SMS Notifications: for emergencies and beyond

On Sunday 23 April 2023, there will be a national test of a Uk Government Emergency Alert system using our mobile phones. While traditional methods of sharing this information via TV, radio and social media will still be used, the power and immediacy of mass mobile messaging will be showcased.

Emergency alerts for extreme weather conditions such as fires and floods are already deployed in other countries. During the Covid emergency, the government in The Netherlands used alerts to highlight the need for social distancing. In France, car insurers use SMS to warn of impending hail showers while some of the American states use text alerts in the case of missing children.

It's estimated that 91% of adults keep their smartphones within arm's reach (source: Morgan Stanley), so sending a notification to a phone is far more effective than waiting for people to switch on a TV or open an email. Emergency alerts can also be used to contact customers, staff and wider communities whenever speed and cost matters.

Who already uses SMS notifications?

Utility companies send customers alerts about extreme weather conditions that may impact power supply. In addition to warning messages, utility providers can also include links to useful information about staying safe, and notify customers once the risk has passed.

SMS is also used by healthcare providers to provide patients with important information prior to outpatient appointments and general admissions.

Employers can also use mass SMS notifications to communicate quickly with staff. Here at Esendex, our office manager tests mass SMS regularly to ensure we can share information quickly and easily - from anywhere. From the inconvenience of a burst pipe in the office, to an emergency situation in the city centre, staff can be alerted without needing to take a call from their manager or check their work email.

WhatsApp notifications

WhatsApp may be the new kid on the block, but it carries serious weight when it comes to communication, not least because of its popularity - with over 2 billion users worldwide and counting. Accessed via mobile data or Wi-Fi, it provides extra resilience over phone networks, and users tend to be naturally conditioned to reply via WhatsApp. It's an ideal option when you need to communicate and want feedback.

We've seen a number of schools utilise WhatsApp; most recently when schools shut due to heavy snowfall. As well as notifying parents that schools were closed, staff also ensured that children could be collected safely outside of normal school hours. WhatsApp's 'group' functionality means that important information can be shared simultaneously with groups in the wider community.

WhatsApp and SMS are also perfect when customers need to be notified about operational issues:

Unexpected service or software disruption?
Send an SMS to customers with a link to useful information and redirect non-essential calls from busy call centres.

Need to close early but don't want customers to make a wasted journey?
Send a mass SMS notification to your customer base (and maybe offer a discount incentive for them to visit tomorrow!).

One of your medical or dental team calls in sick?
SMS can help you notify all scheduled patients within minutes and prompt them to rebook their appointment.

Unexpected delays across the city?
County Councils and local government use SMS messages to deliver local updates relating to major disruptions within city centres including fires, protest marches and emergency road closures.

Mary Henry
Brand and Communications Manager
Tel: 07964 015 781
Email: mary.henry@commify.com
Esendex, The Atrium, 20 Wollaton St, Nottingham NG1 5FW

Esendex was founded in Nottingham, UK in 2001 with a mission to build a quality SMS service
for businesses, the brand has grown throughout Europe and APAC and is now trusted by
over major businesses and brand names for our secure, reliable and fast message
delivery, future-proofed product development and our unrivalled customer support.

Today Esendex is part of the Commify Group; a global portfolio of business messaging brands
working with more than 45,000 companies, helping them transform their mobile
communications. Commify is Europe's leading supplier of Application-To-Person business
messaging services with coverage across Europe, APAC and the US providing a global
reach, competitive pricing and unrivalled expertise.

We offer a full range of channels from the core of SMS, Email and Voice to the increasingly
relevant OTT (Over The Top) options from Google (RCS/Google Business Messenger) and Meta
(WhatsApp.)

This release was published on openPR.