Due to the world embracing a more globalized marketplace, it’s become increasingly common for businesses to attract customers from anywhere across the globe. With that comes the need for companies to be able to quickly and effectively send mass communications internationally. If you want to expand the reach of your communications and maintain quality customer service on a global scale, a global SMS Gateway provider could well be the solution for you.
Understanding the basics of an SMS gateway
One of the most effective ways for companies to contact customers is via Short Message Service (SMS). SMS text messages are commonly used by businesses to send communications directly to customers’ and employees’ phones via a bulk SMS gateway. This efficient method of mass text messaging allows you to easily update and inform customers all at once, wherever they might be in the world.
There is, however, one small snag with that: different wireless phone providers around the globe use different communication protocols, which means your messages won’t always be able to get through to international customers if their service provider isn’t “speaking the same language” as you.
Different networks around the world use SMS centers (SMSCs) to manage the reception and delivery of SMS text messages, much like a post office depot or telephone switchboards. If an SMS arrives at an SMSC that doesn’t use the communication protocol to match that receiving network, it won’t be forwarded on to the intended recipient.
This is where an SMS gateway comes into play. An SMS gateway allows you to send SMS messages from a web browser to anyone within the cell served by that gateway (i.e., your “home network”), while on an international scale it allows you to send SMS communication away from the home network to any users with roaming capability. The gateway works like a relay station, translating one protocol into another so it can be understood and accepted by the receiving network.
What an SMS provider brings to you and your customers
Using a global SMS service provider offers various benefits to both businesses and customers alike. As an organization, you want to be able to maintain a solid level of customer service that keeps your customer base content and loyal. Customers are discerning and have high expectations when it comes to what good service should be, so using SMS messages allows you to be consistent and reliable in your communications.
Global reach
Text messaging has a truly international reach. While data-based messaging, like Facebook Messenger, has seen a significant increase in recent years, “95% of people who own mobile phones do not [need] an internet connection,” according to research conducted by Finances Online. This explains why “there were 2.1 trillion text messages exchanged” in 2020, despite the fact that other instant messaging services are widely used in some parts of the world.
Reach customers anywhere in world, at any time, with global SMS services.Scalability
As your business grows, so too will your customer base and the need to communicate with them. You’ll want to be able to send bulk SMS messages more regularly and to more people. The beauty of text messaging is that this is entirely achievable. Through a global SMS gateway, you can scale your text communications easily, allowing you to send mass text messages to thousands of people in just a few seconds.
Cost-effective communications
The most obvious savings that using an SMS service provider brings to your business is a reduction in the need for printed materials. You can simply use mass text messages to advertise, confirm appointments or send information en masse without the need to pay for printed ads or print and send out letters to your customers. Additionally, as opposed to email or other digital communications, an SMS is characteristically simple. It’s just words, so you don’t have the expense of both time and money in creating visual ads or templates.
Improved customer relations
The swiftness and simplicity of an SMS message is very appealing to customers. They receive your text message wherever they are and can respond quickly and easily at their convenience. This unobtrusive but accessible medium gives customers the best of both worlds, increasing the likelihood of retention for existing customers and giving you a higher conversion rate for new prospects.
How to leverage the power of a global SMS gateway
Using a global SMS provider to manage your text messaging gives you plenty of great tools and capabilities to optimize your communications and boost customer satisfaction. To make the most of everything an SMS gateway offers, be sure to explore alert and notification options so you and your team can stay fully informed, and lean on any customer support available to receive expert assistance. This is especially useful for any of the more technical aspects, such as adjusting short code or utilizing unfamiliar features in the software. Many SMS gateways offer mobile app integration, which can be a powerful tool for enhancing how you manage your SMS messaging.
Also remember that SMS text messages can go both ways. If you haven’t already, consider using transactional SMS, as opposed to two-way communication and making it part of your proactive customer service, rather than simply a one-way method of sending your customers promotional SMS notifications.
What to look for in a global SMS gateway provider
When looking for a global SMS gateway service provider, there are a few key considerations you should keep in mind. Here are the things you should look for:
- SMS API: Does the provider have a robust API that you can use to manage your SMS work?
- Support: Can you get a high standard of support from the provider, with technical experts on hand to help you if/when you need it?
- Simplicity: It’s vital that the SMS gateway you choose is easy to use, so it helps rather than hinders your business operations.
- Compatibility: A seamless integration into your current CRM means you can efficiently manage international SMS communications without creating more work for your team.
Here at Swift SMS Gateway, we are experts in global business texting. With over 15 years of experience in the field, we know how to make sure your messages are delivered directly to the intended recipients wherever they are in the world. Find out more by getting in touch with us today.
