January 9, 2026 - 4 min read

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SMS campaign sending times

Alexia Moustier

Introduction

SMS is an essential means of communication. Sent at the right time, it can generate an open rate of 98%. Conversely, sending it at the wrong time can reduce this rate by a factor of three. The day and time of sending SMS important factors to consider for a successful campaign.

Key steps for a successful SMS campaign

Step 1: Define your goals

Clearly identify your objectives: increase your company's visibility, boost your sales, retain your existing customers, or increase customer engagement.

Step 2: Target your audience

Several criteria such as age, gender, geographic location, and interests will allow you to send relevant messages to your customers. A targeted message will be more relevant.

Step 3: Implement a strategy to increase customer engagement

The content of your SMS be clear, concise, and compelling. Use a tone that is appropriate for your target audience and include elements such as promotions, new products, exclusives, and CTAs (call-to-action buttons).

Please note that every SMS include an unsubscribe option and comply with the GDPR. This allows your customers to unsubscribe quickly. This option must be easily accessible to your customers.

Step 4: Optimize your SMS delivery

It is important to choose the right timing for sending your SMS. Choosing the right day and time will increase the open rate and read rate of your SMS.

Step 5: Analyze the results

Evaluate the effectiveness of your SMS campaign with performance indicators such as: open rate, click-through rate, conversion rate, and return on investment will allow you to optimize your future campaigns.

The best times to send your SMS

12:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m.: lunch break!

Average open rate: 98.2%

From noon to 2 p.m. is when French people take their lunch break and check their phones the most. They are less rushed than in the early morning, more relaxed, and more available to pay attention to their notifications. The 12 p.m. to 2 p.m. slot is the ideal time slot for your SMS.

6pm-7pm: the end of the day!

Average open rate: 94.7%

French people check their notifications when they leave work. As with their lunch break, they will be less rushed and more attentive to their phones.

8:00–9:00 a.m.: Wake up time!

Average open rate: 91.3%

The time when French people check their notifications for the first time each day. Ideal for short SMS messages SMS appointment reminders, as people don't have much time for commercial offers.

In France, the law prohibits sending SMS 8 a.m. and after 8 p.m. on weekdays.

GOING FURTHER

The SMS checklist

Master all the important points before sending your campaign

The best days for your SMS campaigns

The best time to send your SMS your industry

E-commerce

MWednesday 10 a.m.

Many people place orders on Wednesdays for delivery over the weekend. To boost your sales, it is a good idea to send your SMS Wednesdays.

Software/SaaS

Wednesday 2:00–3:00 p.m.

This is the time when recipients check their SMS most frequently SMS the afternoon.

Marketing and agencies

Wednesday 4:00 PM

SMS these SMS related to your customers' professional activities, it is advisable to send your SMS Wednesdays at 4 p.m., which is when your customers check their SMS again.

Shop

Thursday 8-10 a.m.

This time slot corresponds to when customers plan their outings to go shopping on the weekend.

Hotels

Thursday 8-10 a.m.

As with stores, customers plan to leave for the weekend at the end of the week.

Please note that in B2C, sending SMS is only permitted if the recipient has given their free, informed, and explicit consent in advance, in accordance with the GDPR.

How often should you send your SMS

GOING FURTHER

Automate your mailings to save time and avoid errors

Conclusion

For your SMS campaigns SMS successful, it is important to define your objectives, know your target audience, write messages that encourage action, and, above all, choose the right timing for sending them. The right times also depend on your industry. Weekdays are the most recommended.

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September 24, 2025 - 7 min read

RCS: concrete use cases for companies

Romain Didelot

Introduction

Visit RCS for Business is transforming the way companies communicate with their customers. More than a new-generationSMS , it enables richer, more interactive and engaging messages to be sent: HD images, product carousels, action buttons, calendar management, integrated payment and verified brand profiles.

In this article, discover 8 concrete RCS use cases, illustrated by industry videos (retail, healthcare, HR, real estate, hotels, logistics, payment, e-commerce).

RCS, more than an SMS 2.0

Unlike traditional classic proSMS which is limited to 160 characters and has no interactivity (apart from embedded links), RCS offers a complete experience:

👉 In short: where SMS simply informs, RCS makes you act and converse.

Overview of RCS use cases by sector

Retail & e-commerce

Retail chains and e-commerce sites are already using RCS to promote various special offers through interactive carousels. RCS is almost like sending an enriched newsletter, if only a newsletter could be interactive and received directly in a phone's native messaging system 😏.

Profit :

Stimulating purchase with "Order" or "Discover" buttons can multiply the click-through rate by 5 to 10 compared with SMS or email.

Health & medical appointments

The healthcare sector benefits from RCS for its ability to reduce no-show :

Profit :

You can expect a 50-60% reduction in missed appointments thanks to interactive reminders. That's more than SMS, which already offers a 40-50% reduction.

Real estate

Real estate is a field that market players rarely address, yet it is ideal for RCS, with numerous use cases that can be transposed to this channel:

Profit :

Improve lead qualification and accelerate the sales cycle.

Human Resources

What used to take several calls and email exchanges can now be done in one conversation with the RCS :

Profit :

Being able to communicate vacancies and apply via RCS saves time for recruiters and improves the experience for candidates.

Hotels & travel

In tourism and hospitality, RCS can enrich the customer experience and drive upsell in a way that no other channel has been able to do before (with the exception of WhatsAppto a certain extent). RCS enables "pre-stay" management that was previously only possible with the investment of one person for several minutes/hours. Today, a message workflow can do the job:

GOING FURTHER

All the RCS functionalities

Logistics & delivery tracking

Logistics, e-commerce and parcel delivery companies are taking advantage of RCS to manage their entire logistics tracking process in a single conversation:

Profit :

Drastic reduction in failed deliveries and improved customer experience.

Insurance & claims management

There are a number of ways in which the insurance industry can take advantage of the RCS to streamline customer relations:

Profit :

Reduced processing times, greater transparency for policyholders and fewer incoming calls thanks to automation.

Integrated payment & OTP

RCS goes beyond information, integrating into users' native messaging systems all the actions that mark out a customer journey. In particular, the final action = payment. It also plays a key role in securing exchanges, in an era when the slightest flaw is exploited. The verified brand profile enables us to act transparently to :

Profit :

Simplicity for the customer + better conversion + enhanced security.

Why integrate RCS into your strategy?

RCS is not a gadget: it meets major business challenges.

👉 RCS fits perfectly into a modern marketing and customer relations strategy.

What about you?

RCS has already been deployed by major brands in the retail, healthcare, transport and hospitality sectors. The benefits are clear: increased engagement, enhanced security, improved customer experience.

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Time2Chat documentation

Time2Chat gives you a channel for unlimited SMS conversations. You also benefit from the allocation of a mobile number to both be contacted by a customer via SMS or initiate a contact.

smsmode^© needs the contact information you provide to contact you about our products and services. You may unsubscribe from these communications at any time. Visit our Privacy Policy to find out more. You may also, for legitimate reasons, object to the processing of your personal data. To exercise this right, please send an e-mail to dpo(at)smsmode.com.

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August 08, 2025 - 5 min read

Set up your mobile communications with RCS

Elsa Paparone

Introduction

SMS is evolving. And with it, a new generation of enriched messages is born: RCS (Rich Communication Services). This protocol, standardized by the GSMA, is gradually establishing itself as the successor to traditional SMS , with immense marketing and conversational potential.

With all operators and manufacturers (including Apple since iOS 18) gradually integrating this technology, RCS is now a concrete, high-performance solution for brands wishing to modernize their mobile communications.

What is RCS?

Developed by the GSMA and pushed by Google, RCS or Rich Communication Servicesis based on the 4G/5G network rather than GSM. It enables :

Since 2024, iPhone users have also been able to benefit from this technology, accelerating its mass adoption.

Why integrate RCS into your company's communication?

RCS Business Messaging (RBM ) offers brands a conversational channel that is richer, more interactive and more engaging than SMS, MMS or even WhatsApp Business.

Key benefits :

*GSMA studies and feedback from pilot campaigns (2023-2024)

Use of the RCS

RCS adapts to all objectives:

RCS features

As you can see, the aim of RCS is to bring the great features of instant messaging (WhatsApp, Messenger...) to our native messaging service. It combines the best of instant messaging... with the universal reach of SMS.

GOING FURTHER

Discover all the features of RCS

Find out about the different types of content messages and buttons integrated into the thread, which are offered by the RCS.

How to integrate RCS into your communication?

1. Framing the project

Our teams can help you define the right use case (conversion, brand awareness, retention...).

2. API access or turnkey support

3. Launch of the first pilot campaigns

Performance monitoring, fine-tuning, strategic consulting.

Why choose smsmode for your RCS project?

STUDY CASE

Our main objective is to drive traffic to our website, and RCS is a perfect channel for this, allowing us to use images, buttons and carousels, which SMS doesn't allow.

Alexandre Ali, co-founder of Panda Tea

RCS: simple evolution or real revolution?

Halfway between SMS and instant messaging apps, RCS represents a breakthrough: the era of conversational, enriched, intelligent and measurable mobile messaging.

