What is an SMS Notification? Benefits and Examples Across Industries

SMS is a convenient communication channel for businesses to connect with customers. Let’s learn about the role of Promotional and Transactional SMS notifications in customer interactions.

What is an SMS Notification?

An SMS notification is a text message sent to a mobile device to inform users of important or time-sensitive information. You can send SMS notifications can be sent for sharing news, updates, and alerts, including the following:

Package Delivery
Payment Reminders
Event Updates
Promotional Messages
Security Notifications

Benefits of SMS Notifications

There are several benefits of SMS notifications – 

1. High Open Rates: SMS messages have significantly high open rates. In fact, more than 90% of SMS messages are read within the first three minutes.

    

2. Better Engagement: SMS typically have higher response rates compared to other traditional communication channels, making them an effective method to get users to take action.

    

3. Wide Reach: With mobile use on the rise, SMS has an extensive reach, allowing organizations to connect with customers regardless of their location.

    

4. Cost-Effective: SMS is relatively less costly compared to other channels, enabling businesses to send timely alerts and updates to customers at scale without incurring huge expenses.

    

5. Easy to Implement: You can integrate SMS APIs (Application Programming Interfaces) with your existing business tools for seamless workflows.

    

6. Instant Delivery: SMS notifications allow you to reach customers instantly. This enables businesses and organizations to send important updates, alerts, and reminders to their audience with minimal delay.

SMS Notification Examples Across Industries

Retail

Retailers use SMS notifications to inform customers about special discounts, sales events, and promotions. They may also use it to share order confirmations and shipping and delivery updates. This ensures that customers are always aware of where their orders are and when there’s a sale going on.

“Your order #[Order Number] has been confirmed! Here’s the expected delivery date: [Delivery Date]. Track your order here: [Tracking Link].”

“Flash Sale Alert! Get 20% off all items today only. Visit our store or shop online now: [Website Link]. Don’t miss out!”

Healthcare

Healthcare companies can use SMS notifications for appointment reminders, updates on test results and prescription refills. Additionally, they can also share SMS alerts to remind patients of upcoming appointments, reducing no-show rates and improving overall patient care.

“Reminder: Your appointment with Dr. [Doctor’s Name] is scheduled for [Date] at [Time]. Please arrive 10 minutes early.”

“Your test results are in! Please log in to your patient portal to view your latest lab reports. If you have any questions, contact us.”

Travel

Public transport services, airlines, and ride-sharing platforms use SMS notifications to provide real-time updates about delays, cancellations, or changes to the scheduled service. This information allows passengers to plan their trips better and avoid unnecessary waiting times.

“Friendly Reminder: Online check-in for your upcoming flight is now available. Beat the queues and check in now at [Airline Website].”

“Your flight [Flight Number] from [Departure City] to [Destination City] is delayed by [Time]. We apologize for the inconvenience.”

Financial Services

Banks and financial institutions use SMS alerts to inform customers of transaction updates,  account activity, such as withdrawals, deposits,  balance updates, and potential fraud detection. These real-time notifications increase transparency and help customers make more informed financial decisions while providing an additional layer of security.

“Alert: A deposit of $[Amount] has been credited to your account ending in [Last Four Digits]. Available balance: $[Balance].”

“Friendly Reminder: Your utility bill payment of $100 is due tomorrow. Avoid late fees by paying now through our mobile app.”

Send SMS Notifications with Kaleyra 

SMS notifications are an incredibly efficient method of communication, with numerous benefits that can be reaped across a wide spectrum of industries. By leveraging Kaleyra’s SMS solution, you can improve your communication with clients, customers, and partners, bolstering your overall success and effectiveness.