With the arrival of new communication channels, the belief has been installed that SMS is no longer an efficient means of communication. Actually, it has now been shown to be a very effective channel for companies and brands that want to communicate directly, immediately and personalized with their audience.
In any case, traditional SMS has also evolved due to the needs of stores and public and private institutions that asked for a more secure means of communication. Thus was born the SMS certificate of legal validity.
Given this situation, the question arises: when to use traditional SMS and when to prefer certified SMS?
If you are looking for the answer to this question, don't worry because in this article we are going to tell you about the differences between both types of SMS and when to use each one.
What differentiates SMS from Certified SMS?
Both types of text messages are used in specific cases. What do we mean? Sometimes it is better to use a traditional SMS , for example during an advertising campaign, in other cases it is necessary to resort to legally valid text messages, such as when a non-payment notification must be sent.
Now, we are sure that you are wondering what differentiates one from the other. The traditional SMS can be sent by anyone without the need for prior identification of the sender . Instead, the certified SMS is characterized by including the description of the company's service and by having a verified and identifiable sender number.
All this information helps to create and foster greater confidence in the user who receives the message, whether for promotional purposes or for transactional reasons. This increases the chances that the recipient of the message will open the SMS as soon as it is delivered.
However, the main difference between the two types of text messages is that the certified SMS has legal validity . When the company sends the message, it receives in exchange from the service provider a certificate indicating the day and time of delivery and reception of the SMS, in addition to the rectification of the content of the transmitted text. If at any time this message needs to be presented in court as evidence in favor of the company, the issued certificate has legal value , which does not happen with traditional SMS.
We can say, then, that the certified SMS is ideal in case of having to send an important notification, where it is necessary to have proof that the SMS was read by the recipient. In contrast, the traditional text message is perfect for advertising campaigns when sending promotions, coupons or for notifications that do not require a legal basis.
When should I use SMS?
Now that you know what the main differences are between the two types of SMS, it is necessary to delve into when it is preferable to resort to the traditional text message. In this way, you will know in advance when to request this type of service from companies specialized in the sector such as Afilnet.
Marketing campaings
In the field of Digital Marketing, SMS are used to start advertising campaigns . Brands typically send their customers or potential buyers short-term promotions . Let's not forget that the text message allows you to communicate concisely and efficiently with your database, so its benefits are undeniable in the advertising sector.
In this case, the important thing is to strategically highlight the relevant information , such as the application of a significant discount if a certain product is purchased or a special last minute sale.
Thanks to its immediacy, customization and reduced cost, more and more online and physical stores have decided to start an advertising campaign of mass SMS sending to notify buyers of a new launch of exclusive offers for a limited time and promotions.
Depending on the way in which the message is created, the objective of SMS Marketing can be to retain existing customers or to attract the attention of potential buyers to increase sales volume.
dating notifications
An excellent direct and personalized communication channel to remind customers or patients of appointments is SMS. In this sense, it can happen that people forget to have made an appointment , especially if it has been a long time.
If you want to prevent this from happening, you can send a text message reminding you of the day, time and reason for the scheduled appointment. Additionally, you could ask in the text that the client RSVP to further optimize your appointment management system.
One-time passwords or double authentication
On the other hand, if you want to use a secure means of communication, SMS is what you need. In this sense, the text message is often used when companies want to provide platform users, such as banks, with a high level of security. How? By sending a one-time password or also known as double authentication.
This security measure guarantees that the person who wants to access an account is who they claim to be, since the verification process requires inserting a temporary access code that is sent to the user via SMS.
In this way, companies and institutions defend themselves and reduce the chances of suffering a cyberattack such as the well-known Phishing (technique to steal passwords).
When should I use Certified SMS?
Unlike the traditional SMS, the certified text message should be used mainly to send notifications of a legal nature, as we will see below.
Collection claims, debts or non-payments
In the banking sector, certified SMS are essential in communicating with users. Indeed, banking and credit entities usually send notifications to claim collections, debts or non-payments by means of a text message.
The procedure is simple. An SMS is written and sent to him. The company that manages the certified SMS service delivers a document to the bank certifying the delivery of the message, specifying the day, time and content.
The main advantage of this type of SMS for banking institutions is that the certificate becomes a guarantee and reliable proof that the message was delivered. In case of initiating a lawsuit, the recipient of the message will not be able to argue that they were not notified.
Notify changes in contracts or conditions of services
Everyone knows that contracts and service conditions are always subject to changes in terms and conditions that end up affecting the user. In this situation, the companies or those who draw up the contracts are legally obliged to notify the clients of the changes made.
For this, there is no better communication channel than the legally valid SMS whose certificate guarantees the delivery of the message. In the future, in the event that a lawsuit is initiated, the user or the parties involved will not be able to make claims alluding to ignorance of the changes introduced.
Sending court appointments
The sector that most needs certified text messages is the judicial field. In this sense, it is known that in the courts communication has to be fast, direct and personalized so that a claim or trial can move forward as quickly as possible.
For this reason, it was decided to implement the use of certified SMS as a communication channel that guarantees the possibility of sending notifications with a high level of security and in an efficient way.
To give you an example, these types of text messages are used in divorce cases where the court communicates to the lawyers the day and time of the court appointment, conciliation or the start of the divorce lawsuit.
Notifications that may be legally required
Finally, we cannot conclude without pointing out that certified SMS are essential to send notifications of a legal nature. They are not only used by the courts and by banks, but also by the public administration.
In fact, in the field of public administration, notifications of inspections, fines, reminders of administrative appointments are sent daily, the content of which must be sent in a legally valid manner. In this case, the privileged medium is the certified SMS, since it offers the possibility of distributing wide-ranging, personalized and automated messages.
conclusion
To summarize, we can say that SMS is a means of communication that offers many advantages in its two versions: the traditional message and the certificate. Both are characterized by their immediacy, their wide scope and their low price, so their cost-return on investment ratio is high.
However, each type of SMS has a specific use. In some cases, it is better to prefer the traditional text message, especially if the ultimate goal is to promote products or services, in other cases, you may need the certified SMS if you have to send notifications of a legal nature.
As you will see, everything depends on the needs and demands of the stores, brands or institutions.