While SMS remains a must-have, RCS is becoming a formidable weapon for capturing attention, improving conversion and enriching the customer experience.

So, whether you're already a customer or just discovering our service through this new product : smsmode^© offers you a follow-up service. This means that if you're already working on a channel, such as SMS or email, our teams will be there to advise you on how to harmonize your communication.

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Would you like to test RCS as part of your mobile strategy?

Our teams are here to support you. 📞 Contact our sales team to activate your first RCS shipments or access our API.

Optimizing customer relations via SMS

Solly Azar, leading insurance broker, optimizes customer relations with SMS solutions from smsmode^©. For over 15 years, the company has been using SMS to simplify communication with its policyholders, guaranteeing fast, efficient follow-up at every stage of the contract.

A long-standing player in the insurance industry

Established in 1977, the Solly Azar Group is one of France's leading wholesale insurance brokers. With over 8,000 broker partners, Solly Azar designs and manages insurance products for individuals and professionals. The company covers a wide range of needs, from personal property and casualty to health, personal protection, unpaid rent and professional insurance.

Solly Azar's SMS uses

As part of its brokerage services business, the Solly Azar Group has opted for SMS solutions from smsmode^© to communicate effectively with its partners' customers. Thanks to the integration of these services, Solly Azar informs policyholders about the status of their reimbursementsthe statement of missing supporting documents or the upcoming dates their insurance contracts.

Why is informative SMS useful?

Informative SMS is a powerful tool for improving customer customer relations. It enables essential information to be disseminated quickly and directly, ensuring smooth, efficient communication. For companies like Solly Azar, this means better management of customer expectations, fewer incoming calls and improved overall satisfaction.

WHITE PAPER

The SMS website through 9 action sheets

Our free white paper will help you discover the possibilities of notifying and informing your contacts on their mobiles.

Examples of messages used by Solly Azar

Repayment tracking :

[Solly Azar]

Your refund of [amount] has been processed. It will be credited to your account shortly.

Statement of supporting documents :

[Solly Azar]

Some documents are missing to finalize your application. Please submit them as soon as possible.

Upcoming events :

[Solly Azar]

Your insurance contract expires on [date]. Please check your details.

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July 05, 2025 - 6 min read

SMS for paperless receipts

Romain Didelot

Introduction

The AGEC law puts an end to the automatic printing of sales receipts. This major change of use for retailers is nevertheless good news for everyone, combining a positive ecological impact with new digitalized communication between brands and customers.

The dematerialized ticket means a better experience and a universal tool for centralizing invoices. And for businesses, it's an excellent way of enriching customer data and diversifying marketing and loyalty strategies. We explain it all in this article.

The end of systematic receipt printing: what's changed?

Since the 1st^er On August 1, 2023, the law on the fight against waste and the circular economy (Loi AGEC) put an end to the automatic printing of cash register, bank card and voucher receipts. This measure aims to reduce paper waste and limit exposure to the chemical substances present on printed tickets.

Most of the tickets are concerned:

Retailers must now inform customers of their right to a ticket on request, via a visible display at the checkout. They can also offer dematerialized alternatives, such as sending tickets by SMS, e-mail, banking application or QR code.

Some exceptions remain:

Why do you need a paperless ticketing solution?

If the end of the paper ticket has many advantages (ecological, financial, data security...), it also has 2 major drawbacks:

There's only one way to recreate or even strengthen this disappearing link with the customer: the dematerialized ticket.

The advantages of paperless receipts :

This change in buying behavior has many benefits.

Customer benefits

Benefits for brands

The end of receipt printing is also good news for businesses. Among other things, there are the cost savings associated with purchasing paper, ink, maintenance and printers, but the biggest opportunity is marketing for merchants.

Adopting the dematerialized ticket allows you to demonstrate your eco-responsible approach to communication and to comply with the AGEC law, but it's also and above all: an opportunity to capture customer data and build customer loyalty.

Environmental impact: a nuanced analysis

The dematerialization of sales receipts aims to reduce the environmental impact of paper printing. However, digital storage and transmission can also have an ecological cost (energy consumption, resources). It is therefore crucial to adopt a balanced approach: dematerialization while optimizing processes to minimize the overall ecological footprint. more ▶︎

Beyond the ticket: an opportunity for customer relations

Once the customer's opt-in consent has been obtained, the merchant can communicate much more than just a receipt to the customer, and enrich his customer database at the same time. SMS marketing SMS marketing is the perfect tool for drive-to-market advertising, and can be used to announce in-store events such as sales, open days and pre-sales. SMS is the perfect tool for the drive to store and it goes without saying that the recipient's number is the crucial element for communicating via SMS!

You can also start communicating without leaving your dematerialized receipt ! Your e-ticket can very easily use the same codes as its physical counterpart. Slip your offers and promotions under the purchase information, and you 'll be on your way to creating a new buying intent.

In fact, it's even possible touse this dematerialized solution without clear, positive consent. For commercial canvassing, the CNIL states that "if the person canvassed is already a customer, and if the canvassing concerns similar products or services provided by the same company, prior consent is not required. In this case, the CNIL considers that legitimate interest may constitute a valid legal basis."

The dematerialized sales receipt can therefore become an entry point to an enriched customer relationship. This approach transforms the receipt into a loyalty tool, reinforcing customer commitment and optimizing the shopping experience.

Consumer trends and adoption

According to a May 2024 OpinionWay-Perifem survey:

These figures testify to the growing adoption of paperless solutions and increased consumer confidence.

How do I generate paperless sales slips?

Some cash register software packages already offer functions for generating dematerialized till receipts. All transaction information is processed by the software, and an additional option is available to determine whether you wish to print the receipt, send it by SMS or e-mail it to the customer.

Services Messaging API from smsmode^© allow you to connect your cash register software with our platform, in order to send receipts by SMS, thanks to an automated query to the corresponding phone number.

Why is SMS the best channel for paperless tickets?

As with many other uses (OTP, information, marketing, etc.), SMS stands out from other communication channels thanks to its direct, simple and personal aspect.

Record opening rate: The opening rate for SMS is 98%, compared with around 20% for e-mail, which means that customers are more likely to see their receipt if they receive it by SMS.
Fast delivery : SMS are delivered in real time, all the faster thanks to direct smsmode operator connections.^©. This means that customers receive their ticket immediately after their purchase, whereas an e-mail can be delayed, filtered or land in a spam box.
Accessibility: All cell phones are equipped to receive and read SMS messages. It's the universal channel, even for checking receipts.
Interactivity: SMS offers the possibility of including clickable links or actions to be carried out directly in the message. This allows customers to follow the link to their receipt, but also to take part in a satisfaction survey or access your social networks to follow you!
Simplicity: SMS are short and concise, making them easier to read and understand than an e-mail that may contain additional information deemed irrelevant. Your customer may quickly delete your e-mail if it doesn't seem to meet their expectations immediately.

GOING FURTHER

The SMS Klaviyo Webhook

Optimize your e-commerce SMS promotion, retention and reminder strategies with our plugin.

Conclusion

Any change requires adaptation, and at the same time creates an opportunity. The dematerialization of sales receipts is no exception to the rule. Getting to grips with the subject allows you to capitalize on this opportunity. SMS for dematerialized receipts not only simplifies compliance, it also gives you a chance to enrich your customer base and diversify your marketing strategy.

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June 27, 2025 - 8 min read

Summarize with :

ChatGPT Perplexity Gemini

WhatsApp Business API: 24H window and message templates

Elsa Paparone

Introduction

The WhatsApp Business API is today an essential channel for customer relations and transactional communication.
But its use is based on a strict framework defined by Meta: the 24-hour messaging window and message templates.

In this article, we explain :

WhatsApp Business: how to use

WhatsApp Business is an accessible tool that can help you set up optimized customer journey scenarios, enabling you to offer your customers a fluid, natural experience. There are two ways to communicate with your customers via WhatsApp Business.

The first method takes you through the 24-hour customer service window. What's special about this is that it's available 24 hours a day, as soon as the customer starts a conversation with you.

The second method is the Template or HSM - Highly Structured Messages, initiated by the company.

This formula is only available to op-in customers (i.e. those who have already opted in to receive your content).

Customer Window

Template

Initiative

Your customer

You

Content

- session messages
- Templates

Templates

Opt-in

No, since it was your client who initiated the exchange himself...

Yes, since you're the one who's going to be in contact with your client

The 24-hour messaging window rule

When a user sends a message to a company, a 24-hour window automatically opens. During this period, the company is free to respond, with no restrictions on message content or format (text, image, video, document).

Each new message from the customer resets the 24-hour window.

👉 Official documentation: Meta Business Docs - Conversation windows

What happens when the 24-hour time limit has elapsed?

24 hours after your customer's last message, the dialog window closes automatically. You will then only be able to send messages in the form of Templates, which are sent on the company's own initiative.

Please note, however, that you must have your recipient's explicit consent for this type of sending. These templates are pre-validated by WhatsApp© . You can create them yourself and then submit them, or use the templates we provide.

