How bulk sms business work

below are the list of tables for How bulk sms business work ?

Table Of Contents
1 What is Bulk SMS API?
2 How does Bulk SMS API work?
3 Integrating Bulk SMS API with marketing automation tools
4 When to use Bulk SMS API?
5 Types of Bulk SMSes
6 How to choose a Bulk SMS API provider for your business?
7 Summing It Up

SMS remains the most commonly used communication tool for businesses — be it for marketing, sending instant OTPs, automating regular reminders etc. — because they are reliable, easy-to-use and cost-effective.
Gartner finds that SMS open rates and response rates are as high as 98% and 45%, respectively. With a robust SMS API, businesses can automate their SMS campaigns and engage customers more proactively.

How does Bulk SMS API work?

The SMS API is an HTTP-based REST API that enables you to send SMSes using internal applications or software. It allows you to send SMS messages using code.

You can trigger SMS notifications to your customers on autopilot based on predetermined conditions. Once integrated with an SMS API, you can send an HTTP POST request, which will then automatically trigger SMS campaigns to the numbers of your choice.

Integrating Bulk SMS API with marketing automation tools

An important benefit of Bulk SMS APIs is its ability to integrate seamlessly with marketing automation tools that allow customer segmentation, targeting, message customization, analytics etc. This enables businesses to trigger bulk SMSes to large groups of customers without leaving their preferred tool.

For instance, Exotel’s bulk SMS API integrates with both WebEngage and CleverTap effortlessly. This means that you can manage customer relationships on marketing automation tool of your choice, send SMSes directly from its interface as well as track advanced analytics about your SMS campaigns in one place.

How to choose a Bulk SMS API provider for your business?

Choosing the right Bulk SMS API provider will decide the success of your SMS campaigns. This depends on factors like security, scalability, price, delivery rate, speed, customization options etc. Let us look at them one by one.

firstly Security: To avoid data breaches and protect customer data privacy, you need a service provider that offers secure network routing for your bulk SMSes. Check if they have robust security practices and protocols for network security, data at rest and data in transit. Ask if they perform third-party audits and penetration tests to identify their security blind spots.
Strong infrastructure: Your customers need you 24×7. So you need your SMS infra to be up 24×7, without glitches. To ensure this, choose a service provider that offers a robust infrastructure and minimal downtime. Enquire about their SMS delivery rates, history of unscheduled downtimes, time taken to respond, time to restore services etc.

secondly Reliability: An SMS API that crashes at the thought of sending 1 crore SMSes is of no use to you. Make sure that your bulk SMS API can handle large volumes of SMSes on a regular basis. To ensure this, compare uptime rates across providers. Ask for case studies or testimonials of large organisations in your industry.

Thirdly Flexibility: A good bulk SMS API should be able to adapt to your needs. While choosing one, look for integrations and personalizations. Check whether it works with the tools you use and offers the analytics you need. Also learn about the support available for the product.

Scalability: As your business grows, so will your SMS campaigns. To do this, you need a service provider with the infrastructure and capability to scale. Moreover, it also needs to offer economies of scale, avoiding dramatic increases in your spending.

fourthly User experience: Not all tools are easy to use. This can especially become a hindrance if you have huge teams engaging a large number of customers. The best way to test user experience is to try the bulk SMS API product before trying. You can try Exotel’s Bulk SMS API solution here.

in conclusion Affordability: Service providers that offer very low prices often compromise on their reliability, product features and customer support. On the other hand, expensive providers might make a dent on your ROI. So, choose carefully.
Take into consideration all costs — direct ones including taxes, expiry of unused credits, etc. and indirect ones such as the opportunity cost of changing providers at a later stage