.

Balance Verification ​

Balance Verification ensures SMS data is authentic by comparing expected account balances with actual balances reported in transaction SMS messages.

How it works ​

When a transaction SMS arrives, the system performs these checks:

  1. Previous balance — Retrieved from the last SMS Data record
  2. Transaction amount — Amount from current SMS
  3. New balance — Balance reported in current SMS
  4. Calculation — Previous balance + transaction amount = expected new balance
  5. Comparison — Expected balance vs. actual SMS balance

Example:

  • Stored balance: BDT 100.00
  • New payment received: BDT 10.00
  • Expected new balance: BDT 110.00
  • SMS reports balance: BDT 110.00
  • ✓ Verification passes — SMS is authentic

If the balance doesn't match, the SMS Data is marked with a "Balance verify mismatch" warning and requires manual review.

Create Balance Verification ​

Click Balance Verification from the device actions, or click New balance verification on the Balance Verification page.

Payment Method & Type combination: Only unique device-method-type combinations are allowed. You cannot create duplicate balance verification entries for the same device, payment method, and payment type.

Current Balance field:

  • Displays with currency prefix (e.g., BDT)
  • Help text: "Your actual MFS wallet balance. Auto-updates when money is received. Update manually after cash-out or send money."
  • This is the starting point for balance verification calculations

Verification Settings ​

Two verification options are available:

Enable Balance Verification (toggle)

  • Verifies every incoming SMS balance against expected calculations
  • Automatically detects fake or fraudulent SMS
  • Compares SMS balance with calculated balance (previous balance + transaction amount)
  • Flags mismatches for manual review

Enable Smart Verification (toggle)

  • AI-powered protection for busy merchants
  • Automatically approves legitimate transactions even when SMS is delayed or missing
  • Handles 3-5 transactions intelligently
  • Keeps your business running while blocking fake SMS
  • Reduces manual intervention during peak times

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Recommended setup:

  • Enable Balance Verification for all devices to detect fraudulent SMS
  • Enable Smart Verification if you process many transactions to handle temporary SMS delays
  • Start with just Balance Verification if you're new to the system

Updating balances ​

Automatic updates:

  • Balances auto-update when money is received (incoming payments)
  • System calculates new balance based on SMS transaction amount

Manual updates required:

  • After cash-out transactions
  • After send money operations
  • When you withdraw from the MFS account
  • Any transaction that decreases your balance

To update manually:

  1. Click Edit on the balance verification entry
  2. Update the Current Balance field to match your actual wallet balance
  3. Click Save changes

WARNING

If balance verification fails repeatedly, check:

  • Is the Current Balance accurate?
  • Did you cash out recently without updating the balance?
  • Are multiple devices using the same SIM card?
  • Is the SMS format supported for automatic parsing?

Device Best Practices ​

Follow these practices for reliable device management:

  • Keep devices online 24/7
    Devices should always be powered on with stable internet connection.

  • Disable battery optimization
    Prevent Android from closing the Paymently app in the background.

  • Use dedicated devices
    Don't use the same phone for personal use. Keep it dedicated to payment processing.

  • One SIM per device
    Each MFS SIM card should be in only one device running the Paymently app.

  • Connect multiple devices for redundancy
    Use backup devices for critical MFS accounts in case primary device fails.

  • Configure balance verification immediately
    Set up balance verification as soon as you connect a device.

  • Update balances after cash-outs
    Always update Current Balance manually when you withdraw money.

  • Enable Smart Verification for high volume
    If you process many transactions daily, enable Smart Verification to handle SMS delays.

  • Monitor connection status regularly
    Check the Devices list daily to ensure all devices show CONNECTED status.

  • Use Pending Payment as fallback
    Enable Pending Payment in gateway settings for when devices go offline.

  • Test after connecting
    Make a small test transaction to verify SMS forwarding works correctly.

  • Keep app updated
    Update the Paymently app when new versions are released.

  • Secure device physically
    Keep devices in a secure location to prevent tampering or theft.

  • Document device assignments
    Keep records of which device handles which MFS account.

  • Review mismatch warnings promptly
    Check SMS Data with "Balance verify mismatch" warnings daily.

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For best results, combine connected devices with Pending Payment enabled. This ensures customers can complete checkout even during temporary device issues, while maintaining automatic verification when devices are online.

WARNING

Never share device credentials or QR codes. Each device should be uniquely connected to your account for security and tracking purposes.