This is particularly useful when your departments need more than 24 hours to resolve a problem. Following a Template message, you can reopen a Customer Messaging Window, simply by asking for a reply to continue the process. If the customer replies, the window reopens automatically!

GOING FURTHER

WhatsApp Business presentation documentation

Message templates: sending out of window

Once the 24-hour window has closed, the company can only write to the user using message templates pre-approved by Meta. These templates are essential for :

Official Meta template categories

👉 Documentation : Message templates - Cloud API

GOING FURTHER

All WhatsApp Business features

Pricing and developments 2024-2025

Since 2023, Meta has been charging for WhatsApp conversations by category rather than by message.

What's new in 2025

👉 Documentation : Pricing & conversation categories

Best practices & compliance

Mandatory opt-in

Before sending a template message, the company must obtain an explicit opt-in from the user.
Examples of collection points: website, forms, in-store QR codes, SMS.

Authorized content

Authorized: useful information, confirmations, customer service, promotions with consent.
Prohibited: spam, misleading content, sensitive data (health, finance), unsolicited surveys.

Unsubscribe management

Always provide a clear way to unsubscribe ("Reply STOP to unsubscribe"), in compliance with the RGPD.

Practical examples of WhatsApp messages

Example of a JSON template (Utility - order confirmation)


{
 "name": "order_confirmation",
 "language": "fr",
 "components": [
 {
 "type": "BODY",
 "text": "Bonjour {{1}}, votre commande n°{{2}} a été expédiée. Livraison prévue le {{3}}."
 }
 ]
}

Typical conversation workflow


[Client envoie un message] → Ouverture de la fenêtre de 24 h → Réponse libre possible
 ↓
[Fin de la fenêtre] → Envoi d’un template validé (ex. suivi d’expédition)
 ↓
[Client répond] → Réouverture de la fenêtre de 24 h

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expert support for template configuration

June 25, 2025 - 6 min read

Summarize with :

ChatGPT Perplexity Gemini

Calls & SMS via 06 and 07 are forbidden to Companies.

Romain Didelot

Introduction

In 2023, Arcep published a new numbering project, reshuffling the cards in the telecommunications sector. From now on, 06 and 07 numbers will be dedicated to private individuals. This new orientation gives pride of place to new messaging services for all exchanges between a platform (brands) and the consumer.

The aim, which is still valid today, is to put an end to fraud, smishing and other unwanted telephone solicitations that blight the lives of mobile subscribers. This strategy has made it possible to drastically reduce smishing (even if some cases still exist on a smaller scale, through 07 "e-SIMs" obtained from virtual operators, Editor's note), notably by virtually eliminating brand usurpation (it has become almost impossible for fraudsters to obtain a personalized transmitter evoking a legitimate service or brand, Editor's note). Making 09 a dedicated number for business communications, whether by voice or SMS, has also opened up a new opportunity for professionals, who can fully enter the conversational era. enter the conversational era.

A new numbering plan to protect subscribers

The application of this framework is excellent news, as these measures respond to 2 concrete problems:

By reserving 06 and 07 for private individuals - and switching corporate communications to 09 - the general public will be able to identify corporate calls and messages more easily, and thus be more aware of the nature of the content they are receiving. This decision provides greater protection against the large volumes of calls and messages that can be a nuisance, but also against the increasing number of attempted scams.

In the same way, once this clear new legislation is in place, the regulator leaves the field open for operators to implement their ability to cut off mass shipments of smishing content via 06 and 07.

This action, coupled with the control of Sender IDs (personalized SMS senders), effectively combats smishing and offers the market a definite gain in credibility.

The regulator has also adopted measures to regain control over 06 and 07, and thus avoid a shortage in the future.

New numbers and uses available for businesses (Time2chat)

With the introduction of 09 telephone numbers dedicated to businesses, Arcep is regulating a usage that has seen an explosion! Brands and their customers want to converse, at all times and in an omnichannel way: by voice, by message, by short message.

As Arcep explains, 09 numbers will meet the "growing needs of French businesses" in this respect. Interested companies will be able to implement innovative communication solutions between themselves and a subscriber, with a dedicated and recognizable type of number, offering maximum performance for these new resources.

These long numbers can be used, for example, to establish message-based conversations between a retailer and its customer, or to set up ephemeral relationships with platforms (parcel delivery, VTC drivers, etc.).

GOING FURTHER

Find out more about Time2Chat

Features, benefits, uses and pricing.

From Virtual Mobile Number to Time2Chat

The announcement of the disappearance of 06 and 07 for companies coincides with the announcement of the af2m on the launch of the Time2chat. A new messaging service dedicated to exchanges between brands and their customers, intended to replace the Mobile Virtual Number.

The gradual shift from NVM (mobile virtual number 06 or 07) to Time2chat illustrates the evolution of consumer needs, towards greater immediacy and interactivity.

"Because it uses SMS and voice, Time2chat benefits from the universal nature of native technologies on cell phones. There's no need to install a specific application to use Time2chat. It's a guarantee of simplicity and fluidity. explained AF2M.

With the rise of instant messaging, users and businesses have gradually adopted real-time chat platforms for far more dynamic interactions.

This evolution is explained by the search for greater efficiency in exchanges and a better user experience, responding to modern expectations of speed and user-friendliness.

Democratizing conversational commerce

In recent years, brands and customers alike have seen a growing need for two-way communication. RCS and WhatsApp Business meet this need for conversation. This new use of 09 numbers could offer a universal alternative to these two channels, minus the multimedia aspect. This use of Time2chat could revolutionize customer relations, but also open the door to conversational commerce on all mobiles.

COMPARATIVE

Time2Chat, WhatsApp, RCS. Which conversational channel to choose?

Reasoning about a market with solid growth, but with unclear contours

Arcep(L'Autorité de régulation des communications électroniques, des postes et de la distribution de la presse) has decided. From January 1, 2023, telephone numbers beginning with 06 or 07 will be reserved exclusively for private individuals, for "interpersonal" use.

" The Authority reserves the use of numbers starting with 06 and 07 - permanently attached to a user in everyone's mind - exclusively for interpersonal communications services.

As indicated in Arcep's press release on this decision, " non-interpersonal use of mobile numbers will be switched to other categories, such as the new 09 category ".

Today, companies can still send short messages to their customers from short codes (with or without Sender ID), only numbers starting with 06 and 07 are forbidden.

Why this change in numbering?

The use of notification messages has exploded in recent years. By 2022, 60% of text messages sent in France will be notifications. This strong growth is accompanied by new uses linked to the immediacy of the customer/brand relationship. These include calls and short messages sent by companies, via 06 or 07 numbers , to confirm an appointment, a delivery, or to be able to make and receive a call on a temporary number.

However, these new uses have blurred the relationship between brand and customer, paving the way for the misuse of cold calling and, above all, for a surge in fraud.

Phishing by telephone, smishingA veritable epidemic of fraud has spread, forcing the regulator to take action to better protect subscribers.

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June 09, 2025 - 5 min read

SMS & Foodservice: the infographic

Elsa Paparone

Introduction

Professional SMS is proving to be an ideal means of communication for the catering industry. It is frequently used by restaurateurs throughout the year to notify special offers or confirm reservations. Whether you run a gourmet restaurant, a snack bar or a bar, it's an essential tool for boosting your sales!

The infographic

Create a link with its customers

Customer loyalty is an essential process when running any kind of business. Your regular customers play a vital role in the success of your business. Very often, they're the lifeblood of businesses that don't have their own storefront.

You can use SMS marketing in a variety of ways, for example to advertise your daily specials. Your customers already in your database may be tempted by your daily special, but you still need to make the information accessible. For this, an informative SMS at the start of the week will be more than welcome to announce your menus for the week. If you wish, you can also encourage your customers to book in advance. You'll not only have succeeded in creating a bond with your customers, you'll also be able to better organize your service.

This low-cost, quick-to-implement attention-grabber will strengthen your customers' attachment to your business. With SMS, your campaigns can be programmed easily and in no time!

Enriching your customer file

Competition is fierce in the catering industry. That's why it's vital for you to grow your customer database. The key to keeping this file up to date is your customers' telephone numbers.

There are many ways to achieve customer acquisition without spending a lot of money on advertising and the like. In fact, the use of SMS as a means of communication is not reserved for the elite. It can be used by any organization, whatever its size, needs or resources.

To give your business a low-cost boost, why not share a special re-opening offer with your contacts? On presentation of the SMS, a 10% discount could be offered on a cocktail or the menu of the day. The only limit is your imagination!

WHITE PAPER

New messaging channels for your business

Learn more about WhatsApp Business, RCS and others, and the new opportunities for your communication.

Best practices for successful SMS campaigns in the foodservice industry

A well thought-out SMS can make the difference between a customer confirms his reservation and another who forgets your table. To maximize the impact of your mailings, here are the essential rules to follow.

Respecting the legal framework and obtaining consent

Before any marketing communication, make sure your customers have given their consent to receive your messages. In France, the RGPD requires a clear and traceable opt-in, even for promotional messages sent to your existing customers. This step guarantees compliance, but also the deliverability of your SMS marketing campaigns.

On the other hand, in the case of notification or information (reservation reminders, for example), prior consent is not required.

