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10 ways your business can use SMS to save company time and money

Photo by Nina Matthews Photography

Mobile phones are ubiquitous in the business world. With the advancement of SMS technology and services, the potential for businesses and individuals alike to utilise the benefits of the near universal reach of SMS services is ever expanding.

1. Automation

Why spend time, money and resources doing what could be handled for you automatically? Across a number of industries, businesses are using SMS to automate previously manual processes, allowing people to concentrate on more important aspects of their business strategy. One of fastest growing examples of SMS automation is booking and appointment confirmations, and the application is obvious: why spend time and money doing what could be conveniently completed by SMS, leaving the customer with a record of essential details? Why miss out on opportunities to remind customers to visit, check out a sale or renew their subscriptions when such notifications can be automated? SMS allows for effective automation of workflow with the strong potential to increase returns, and allow workers to focus on more challenging tasks.

2. Customer contact and two-way SMS

In an ideal world, customer feedback is fast. SMS is the ideal medium for contacting customers with in a way that is convenient, fast, and direct. Two-way SMS ensures that your company is able to receive responses and engaging in conversation. Going further, with the use of a Virtual Dedicated Number, customers can even initiate contact directly with your business.  Such speedy communication can lead to increased and immediate customer satisfaction.

3. Dedicated numbers

With the help of Virtual Dedicated Numbers (VDN), you can let customers communicate with you directly via SMS. VDNs are versatile, and can be advertised or given directly to existing or prospective customers. Your business has sole ownership over the VDNs, and can use the number to manage incoming messages in a variety of ways – forwarding messages to an online inbox, mobile handset, or email address. In this way, VDN provide great flexibility when it comes to interacting with customers, and can be used creatively to engage and inspire your client base.

4. Web to SMS

Sending SMS via the web saves your company considerable time, giving employees access to a central phonebook from anywhere at any time, and allowing you to author and manage SMS messages. Web SMS also allows you to easily send customised messages to groups, lists of numbers or even send customised messages for each recipient using SMS merge.

5. Orders and order confirmation

Just like booking confirmations, SMS can be used to confirm orders, particularly for time sensitive transactions. Confirm catering orders the day before they are due or services prior to the booked time. Such confirmation SMS ensure that any business or client you deal with is unobtrusively reminded about your agreement and ensures if there are any changes to requirements you will be informed, allowing you to adjust on-the-fly if necessary.

6. Internal messages

When workers or employees are required to go on-site, email often isn’t an option. In these situations, SMS is the most convenient way to get essential information to workers who need it; regardless of where they are. Information regarding their next job, updates to travel schedules, missed call information – the potential application is virtually unlimited.

7. Invoicing, billing and payment reminders

Increasingly, businesses are taking advantage of SMS to communicate payment matters with customers. As SMS is direct and personal, it is the perfect medium for reminders, alerting customers of any outstanding bills, invoice details or due payments and helping your increase the likelihood of timely payment.

8. Mass communication

SMS is fast, easy to perform en masse, and direct. In the event that many people need to be contacted immediately, SMS is an effective and competitive medium. For this reason, Governments and organisations all around the world are beginning to investigate the use of SMS for emergency and disaster situations. Businesses too can take advantage of the direct nature and flexibility of SMS. Venue changed for an event? Quickly inform attendees or fans where they need to go next. Last minute cancellation or disaster? Inform all necessary individuals at once.

9. Integration of SMS with Email

Chances are your business is already using email for all sorts of communication. Another brilliant feature of SMS is that it allows seamless integration with email to create an even more flexible communication platform within your organisation. Not only can you automatically send SMS by emailing designated numbers, but you can receive responses via email as well, allowing for 2-Way SMS communication, all seamlessly integrated with your existing email system.

10. Microsoft Outlook Integration

Already using Microsoft Outlook in your company? Did you know that Outlook, too, can be used to access to the convenience and utility of SMS messaging? Using Outlook Mobile Service, which is available natively in Microsoft Outlook 2007 and above, you can send SMS from your desktop to any mobile number. Using the mobile contact details in your contacts database, you are able to immediately communicate with contacts regardless of their location.