Advances in the Internet and text messaging offer logistics industry players a competitive strategy to continue adding value to their customers. The move toward the use of Web-based and mobile technologies for business collaboration and communications within the supply chain is enabling logistics providers to meet and exceed customer expectations.
Taking the collaborative model further and maximising the use of mobile technologies, text messaging using application to person (A2P) messaging technology allows a company to communicate real-time information at a relatively low cost with targeted parties outside of the computer networks. A key driver as to why text messaging has been so well received is that mobile phones are the preferred communications channel because they are bound to always be on a person or at least nearer than an internet connected computer.
“Text messaging makes sense where logistics and warehousing companies are looking to provide value added interactions for staff, suppliers or clients where it is feasible and more efficient to replace telephone, fax or email communications. This is especially applicable where parties are contactable by mobile phone; require real time notifications, and the company needs to track and keep a digital record of all communications,” says Dan Perrin, business development manager at BulkSMS.co.uk, a provider of bulk text messaging solutions to companies in the UK and globally.
If you compare text messaging with email – not everyone has access to a computer or an email address all the time. A contact will however, almost always be carrying their mobile with them wherever they go. Emails are easy to disregard and delete, but a text message is sent to the palm of your hand and is difficult to ignore.
Bulk texting is more effective and cheaper when compared to a phonecall. It takes less time to contact a list of, for example, 20 people. It might take a company 5 to 10 minutes per call – at 5 minutes a call, contacting 20 people may take over an hour, but sending a text message will take 5 minutes for 20 contacts to receive the text message.
A2P messaging technology enables companies to increase efficiencies within their supply chain management and logistics operations. In using texts for mission critical communications within extended business processes, companies are able to translate the implementation of text message technology directly into cost benefits and increased service levels.
Texting, Logistics and the Warehouse
Logistics management is primarily an information business. Information on raw material supply forecasts drives the process flow of products. The real-time modification and synchronisation of information makes up the manifests, waybills and other documentation required to ship goods. The efficient management of these information flows therefore becomes part of a logistics operation’s drive to enhance profitability and working capital.
“Texting,” says Perrin “offers the logistics industry two key advantages. It improves overall business efficiency by enabling an instant two-way communication portal. It has the ability to notify parties on the move of changes to schedules. Text messaging also reduces call volumes thereby cutting the costs associated with contacting drivers or customers telephonically when freight schedules change.”
The use of text message-enabled software programmes for prompted or automated communications within the supply chain goes far in removing the barriers to collaborative logistics among industry players. Implemented alongside Web-based software services, text message communications help in lowering the hidden costs of logistics management for firms and provide high levels of certainty to all parties within the supply chain.
The logistics industry is one of many industries that have taken advantage of text message communications to create further operational efficiencies. While many larger companies may have already looked to integrating text messaging into their systems or have deployed third party software as a service (SaaS) solutions with an automated text messaging module, many small to medium sized companies with a smaller IT budget can implement text messaging into their daily operations without incurring high overheads.
Here are a few examples of how a text messages can be used to replace a phone call or email when interacting with clients or staff:
• A text message can be sent to notify staff of telephone messages when they are out of the office.
• A text message can be sent to notify drivers of a change in delivery schedules whilst on the road.
• A text message can be scheduled to send reminders to staff about core tasks or supplier appointments.
• A text message can be sent by the truck owners/drivers or transport companies when there is space for additional goods to be shipped to a specific location.
• Texting helps to manage both client and staff expectations by keeping them updated on any business process within the logistics value chain.
• A client could initiate a new or repeat order by sending a text message to an incoming number which adds the relevant details to a centralised order system for processing.
A few examples of how automated text messages can be incorporated into the ordering and storing process include:
• A text message can be sent during client interactions detailing delivery status and schedules during the fulfilment of an order.
• A text message can be sent to customers from a logistics management system should they wish to track an order during shipping and be informed of its current status.
• An automated text message can be sent to a customer notifying them of the delivery of an order.
• A text message could be sent as confirmation when a customer places an order with suppliers.
• A text message could be sent to the relevant staff member/stock controller when levels of various stock items are running low and need to be increased.
Text messaging can also be used for administrative and marketing purposes:
• It can be used to remind customers about business hours during bank holidays,
• Texting can provide notifications to customers for outstanding payments; or
• Texting can be used to send customers promotional information (for example, two for the price of one special).
The BulkSMS Advantage
BulkSMS offers various ways in which you can get your message across to staff, clients and suppliers. BulkSMS offers robust and reliable text messaging services that allows you to send text messages via the internet. We offer solutions to logistics companies that can support their specific text messaging needs through one, or all, of the following:
• Self-service messaging using the BulkSMS Text Messenger:
You can send bulk text messages from your computer desktop using the BulkSMS Text Messenger application which you can download to your computer free of charge. It connects via the Internet to the BulkSMS.com text message gateway, providing access to all United Kingdom network providers as well as over 500 networks globally. It also provides a centralised management system for all messaging to the mobile phone numbers of drivers, customers and other parties. It allows you to link to these contact details irrespective of whether they are stored in the BulkSMS Text Messenger application or reside in a regularly updated spreadsheet or even an external database. Additional functionality includes the scheduling of text messages to be sent at a future date as well as receiving replies to the application’s inbox.
• Self-service messaging using the BulkSMS Web to SMS platform:
You can send bulk text messages from any internet enabled computer by logging into your BulkSMS account online. You can set up a database of names and mobile phone numbers to access and edit online.
Scheduled messaging allows you to set messages to go out from minutes into the future to days, weeks or even years into the future. You can even set who the text message is from, to either a mobile number or up to 11 alphanumeric characters (e.g. MyCompany).
• Text message enable your software applications:
You can enable your existing software programmes in order to send automated messages anywhere along the order, fulfillment or delivery process. A key benefit of integrating text messaging into your existing systems is that staff do not need to learn another programme, they simply send a text message from the already familiar application used to access an existing database of contacts.
About BulkSMS.co.uk
BulkSMS.co.uk is service run by Celerity Messaging UK Ltd, a division of Celerity Systems (Pty) Ltd. The company has offices in Crawley, West Sussex.
BulkSMS.co.uk is a leading wireless application service provider offering bulk text messaging solutions to large and small businesses, schools, third sector organisations, and individuals. BulkSMS.co.uk offers two-way text messaging to support clients’ business communication (notifications, alerts, customer relationship management, etc), information services (weather, financial markets, etc) and mobile marketing campaigns. BulkSMS.co.uk’s flagship product is the BulkSMS Text Messenger, a desktop application that allows you to send messages from an Internet-enabled computer.
For more information about BulkSMS.co.uk’s services visit www.bulksms.co.uk.
For direct enquiries please email sales@bulksms.co.uk or contact the company telephonically on 0845 40 30 767.
1 Comment
the business benefits of text messaaging ware house.