Choosing the right time to send your SMS

Timing is everything. Send your messages when your customers are making their decisions:

Late morning to promote the lunch menu
In the early evening, to announce a special offer or an event
Avoid early-morning or late-night mailings, as they can be disruptive.

Take care of frequency and avoid spam

A relevant mailing is better than a series of messages sent too close together. A good practice is to limit promotional campaigns to a maximum of 1 or 2 per week, giving priority to quality content.

Personalize and segment your messages

Address your customers by their first name and tailor your offers to their habits. Use the personalization variables to insert into your messages to do this.

Test, analyze and optimize

Perform A/B tests to compare different texts, schedules or offers. Analyze open, click and conversion rates to refine your future campaigns. Successful SMS marketing is always the result of a continuous improvement process.

Create your free account

Try out our SMS platform and benefit from 20 free test credits, with no obligation.

Need more info?

We look forward to hearing from you.

May 12, 2025 - 4 min read

Travel booking platforms and SMS

Elsa Paparone

Introduction

We see you coming, already in mid-June and we still have not chosen a destination to leave this summer with Jules. Fortunately, for the last few minutes the Airbnb and other Booking.com are here to make your job easier.

That one who never went through an online booking platform to Booker his holiday raises his hand. We've all done it at least once. To benefit from interesting rates, by saving time... There are many reasons that may have thrown us into the arms of these seers of online booking.

For some years now, the platforms of this type have multiplied.

At smsmode, many of our customers are start-ups. That's why we decided to take a closer look at this phenomenon.

How do start-ups use SMS/Push notification?

This month we look at the case of online booking platforms, specifically Airbnb, a popular home-based booking platform.

The need arises from the service

You crossed the steps, this typical apartment in the heart of Trastevere is booked. To find the host that will allow you to live your Roman adventure, you went through Airbnb.

Once you've entered your telephone number, you're "followed closely" by the platform, at every stage of your user journey. The platform will engage with you via SMS, push notification, emailing and sometimes even phone calls. The goal? Engage your community!

Why choose SMS ?

The SMS pro is the must-have tool for companies. Users need guidance throughout their experience. In this sense, SMS communication, however brief, is a highly effective tool.

In the interests of responsiveness, these start-ups have made the wise choice of SMS. Why deprive yourself of this means of communication when you know that, according to :

No means of communication today ensures such a fast access to the addressee! It can even be combined intelligently with another channel, that of emailing.

Finally, it's important to understand that when it comes to SMS, it's all about trust. When a consumer enters his or her telephone number and agrees to its use, he or she is placing his or her trust in you and your service.

Communication strategies SMS/Push notifications

- AIRBNB

Communication tools: E-mails, Push notifications, SMS, Telephone.

Airbnb pursues an ultimate goal with these solicitations: to take advantage of key moments in the customer journey to bring the user back to the platform. As each SMS is justified, the user doesn't feel spammed. This is a very important criterion for building customer loyalty.

- TRIPADVISOR & BOOKING.COM

Communication tools: E-mails, Push notifications, SMS, Telephone.

TripAdvisor and Booking.com use SMS less frequently than their counterpart Airbnb. Indeed, the latter can rely on its "chat" function between private individuals to justify these multiple additional messages. A feature that TripAdvisor and Booking.com do not have. It's important to note that the timing of SMS notifications and marketing messages is not subject to the same regulations. SMS notification is not time-limited, but SMS marketing is!

Why choose smsmode for your SMS/push notification strategy?

In recent years our clientele has been diversifying. Today, half of our customers are from the start up sphere. In the face of this, it was necessary to adapt as quickly as possible in order to meet your particular needs.

With 15 years' experience in the mobile messaging sector, our teams are sure to be able to help you set up your mobile strategies for your SMS marketing campaigns and for your notification/reminder communications for appointments, order confirmations, etc...

Available to you:

Keep in mind that SMS is your new digital ally, offering you a dynamic image at lower cost! We've got you covered! Several hundred start-ups have already put their trust in us! For example, we've been working with Doctolib since its inception, revolutionizing the medical appointment scheduling sector. We also work with Foodchéri, the Food app that delivers delicious home-cooked meals between lunch and dinner at the office.

So many references that have and continue to forge every day our expertise and our know-how!

Create your free account

Try out our SMS platform and benefit from 20 free test credits, with no obligation.

Need more info?

We look forward to hearing from you.

April 15, 2025 - 3 min read

SMS : improving customer relations

Christelle Arnaud

Christelle ARNAUD

Introduction

The proof is in the pudding: good customer relationship management customer relations is essential for any company seeking sustainable growth. Yet this is often a complex subject for marketing teams. Where to start? What tools should be used? And above all, how can we be effective?

Among the many channels available, professional SMS is a simple, direct and effective lever. smsmode© gives you a few tips on how to strengthen your customer relations using automatedSMS based on current practices and available automation tools.

Why choose an SMS solution for customer relations?

Loyalty, satisfaction, brand image... SMS ticks all the boxes. Thanks to its simplicity and effectiveness, you can :

And in all business sectors: retail, healthcare, events, real estate, personal services, etc.

Good to know:

A well thought-out SMS campaign can increase customer satisfaction by 20% and generate an average return on investment of €50 per euro invested.

A variety of uses throughout the customer journey

Relationship SMS isn't just for after-sales. With an SMS sending platformplatform, it can be integrated into every stage of the customer journey:

This mobile medium is therefore suitable for all areas of activity, whether it's associated with confirming appointments, confirming orders, thanking customers for purchases or communicating good deals... And above all, SMS remains a fairly easy-to-use medium that can be set up quickly.

These messages, though short, create proximity and reinforce trust.

Setting up an SMS campaign: quick and easy

The implementation of a campaign SMS requires neither advanced technical skills nor complex tools. With a solution like smsmode^©just follow a few simple steps:

1. Create an account

2. Import your database

3. Compose your message

4. Plan the delivery date

5. Send and choose a confirmation

6. Study the statistics

And that's all there is to it.

GOING FURTHER

Product overview smsmode^©

Automating SMS : a real time-saver

Send a personalized message at the right time, without any manual action? It's possible with smsmode^©. You can do this in 2 ways, either through theAPI SMSor by contacting one of our SMS plugins for CRM.

These interfaces automate the sending of SMS according to triggers defined in your CRM tool, website or application. Result:

For example, you can send an SMS appointment confirmation as soon as a customer books a time slot on your site, or thank a buyer immediately after an online payment.

Don't know what to write? Take a look at the available templates

Writing a good SMS can seem difficult, especially when you lack inspiration. To help you, smsmode^© proposes more than 50 professional SMS examples according to objectives (loyalty, practical information, promotions, customer satisfaction...).

Here are a few ideas:

Why choose smsmode^© for your customer relations SMS messages

SMS has become a cornerstone of customer relations: fast, direct, economical and easy to implement. By intelligently integrating it into your marketing and CRM strategy, you can build loyalty, reduce no-shows, get more reviews and increase your sales.

And thanks to tools like smsmode^©You can go even further with automation, personalization and statistical tracking.

Need a helping hand to get started??

Create your free account

Try out our SMS platform and benefit from 20 free test credits, with no obligation.

April 02, 2025 - 7 min read

Summarize with :

ChatGPT Perplexity Gemini

RCS available to all with IOS 18.4

Romain Didelot

Introduction

The wait is finally over: Apple has activated RCS support with iOS 18, marking a major step forward in the standardization of messaging between iPhone and Android. In France, Orange and Sosh subscribers now benefit from this new messaging system, enabling richer, more interactive exchanges between users, regardless of their device. This development, originally announced by Apple for 2023, came to fruition with the release of iOS 18.4, offering all iPhone users a more modern alternative to traditional SMS .

But what does this really mean for mobile marketing? The RCS campaigns campaigns finally accessible to all smartphones? smsmode© sheds light on this revolution and its impact on brands.

What's in it for users?

Until now, hesitation on the part of Apple and certain operators to adopt RCS has been a real handicap to brand promotion. Without the Apple brand, campaigns were reduced to a small fraction of the available mobile base. But now, many millions of iPhone users can join Android users and take part in the experience.

iOS 18.4: RCS available for Orange and Sosh subscribers

With the release of iOS 18.4, Orange and Sosh customers in France can now enjoy the benefits of RCS on their iPhone. This update marks a major step forward in the standardization of messaging between different mobile operators and OSs (SFR had already taken the plunge with IOS 18 and Bouygues with IOS 18.2, editor's note).

How do I activate RCS on iPhone?

To activate RCS on an iPhone, subscribers to French operators (SFR, Free Mobile, Bouygues Telecom, and now Orange and Sosh) are just a click away. All you need to do is :

COMPARATIVE

RCS, WhatsApp, SMS or Time2Chat. What's the difference?

Among other things, the iPhone's adoption of RCS will enable support for encryption, high-resolution images and videos, read receipts, keystroke indicators and more. In short, Apple will enable users to share a similar messaging experience between the two systems, with the exception of RCS message bubbles, which will remain green, as SMS messages currently are on iPhone.
You can now test for yourself what a conversation initiated between an Android device and an iPhone with RCS looks like. Although some questions remain, such as the transcription of reactions between different phone models, the RCS experience on iPhone is now a reality.

