Let's talk upcoming trends in Bulk SMS

SMS is took off to a new stage from just a simple plain text message. Whatever the trends, even as alternative technologies may threaten to erode volumes and, in combination with regulatory action and competition, revenues. We witnessed importance of SMS to users is very useful. The SMS technology, or rather the service, has shown the ability to adapt itself to a whole host of use cases influencing the businesses to drive ROI by implementing the different methods of SMS use.

There is also a shift from developing messaging solutions for basic phones to include opportunities for more interactive Apps for features phones and smartphones. And one of those newest methods embedding SHORT URL/Custom URL in the SMS has caused quite the talk. This SMS marketing tactic has enabled customer to access to a rich content. In other means SMS connects you to the Internet world. Now you can easily engage and send URLs that re - direct customers to your company’s mobile website, a survey webpage, a mob app, mobile video and image… etc.

Sending the m-tickets, invoice, pdf and other documents via these short links embedded can help users at a great instance. Also, the links can direct the user to website or mob app to check out the new product collections or the products which are in the sale or invitation to download the apps/file. This mechanism optimizes the click-through campaigns and enables the user to track real time performance metrics that includes the click rates and tracks the recipient mobile numbers of the clicked ones. Also, gives the fantastic user experience at the user’s fingertips. The enterprises effectively engages its audience and in turn increasing the consumption of SMS.

With day-by-day emerging companies into the market, the use of Bulk SMS can be seen more in the mechanism of providing real-time information via SMS notifications. Not to forget the sensitive information like OTP codes to complete the transactions or to authenticate the new user. All these will remain as layer of security.

The use of texts in m-health will be a great importance.

Location-Based Services (LBS) & Advertising (LBA). Recent polls suggest that consumers are very open to location based advertising. Facebook Places and Foursquare are becoming popular applications for businesses to connect with consumers… but an advancement in SMS technologies called ‘geo-fencing’ may prove very popular as well! For ex: depending upon the number of visits you can send discount coupons.

Proximity marketing is also on the horizon. Proximity marketing would allow businesses with Bluetooth or SMS-CB (Short Message Service – Cell Broadcast) will allow businesses to ‘push’ advertisements when a consumer arrives within reach of the transmission region. Since this technology often doesn’t require permission, it’s questionable whether or not proximity marketing will become popular.

The new Bulk SMS strategies allows you to do targeting and performance driven campaigns. They leave you chance to know and learn more about your audience insights. Today, we see the SMS – from the service info giver, it has become the enterprising messaging and security. SMS traffic will grow 40% by 2016 across the globe. Its usage continues to increase campaigns and growth every year with more and more new innovative ways of utilizing its potential coming to the forefront.

The author is Aniketh Jain, CEO and Co-founder, Solutions Infini Technologies