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How an SMS campaign can help you with supply problems

The latest events of shortages of certain products, the acceleration in price escalation or problems in distribution have forced many businesses to reinvent or discontinue services due to distribution problems and lack of supply.

Unfortunately, it seems that this problem is becoming more and more common. In recent years, there have been other triggers that, even on a smaller scale, also have compromised supply at specific times: from extreme weather events, to massive purchases to stockpile in fear of new supply problems.

Below are five ideas to help in situations of shortage through strategic use of text messages.

SMS for previous appointments and confirmations

Many businesses are changing services and hours to open their doors only when they have confirmed appointments from clients and have basic raw materials to perform the service. This allows it to be more effective by saving supply costs and closing when production, distribution or service provision is not possible.

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This adaptation to customer appointments requires great organizational skills, as well as a constant effort to inform customers to confirm or reschedule appointments. This task can be greatly facilitated through tools such as Whatsapp Business or even by SMS API. Hairdressers, dental clinics or restaurants can communicate directly with their clients and send them reminders and confirmations automatically, without having to spend time or resources to make individual calls.

With a 95% open rate, SMS is a quick and easy way to get short but important messages across. In addition, the moment of consumption of the information is almost immediate, since 90% of the messages are read in the first 3 minutes after receiving the SMS. “Thanks to their reliability and immediacy, text messages are very useful, for example, to confirm delivery dates, quantities, or any type of notice that may significantly affect the service, such as delays or rationing”, explains Ignacio Espada, head of Sales at SMSpubli.

SMS to inform about changes in the offer

The supply crisis is forcing many establishments to make changes in the supply and focus their sales on those products less impacted by shortages or price increases.

In addition, changing the offer can be used as an excuse to proactively contact customers and encourage the sale of new products as alternatives to products that are in short supply. In this sense, the Digitization also makes companies more resilient to the crisis. For example, businesses with contact and authorization data from their customers can be supported by sending text messages through 100% digital platforms.

SMS with flash offers, special promotions and key days

The indicated dates are a good time to launch special promotions, since users have a greater predisposition to consume. For example, Mother’s Day, seasonal or climatological changes, the patron saint festivities of each locality or the sales seasons.

These marked dates provide a favorable context to impact customers through so-called “flash offers” and drive purchases. “These types of offers usually last a short period of time or apply only to a limited number of products, so that they transfer to the customer an ephemeral opportunity that encourages consumption”, announces the SMSpubli sales manager.

In situations of shortage, flash sales they can be made on products with little stock to announce a limited sales volume; or the opposite, about products with more stock but special offers (3×2, 2×1…) with the intention of reducing stock and obtaining sales. To inform about these offers, SMS campaigns are cheaper and more immediate than postal mail or direct mail, and they have better results.

SMS to recover lost sales due to lack of stock

In recent years, many businesses have digitized their sales channels so as not to depend exclusively on their physical store, and thus expand their target. The opening of an e-commerce gives many businesses the possibility of expanding their public and overcoming the barriers of proximity that are so typical of neighborhood businesses.

when a customer cannot make the purchase online due to lack of stock, the user can request to be notified when the product is available again. SMS can be configured for this purpose through the SMS API, to send automatic text messages to the consumer as soon as stock is available again. The message may include a direct link to your online store account that allows you to continue shopping exactly where you left off. “In these cases, it is key to incorporate a simple and direct call to action so that the user is encouraged to take the next step and complete their order.”, points out Ignacio Espada.

SMS to sell personalized experiences

In an increasingly competitive and globalized market, it is difficult to differentiate yourself exclusively by product. One of the strengths of small businesses is their proximity to customers, but neighborhood businesses have not always had the ability to exploit this advantage in marketing terms.

Text messages can be used to create a personalized experience according to the preferences and characteristics of the customers, as long as we know them. Some of the most basic data are age, sex, location… but also the frequency of consumption, or the products they usually buy. If the user is part of a loyalty program, we probably count these and even more useful data such as their municipality or birthday.

With all this information, SMS can be segmented and personalized, including the name of the recipient, making reminders of periodic purchases, or reaching users on designated dates, launching special offers on products to enjoy at local parties in their region or on their recurring purchases on their birthday.

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