Apple's choice

Apple has finally adopted RCS with iOS 18, a milestone eagerly awaited by mobile messaging players. This development strengthens interoperability between systems and broadens the scope of RCS, which is gaining in maturity as a communications platform. After years of waiting, iPhone users can now enjoy enriched messaging, with the exception of the color bubbles, which will remain green to differentiate RCS conversations from iMessages.

Among other things, the iPhone's adoption of RCS enables support for encryption, high-resolution images and videos, read receipts, keystroke indicators and more. In short, Apple is enabling users to share a similar messaging experience between the two systems, with the exception of RCS message bubbles, which will remain green, as SMS messages currently are on the iPhone. Of course, there are still a number of questions to be answered, such as the transcription of reactions from one phone model to another.

What this means for professional messaging

This full adoption brings with it a major development for the application-to-person (A2P) market: the merger, or at least compatibility, of RBM (RCS Business Messaging: the A2P channel of RCS) with AMB (Apple Messages for Business: the A2P channel of iMessage).

Like SMS and its professional version, the A2P and P2P versions of RCS and iMessage are different technologies. Separately, MBR and AMB don't have the reach of SMS or even other over-the-top (OTT) messaging channels like WhatsApp. Together, however, they have the potential to reach virtually all smartphone users.

The potential in the A2P world is enormous. The GSMA estimates that there will be 6.3 billion mobile subscribers by 2030, representing billions of business opportunities for brands. Companies could create compelling experiences with a single click, all without consumers switching apps.

Reminder: What is the RCS?

RCS (Rich Communication Services) is a messaging protocol that aims to replace SMS and MMS with a richer, more interactive experience. RCS lets you send and receive text messages, images, videos, files, emojis, stickers, voice messages, video calls, group messages and much more. RCS works over the mobile network or wifi, and offers users features such as acknowledgements, input indicators, or end-to-end encryption.

GOING FURTHER

Discover the RCS channel

Features, benefits, uses and pricing.

Reminder: What is RBM?

RBM (RCS Business Messaging) is RCS at the service of brands and companies. It enables companies to communicate with their customers in a more personalized, engaging and effective way.

With RBM, you can create more creative, more interactive and more measurable campaigns. Your RBM campaigns allow you to integrate interactive elements into RCS messages, such as buttons, carousels, polls, forms and more. In this way, you can facilitate action, stimulate reaction, and foster loyalty.

The other major advantage of RBM is the possibility of adding a chatbot to your sessions. With it, you equip yourself with a powerful "conversational commerce" tool. A more innovative and useful service for your customers, enabling you to offer a new marketing experience with colossal conversion potential.

RBM is a new solution for mobile marketers, and an opportunity for them to personalize their messages according to the profile, behavior and preferences of their recipients. This means they can adapt the content, tone and timing of their messages to increase open rates, click-through rates and conversion rate.

Discover all the features of RCS

Find out about the different types of content messages and buttons integrated into the discussion thread, which are offered by the RBM: the RCS at the service of companies.

How to prepare your universal RBM strategy?

Companies need to adapt their marketing strategy to the RCS, taking into account the protocol's specific features and opportunities.

So define your objectives, target, message, budget, timetable, etc. And above all, test and optimize your campaigns using the data and feedback provided by RCS.

For an RCS campaign, the first thing to do is segment your contact lists according to their compatibility with the protocol. You'll need to know which users have a smartphone. This will enable you to send RCS messages to them, and SMS messages to other users.

RCS enables you to offer a more personalized, richer and more interactive messaging experience. You'll have two powerful levers to activate:

Conversion

By making it possible to offer more attractive, more relevant and more tailored offers to customers, RCS enables companies to increase conversion. Make it easy to take action, by integrating buttons, links, QR codes and more.

Measurement

Thanks to the precise, detailed data on deliverability, opens, clicks and conversions provided by the RCS protocol, you can better measure the effectiveness of your campaigns with RCS. Optimize your strategies, budgets and ROI with this valuable data.

smsmode^© supports you at every stage of your election communication strategy

Conclusion

RCS is a technology that has the potential to transform mobile marketing, offering a richer, more universal and more secure messaging experience. It's also a constantly evolving technology, which could integrate new features in the future, such as augmented reality or mobile payment, which would be yet another step towards a new world for mobile marketing.

Our webinar: "RCS, the ideal lever for customer relations".

Create your free account

Try out our SMS platform and benefit from 20 free test credits, with no obligation.

Need more info?

We look forward to hearing from you.

January 10, 2025 - 6 min read

Send surveys by SMS

Romain Didelot

Introduction

Surveys via SMS are a powerful tool for conducting surveys and collecting votes or feedback from your customers or employees with unrivalled efficiency and speed. With over 95% open rates and up to 40% response rates, these messages outperform traditional methods, enabling instant, confidential feedback for surveys or customer satisfaction assessment. Unlike e-mail, which is often ignored or turned into spam, SMS messages guarantee easy reading and instant interaction, whether it's a link sent via mobile message or the use of text messages to send questions to respondents.

Discover the benefits, options, parameters, creation and follow-up of surveys via SMS to optimize participation rates and the reliability of the data collected, while improving the customer experience.

The advantages of SMS

Fast, easy access

SMS messages are read within 4 minutes of being received on the customer's phone in 95% of cases. This instantaneous aspect enables real-time information gathering, which is essential for a company that needs to survey an up-to-date database quickly. The ease with which participants can access the vote and complete surveys via SMS, either by clicking on a link or by replying directly to the message, increases the participation rate and the quality of the customer experience.

High response rate

This is the major advantage of SMS surveys: the opening rate of SMS (98%), ensuring almost guaranteed visibility. This high open rate translates into a very significant customer response rate (often around 45%), far superior to that of e-mail or other more traditional survey methods. This efficiency favors the acquisition of a large number of quality responses. And the uniqueness of the telephone number improves the reliability of the data collected and the results obtained.

Accessibility on various mobile devices

The high accessibility of SMS surveys, available without an app and compatible with all cell phone models, eliminates technological barriers and makes it possible to reach a vast audience. Whether your target audience is a student, professional or senior citizen, SMS is an effective way of gathering opinions, information and feedback.

GOING FURTHER

SMS or email? The ultimate comparison

How to create your survey: SMS

1- Define the survey objective

The first essential step before launching your survey at SMS is to clearly define its purpose. Whether the aim is to assess customer satisfaction, collect opinions on a product or service, or conduct an analysis of your audience's expectations and preferences, a precise definition of this objective will enable you to formulate appropriate questions and interpret the responses effectively.

Identifying this objective also helps to select the target audience and adapt the message to optimize the participation rate, analysis and customer experience.

2- Designing effective questions

No survey is complete without questions. For questions to encourage people to vote, they need to be simple, brief and to the point, to avoid ambiguity and ensure that respondents understand them. Opt for closed questions (yes/no, multiple choice) for simplified data analysis, or open questions for more in-depth feedback.

Limit the number of questions as much as possible to keep participants' interest and prevent the lassitude that can result from an excessively long questionnaire.

3- Choosing the right SMS management platform

The success of your SMS survey also depends on the choice of method, tools and platform for sending SMS. It's essential to choose a tool that offers functionalities adapted to your company, such as contact import, personalization, mass mailing of SMS, the possibility for respondents to reply to messages, and response analysis.

smsmode^© allows you, for example, to design and distribute your surveys and benefit from automation features to facilitate sending and follow-up. Our platform integrates with your existing systems through API Yes plugins SMSto become one with your CRM or ERP tool, for simple, total data management.

smsmode^©

4- SMS campaign configuration

This is where the technical part begins.

Prepare your contact list
Make sure you have recipients' consent to send them SMS. Import your contact database in XLS or CSV format onto our SMS platform. Depending on your objectives, you can include all your contacts or target a specific segment.

Check contact list
Check that phone numbers are valid and eliminate duplicates in your database to prevent multiple mailings and maximize the effectiveness of your campaign. With smsmode^©this operation is performed automatically.

Scheduling your dispatch
Scheduling your SMS dispatch is also essential. You have the freedom to send messages immediately or to schedule a specific date and time for optimum impact, in line with your recipients' habits.

5- Sending the survey and managing responses

There are several techniques, with varying degrees of integration, for carrying out a survey via SMS. The choice depends on your preferences and technical environment.

External method

This is the technique that comes first. Once your campaign is ready, you distribute your SMS with the survey link inside. This is called a Rich SMS. Several platforms, free, freemium or paid, allow you to edit a survey. Make sure that the survey (web) page is responsive, so that respondents can fill in the survey without difficulty.

Some online survey tools :

SMS response method

Making it easier to answer increases the participation rate, so why not carry out the entire survey via SMS ? smsmode^© enables recipients to respond directly via SMS , making it easier to collect feedback and boosting participation.

By using keywords or short codes for your SMS responsesyou make the process intuitive and fast for users, reducing friction and increasing the likelihood of participation. Analyzing responses is easy from our platform, where you can export the messages received to give you a clear and intuitive overview of the results. You can also set up an API call to filter votes from your URL callback destination.

Time2chat method (virtual number)

The use of a virtual send and receive number (Time2chat) works in a similar way to SMS . The number allows you to receive responses in real time and to segment reactions systematically to centralize responses, making it easier to interact with your audience and organize data.

What's more, a virtual number can be used to personalize automatic responses, sending out personalized confirmations or thank-yous, which can boost engagement and satisfaction among participants.

To set this up, you need access to a virtual number management platform (such as smsmode^© 😉) and a stable API connection to integrate the service with your existing systems and aggregate the responses to your survey. You'll need to set up your API call with a differentiating ID to be able to aggregate the responses brought up by the URL callback.

TO FIND OUT MORE

Find out more about Time2Chat

Features, benefits, uses and pricing.

6- Analyze results

Once you've sent the message to your contact list via the chosen method, it's time to collect and analyze the responses. Responses should be automatically collected by the platform, so all you have to do is analyze them to finalize your survey and draw conclusions.

7- Follow and thank

Send a thank-you message to participants. Share any results or planned actions based on responses.

A few more tips

Write a clear invitation message

Include the purpose of the survey, instructions on how to complete it, and an estimate of the time required.

Example:

36037

Hello, take part in our quick survey by answering this question: Are you satisfied with our service? Answer YES or NO.

Optimize your timing

Send SMS at a time when recipients are likely to be reading it. Use your own experience or best practices in your sector as a guide.

Test before sending

Test the survey with a small group to detect any problems.

Don't share participants' personal information without their consent and ensure that the survey and each partner comply with the RGPD.

GOING FURTHER

Discover the 10 keys to effective, profitable SMS campaigns.

Conclusion

As we've seen, conducting an SMS survey is an effective way of gathering opinions quickly. With an impressive open rate and response rate, SMS is a great way to gather data. The ease and speed of access to SMS surveys, coupled with the compatibility of this channel, makes it perfectly suited to reaching a wide audience.

All that's left to do is choose a trusted SMS management platform and create your own surveys to benefit from a new, fast and efficient way of collecting opinions and gaining valuable insights. It's up to you!

Create your free account

Try out our SMS platform and benefit from 20 free test credits, with no obligation.

Need more info?

We look forward to hearing from you.

January 09, 2025 - 3 min read

Optimize your customer experience with WhatsApp

Elsa Paparone

Introduction

Since the opening of WhatsApp Business APIthe French platform smsmode^© provides you with its corresponding API. This allows you to easily send automated WhatsApp messages directly through your applications.

Sending this type of message allows you to enrich your exchanges with your customers (sharing images, videos, locations and much more...) while being universal and immediate - a novelty that could well revolutionize your customers' mobile sending experience!

What type of message can be sent?

Originally, WhastApp Businness messaging was reserved for notification and conversation with a customer. But since 2024, Meta has eased the shackles on marketing content. With its ease of use and capabilities, the WhatsApp channel makes it possible to reply to your messages or initiate the exchange. A real gateway to conversational commerce.

This channel allows you to enrich your users' customer experience by making a variety of media available.

WhatsApp lets you create a standard scenario. You design the framework from A to Z according to your field of activity, and guide your user to the desired finality (e.g. Answer A for yes and B for no). A precise scenario is developed, which will ensure exceptional feedback.

Creating such communication ecosystems will enable you to reduce your costs (after-sales service or support), save time and leave a positive imprint on the user (like the speed with which you can search for a train ticket via the SNCF's WhatsApp number, for example, to whom we say thank you!)

You can communicate with your customers by:

These exchanges take place:

How do you set it up?

In order to start using WhatsApp services, you need to be in possession of a Facebook ID. You may be wondering how to generate this ID, in which case follow the instructions via this link.

Obtaining an account WhatsApp (WABA stands for WhatsApp Business Account), uses this ID that you will send us, together with a phone number available (WhatsApp sender). Then it's smsmode^© which acts as a link between you and Facebook to set up your account.

Once you have your WABA, you're free to choose whether to start the conversation or to encourage your customers to do so (by displaying your WhatsApp number on your website, for example).

GOING FURTHER

WhatsApp Business presentation documentation

How WhatsApp Business can help you (whatever your sector)

Like SMS, this new communications medium is adaptable to a wide range of situations and sectors.

One objective: to improve customer care. You'll be able to conduct a survey, ask if the customer needs an additional service, reschedule an appointment, cancel a meeting, send an invoice or buy a train ticket... The possibilities are as vast as your users' needs.

WhatsApp Business is suitable for all sectors:

GOING FURTHER

All WhatsApp Business features

For more information, smsmode^© will soon be putting its specific documentation online. In the meantime, we encourage you to refer to this dedicated page.

Create your free account

Try out our SMS platform and benefit from 20 free test credits, with no obligation.

Need more info?

We look forward to hearing from you.

December 03, 2024 - 7 min read

SMS Automation: Boost your workflows and customer engagement

Romain Didelot

Introduction

An automation strategy meets the No. 1 challenge for many companies: capturing consumers' attention. Whether it's marketing automation or customer relationship workflows, an automation strategy enables you to reach your customers instantly at the most opportune moment, after an action on their part or when they're waiting for an event.

And SMS, as the #1 channel for customer engagement, is a must for automation. Are you looking for a solution or software that enables you to adopt an integrated, automated approach to customer relations? A platform, API or plugin to combine push notification, SMS and email channels within a marketing automation strategy?

smsmode^© explains everything you need to know about integrating SMS into an automation strategy, the different testing and dispatch tools available to you, and the best practices you need to know to make your automated campaigns a success.

Definition of SMS automation

SMS automation, also known as SMS automation, refers to the automatic sending of text messages to targeted individuals or groups with limited human intervention. This text message, written and programmed in advance, is sent by a platform at a strategic moment to establish timely, personalized communication with the company's customers.

The benefits of SMS for companies

A platform SMS that integrates with an automation strategy can deliver numerous benefits, 3 of which clearly stand out:

Our commitment

SMS enjoys exceptional engagement, with an open rate of 98%. The direct nature of SMS encourages customers to pay more attention to a SMS than to an email or push notification, making the SMS channel an effective communication tool for both marketing and customer relations in the broadest sense.

Instantaneous

SMS is read quickly (within 4 minutes of receipt in 95% of cases). With it, companies can quickly transmit communications that are considered unmissable. It's ideal for announcing flash sales, reminding people of appointments or informing them of the status of an order.

Customization

Another major benefit of SMS automation. Thanks to customer data and variables that can be integrated into messages, it's possible to send customized content, tailored to customers, their preferences and their consumer behavior. From specific offers based on previous purchases, to personalized reminders and abandoned basket recalls, a wide range of ultra-personalized uses can be envisaged.

STUDY

SMS trends and key performances under the microscope

Find out more about our major study based on 745 million mailings SMS.

SMS VS email: who wins the KPI match?

As mentioned above, the open rate for SMS is 98%, well above the usual 20% for emails. But this isn't the only KPI where SMS comes out on top :

This is due to the nature of SMS. Most users receive an audible notification or a vibration when the message is received. What's more, it's only read on the cell phone, a device constantly in use by all consumers. On the other hand, emails can be drowned out in a saturated inbox or arrive as spam, diminishing their impact as soon as they are received.

GOING FURTHER

SMS or email.
The ultimate comparison for the right choice

The main use cases forSMS Automation

Marketing and promotions

Promotional campaigns are a frequent use case for automation. These messages can contain discount codes, announce new products, or inform about sales. They contribute to increasing sales throughout the year in a variety of ways:

Promotional campaigns: special offers, discounts or promo codes, sent to customer lists segmented according to interests and purchases.

Abandoned cart reminders A SMS reminder that can include a promo code to encourage customers to complete their purchases.

Product launches: automatically inform customers of new products or events.

Anniversary dates: a message at the right time, on the customer's birthday or account creation date, is not only a sales factor, but also a way of building loyalty.

Customer service

SMS is also used to optimize customer service based on previous customer interactions:

Order confirmation: Inform customers of the receipt and status of their orders.

Delivery tracking: Provide real-time updates on shipping and delivery.

Satisfaction surveys: Gathering feedback after an interaction or purchase.

Reservation confirmation

It's part of customer service, but deserves its own section for its usefulness. Sending an immediate confirmation by SMS after a reservation or order is a highly effective practice (4X fewer missed appointments when reminders are set up) whose power is multiplied tenfold when automated.

These confirmation messages can detail the date and time of the reservation, an order number, or instructions for rescheduling an appointment.

Automatic reminders Automatic reminders: automatically notify patients or customers of upcoming appointments (health, beauty, services).

Confirmation or cancellation: Offer the possibility of confirming or rescheduling an appointment via a link or a simple SMS.

Queue management: Send alerts when it's a customer's turn.

Re-engaging inactive customers

Reviving your inactive customers is essential to keeping your database engaged. Send personalized messages that remind customers of previous interactions, offer incentives to encourage new purchases, or provide relevant content to effectively reactivate them. Here are a few case studies:

Revival of expired subscriptions or services: relevant for SaaS, clubs or online services

Restart after a specific period of inactivity: define a period of inactivity in a workflow and restart with simple, clear content.

Personalized suggestions: send recommendations based on purchase or browsing history.

Reminder of loyalty points or accumulated benefits: encourage customers to return by reminding them of the benefits they could lose.

Many sectors can benefit from SMS automation

As you may have read, the vast majority of automation use cases are marketing-oriented, and seem to be calibrated for e-commerce (often referred to as Marketing Automation). But in truth, all industries with a need to notify their customers can benefit from the implementation of SMS automated. Here's a non-exhaustive list.

GOING FURTHER

SMS plugins for CRM: the key to automation

Integrate and automate SMS from your CRM. Benefit from centralized access to customer data, synchronize information and automatically trigger the sending of messages from your workflows.

Human resources

Recruitment : Transmit targeted offers, inform candidates of the status of their application or schedule interviews.

Internal communication Disseminate important or urgent information to employees.

Training : Remind people of session dates or share resources.

Education sector

Notifications to students and parents: Send exam reminders, report card access links, late payment alerts or information on school events.

Absence follow-up: Inform parents of their children's absences.

Finance and administration

Payment reminders: Notify customers of due dates or late payments.

Identity verification: Use authentication codes (2FA) to secure connections or transactions.

Events

Invitations and confirmations: Send reminders to registered event participants.

Real-time updates: Inform participants of any changes, unforeseen events or delays.

Logistics and Safety

Critical alerts Warning of incidents, natural disasters or organizational emergencies.

Safety messages: Broadcast safety tips or instructions, confirm status updates.

Best practices for SMS automation

Compliance with regulations (opt-in and unsubscribe options)

It is imperative to obtain clear, formal consent from customers before any communication. This ensures compliance with legislation and confirms that your audience is engaged and consenting. Customers should be able to opt out of SMS campaigns by sending responses such as "STOP" or "Unsubscribe". This respect for your customers' preferences plays a key role in preserving their trust and minimizing complaints.

What's more, this topic is crucial, as message automation often involves processing and storing large quantities of customer data. Companies therefore need to put in place robust measures to protect this sensitive information against cyber-attacks, data leaks and unauthorized access.

It's best to make sure your partner has mastered these few points:

Data security is a major issue for companies using automation SMS, as a breach could have serious consequences for customer confidence and the company's reputation.

Contact segmentation

Contact segmentation lets you divide customers into segments based on defined criteria such as purchasing habits, preferences, or previous interactions. This approach makes messages more personalized and relevant, enabling you to improve customer engagement and conversion rates right from the start.

The right frequency

Determining the right marketing pressure is essential to avoid recipient fatigue and keep customers engaged. Find the right balance to be present in your customers' minds without overwhelming them. A rhythm of around one message a week is generally a good compromise, but your own rhythm may vary according to your industry and your customers' preferences.

Personalized content

9 out of 10 consumers say that personalization influences their purchases (source: BDC.ca). So it's quite clear that you'll benefit from playing this card. Personalizing your messages obviously involves the use of variables in your SMS ($first name, $last name, $product...), but also by segmenting your audience through workflows according to their interests, demographic characteristics and purchasing behaviors to adjust your messages accordingly.

Choosing the right time to send

Automated triggers and workflows form the basis of automation. They enable messages to be programmed according to specific events, such as registrations, purchases, cart abandonments or visits to the website.

Choosing the right time to send SMS is therefore essential for optimizing open and response rates. Plan your SMS campaigns in advance and coordinate them with your other marketing channels, such as email and social networks, for a coherent and effective communication strategy.

A/B tests

There can be no automation without data. That's why it's essential to go through an A/B testing stage when setting up your automations. It's a powerful strategy for optimizing SMS campaigns and increasing their effectiveness.

Testing allows you to experiment with different elements, such as message content, timing, and calls to action (CTAs)... to discover which options are most effective for your target audience. You could, for example, compare the effectiveness of short messages with slightly longer ones, or test several CTAs to see which generates the most engagement.

By implementing these tests, you gain precise information on your customers' preferences and behavior. This enables you to fine-tune your marketing strategies and improve their performance.

Performance analysis and reporting

This is the final stage of every campaign, indeed of every project: analyzing data, tracking performance, to evaluate the effectiveness of automation campaigns SMS. Open rates, click-through rates, conversion rates, ROI, A/B test results... all this data helps companies track the effectiveness of their campaigns, identify areas for improvement and adjust their strategies accordingly. All you have to do is keep what works and iterate 🙂.

GOING FURTHER

Discover the 10 keys to effective, profitable SMS campaigns.

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Try out our SMS platform and benefit from 20 free test credits, with no obligation.

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DIGITAL AGENCY

Boost CRM performance with SMS automation

Download the use case

Novadial supports its customers in creating and optimizing multi-channel strategies, combining email and SMS to maximize the impact of their communications.

To effectively deploy these campaigns and workflows within their CRMs - Marigold Engage and Hubspot - their challenge was toidentify an intuitive, customizable, high-performance, reliable, RGPD-compliant and cost-effective SMS sending solution.

Click-through rate

20%

Satisfaction rate

75 à 90%

Multi-channel campaigns

The SMS workflow is simplified and coordinated with other channels. Optimal management of multi-channel campaigns.

Inserting short links

This feature can be used to create interactive scenarios, such as appointment scheduling, online assistance requests, etc.

Easy to install and use

Intuitive and easy to install and use (even for beginners), this turnkey solution is based on drag-and-drop and no-code.

Find out in detail how Novadial offers CRM strategies for more direct, personalized and effective interactions.

Download the use case

Create your free account

Try out our SMS platform and benefit from 20 free test credits, with no obligation.

Optimizing customer relations via SMS

AD Nautic optimizes customer communications with SMS from smsmode^©. By sending order confirmations, invitations to events and targeted promotions, the company offers a fluid and engaging experience to its customers.

Who is AD Nautic?

Formerly known as Accastillage Diffusion, AD Nautic is Europe's leading distributor of boating equipment. With over 150 franchised stores in France, Belgium, Italy and Spain, AD Nautic offers a wide range of products for marine enthusiasts.

SMS at the heart of AD Nautic's customer relations

AD Nautic uses SMS solutions from smsmode^© to improve communication with customers. The various franchise stores, as well as the group, send out order confirmations, newsletters and other information. invitations to events such as open houses, and promotional campaigns to promote seasonal or one-off offers. This approach strengthens customer relations and increases customer commitment to the brand.

Examples of messages used by AD Nautic

Order confirmation :

AD Nautic

Your order at AD Nautic is confirmed. You can collect it in store from [date]. Thank you for your confidence

Invitation to an event :

AD Nautic

Take part in our open house this [date] and discover our latest products. See you soon at AD Nautic!

Special promotion:

AD Nautic

Exclusive offer: -20% on selected items until [date]. Take advantage in store or on our website.

WHITE PAPER

The SMS website through 9 action sheets

Our free white paper will help you discover the possibilities of notifying and informing your contacts on their mobiles.

How SMS is revolutionizing customer relations

SMS is a powerful tool for improving customer relations :

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SMS confirmation for peace of mind

In France, Citiz offers a practical, affordable solution for self-service car rental. Since 2002, the company has offered its users the possibility of renting more than 1,400 cars in over 110 towns and cities. Citiz has integrated automatic SMS to confirm reservations and inform customers of essential details (date, time, model reserved, etc.).

Citiz: a car-sharing pioneer

Citiz is a major player in the car-sharing sector in France. The company enables its users to rent a vehicle for an hour, a day or more, close to their home, with no long-term commitment. Thanks to its local network covering numerous French cities, Citiz offers its customers a flexible, environmentally-friendly mobility solution, with a fleet of shared vehicles to suit all needs.

What kind of SMS does Citiz send?

Since early 2020, Citiz has been using SMS to automatically confirm vehicle reservations made via its platform or mobile app. As soon as a customer reserves a car, they instantly receive an SMS containing the essential information: the date and time of the reservation, the model of vehicle reserved and the pick-up method. This method simplifies reservation management and ensures that customers receive clear, rapid and infallible communication about their rental.

A seamless, automated customer experience

Sending confirmation SMS enables Citiz to guarantee total transparency for its users. Customers can be sure that their reservation has been taken into account, with all the necessary information at hand. This process reduces the risk of misunderstandings and improves the fluidity of the user experience. What's more, the automation of this process via the smsmode^© enables Citiz to manage high reservation volumes without manual intervention, while maintaining a responsive, high-quality service.

WHITE PAPER

The SMS website through 9 action sheets

Our free white paper will help you discover the possibilities of notifying and informing your contacts on their mobiles.

Why is SMS confirmation useful?

SMS confirmation is a simple and effective method of ensuring peace of mind for customers, but it also offers several advantages to businesses:

Immediate reassurance: As soon as the reservation is made, the customer receives a confirmation message, eliminating any uncertainty about the booking. It's a direct way of confirming that the request has been taken into account.
Accessibility and speed: SMS is an instant communication channel, ensuring that information reaches all users quickly and efficiently, even those who don't check their e-mail regularly.
Simplicity of implementation: thanks to the self-service API, integrating SMS into the booking process is easy. There's no need for manual intervention to send confirmations, which saves time and reduces the risk of human error.

TL;DR: SMS for the car-sharing sector

This case study shows how a company can use SMS to simplify communication with its customers, improve operational efficiency and deliver a smoother customer experience.

SMS confirmation is particularly effective in the car-sharing sector, where customers can book vehicles at the last minute. It also boosts user loyalty by sending reminders or additional information about future bookings, while minimizing management costs.

SMS Marketing & Notification

Filovent, a boat rental specialist, enables its customers to find and book the ideal boat from a wide choice of over 18,000 vessels in Europe. The company has integrated SMS into its customer journey to ensure smooth communication, notably by sending booking confirmations, practical information and personalized promotional offers.

Filovent, a successful customer experience

Filovent is a leading boat rental platform, offering sailboats, yachts, catamarans and other types of vessels in popular destinations such as France, Croatia, Greece and the West Indies. Since its creation in 1995, Filovent has developed an easy and accessible booking solution, enabling its customers to sail and enjoy exceptional experiences at sea. The company stands out for the variety of its catalog and the quality of its customer service.

SMS dual use that works

Since 2006, Filovent has been using SMS to confirm bookings. In 2010, Filovent integrated enhancedSMS . The company doesn't just transmit booking information: it also sends personalized promotional offers to capture customers' attention and encourage them to book their next getaway. These messages enable direct communication with customers, highlighting exclusive promotions and discounts tailored to users' preferences.

Filovent understands that to stand out in a competitive industry, it's crucial to stay top of mind with customers all year round. By sending promotionalSMS promotional SMS messages, the company creates a personalized bond with its customers, building loyalty and encouraging them to return for their next adventure at sea. This type of direct communication enables Filovent to maximize the impact of its special offers while ensuring that important information, such as seasonal promotions or the latest availability, reaches its customer base quickly and efficiently.

RESOURCES

Documentation on SMS enriched

Thanks to our landing page editor and link shortener, you have all the tools and functionalities you need to bring your SMS campaigns into the era of interactivity, conversion and tracking!

Why do SMS promotions work?

Promotional SMS is a particularly powerful tool for several reasons

Immediacy: SMS is a direct and instantaneous channel, which means it quickly captures the recipient's attention. The nature of SMS, which are generally read within minutes of receipt, ensures a high level of responsiveness.
Personalization: By tailoring offers to customers' history and preferences (for example, discounts on destinations they've already booked or services they've used), Filovent maximizes the relevance of each message sent.
Engagement: SMS creates a sense of urgency, often prompting customers to act quickly. Whether it's a last-minute promotion or a reminder of upcoming events, the element of surprise and exclusivity helps boost conversion rates.
Reach and simplicity: Easy to integrate into a loyalty program, SMS can reach a wide audience without requiring complex technical skills. It's a fast way to inform a large audience while maintaining a personalized tone.

Why does this type of SMS work particularly well in the rental sector?

Reservation security: Customers who have reserved a vehicle want to be sure that everything is in order for their rental. An SMS confirmation gives them this certainty.
Seasonal and punctual: The rental sector is strongly influenced by specific seasons. By sending promotional offers during off-peak periods or special events, Filovent attracts potential customers and increases bookings during these periods.
Loyalty: Offering personalized promotions based on customers' past bookings or birthdays reinforces their sense of belonging to a community, while encouraging future bookings.

Casavo: revolutionizing the real estate sales experience

Casavo, formerly Proprioo, is a new-generation European real estate platform, offering a simplified and transparent experience for buying and selling property. With this in mind, Casavo uses SMS to confirm appointments made with its consultants, for effective follow-up and strengthened customer relations.

What is Casavo?

Founded in Italy in 2017, Casavo is a European real estate platform that facilitates transactions between private individuals thanks to technology. After acquiring Proprioo in 2022, Casavo expanded its offering in France, proposing services such as guaranteed sales, online valuations and personalized support throughout the real estate process. Present in several major French cities, Casavo stands out for its transparency, efficiency and customer-centric approach.

SMS usage at Casavo

Casavo uses SMS confirm appointments between between customers and their real estate consultants. When a customer makes an appointment via the platform, an SMS is automatically sent to confirm the date, time, location and contact details of the consultant. This approach ensures clear and rapid communication, reducing the risk of misunderstandings or oversights.

The benefits of SMS appointment reminders

Reduce no-shows: a simple SMS reminder can significantly reduce no-shows and delays, saving time for both consultant and salesperson.
Optimized customer experience: the open rate of SMS is around 95%, well above that of e-mail, ensuring that key information reaches the prospect at the right time.
Automated process: coupled with the consultant's diary, dispatch is carried out without manual intervention, freeing up time for prospecting and support.
Professional branding: a clear, short message sent under the brand's identity, reinforcing the agency's credibility.

By capitalizing on simple but targeted SMS confirmations and reminders and the easy installation of the ^smsmode© Google Calendar pluginplugin, Casavo streamlines the sales process, optimizes its consultants' diaries and improves customer satisfaction - an approach that can be replicated by any real estate agency wishing to optimize its communications.

WHITE PAPER

Google Calendar module documentation

This free documentation explains all the steps involved in adding SMS appointment and booking reminders from Google Calendar.

Optimize bookings with two-way SMS

TheFork, a subsidiary of the TripAdvisor group, has chosen to integrate SMS with smsmode^© in its reservation confirmation process. This SMS confirmation system not only validates customer reservations, but also accepts additional bookings directly by SMS return, optimizing restaurant occupancy.

The fork: simple reservation

TheFork is a leading restaurant reservation platform, offering an online booking solution for customers and a management tool for restaurateurs. As a subsidiary of the TripAdvisor group, TheFork is committed to enhancing the online customer experience, while providing restaurant owners with effective tools to manage their establishments, optimize their fill rates and increase their visibility.

SMS reservation management

In collaboration with smsmode^©TheFork has set up a two-way SMS system. When a reservation is made via the mobile application, the restaurant owner receives an SMS enabling him to confirm or add further reservations. The customer receives an SMS when the reservation is confirmed. This process improves the efficiency of reservation management, and enables establishments to optimize their capacity without having to rely on telephone communication.

The two-way SMS system enables restaurateurs to agilely manage reservations, add tables and modify existing bookings in seconds. The burden of phone calls is reduced, and customer satisfaction is enhanced by near-instantaneous responses.

SMS in catering

In general, the use of two-way SMS in the catering sector makes it easier to manage last-minute cancellations and adjustments, as well as urgent booking requests. 2 SMS, which multiplies the benefits of the channel: fewer missed reservations with the reservation reminder, time saved with SMS filling.

WHITE PAPER

SMS advertising through 5 action sheets

Our free white paper " SMS Advertising through 5 action sheets" will help you discover all the possibilities offered by SMS advertising for mobile prospecting.

SMS campaign sending times

Introduction

Key steps for a successful SMS campaign

Step 1: Define your goals

Step 2: Target your audience

Step 3: Implement a strategy to increase customer engagement

Step 4: Optimize your SMS delivery

Step 5: Analyze the results

The best times to send your SMS

12:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m.: lunch break!

6pm-7pm: the end of the day!

8:00–9:00 a.m.: Wake up time!

The best days for your SMS campaigns

The best time to send your SMS your industry

E-commerce

Software/SaaS

Marketing and agencies

Shop

Hotels

How often should you send your SMS

Conclusion

RCS: concrete use cases for companies

Introduction

RCS, more than an SMS 2.0

Overview of RCS use cases by sector

Retail & e-commerce

Health & medical appointments

Real estate

Human Resources

Hotels & travel

Logistics & delivery tracking

Insurance & claims management

Integrated payment & OTP

Why integrate RCS into your strategy?

What about you?

Time2Chat documentation

Create your free account

Set up your mobile communications with RCS

Introduction

What is RCS?

Why integrate RCS into your company's communication?

Use of the RCS

RCS features

How to integrate RCS into your communication?

1. Framing the project

2. API access or turnkey support

3. Launch of the first pilot campaigns

Why choose smsmode for your RCS project?

RCS: simple evolution or real revolution?

Optimizing customer relations via SMS

SUMMARY

A long-standing player in the insurance industry

Solly Azar's SMS uses

Why is informative SMS useful?

The SMS website through 9 action sheets

Examples of messages used by Solly Azar

Repayment tracking :

Statement of supporting documents :

Upcoming events :

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SMS for paperless receipts

Introduction

The end of systematic receipt printing: what's changed?

Why do you need a paperless ticketing solution?

The advantages of paperless receipts :

Customer benefits

Benefits for brands

Environmental impact: a nuanced analysis

Beyond the ticket: an opportunity for customer relations

Consumer trends and adoption

How do I generate paperless sales slips?

Why is SMS the best channel for paperless tickets?

Conclusion

WhatsApp Business API: 24H window and message templates

Introduction

WhatsApp Business: how to use

Initiative

Content

Opt-in

The 24-hour messaging window rule

Why choose smsmode^© for your customer relations SMS messages