10 Unique Ways to Use Bulk SMS for Logistics (and 5 benefits)

Logistics without fast communication is a nightmare. That’s why bulk SMS for your logistics business is like diesel to a truck – extremely crucial. 

Bulk SMS is the only means by which vendors, logistics providers, drivers, and consumers, can communicate quickly and cost-effectively.

See The Best Free SMS Templates For Logistics Businesses

But that’s not all, many logistics companies have used SMS to revamp their supply chain processes. And now, we’ll show you how to do that too. 

As you read this article, you will learn how to simplify your delivery operations and deliver an excellent customer experience with bulk SMS. All while saving time and money.

So let’s get started.

Amazing benefits of bulk SMS for the logistics industry

When it comes to logistics, SMS provides a two-way communication channel. SMS also offers a degree of immediacy and can be used to send text messages to both individuals and groups simultaneously.

With that said, here are five benefits of SMS for your courier and logistics businesses. 

1. SMS Minimises costs

Sending and receiving information through SMS is a lot more affordable option. In addition to being inexpensive, it takes less time and energy than using a phone or email. 

Emails require creative work, such as layout design and writing, which takes time and effort to complete. And calling your customers and employees for every update is not only tiresome but also ridiculously expensive.

But with SMS, you can simply integrate it into daily operations and you’ll have a cost-effective way to communicate with your customers and employees.

2. SMS improves customer experience

Customers love buying from businesses that offer them clear and honest communication. So creating an easy-to-follow method for them to stay updated about their consignments or deliveries not only improves your relationship with your customers but also helps in customer retention.

3. SMS streamlines communication

SMS helps streamline your internal and external communication while also allowing you to communicate conveniently with staff and customers. Nowadays, people are on their phones all the time. And, hence, 90% of text messages are read within the first 3 minutes of being received. Consequently, you can manage all your text communication from one centralised platform, saving you time and money.

4. SMS helps you offer a better customer service

Customer service centers are often inundated with calls regarding inquiries about products, consignment, and delivery information. And let’s admit it, nobody likes boring IVR menus. SMS can, thus, be a useful tool to deal with these queries and offer your customers better customer service. 

Besides, by replacing IVRs with 2-way SMS, you can instantly update the customer as well as fully automate your customer service, saving the agent’s time and resources.

Also Read: 10 Best SMS Templates For Your Customer Service Team

5. SMS can help to ensure your staff safety

SMS is the safest way to contact drivers on the move. If you need to convey changes in drop-off locations or pick-up schedules, correct contact details or record new jobs, you can simply send them a message which would be read whenever it’s convenient for them. This is much better than calling them. 

10 ways logistics companies can use text messaging for communication and supply chain management

Whether you are managing a single delivery or coordinating a complex network of deliveries, text messaging can help you stay in touch with customers, partners, and employees. 

Here are 10 ways logistics companies can use SMS in their communication mix to manage the logistics cycle, right from sourcing to order delivery.

1. Keep customers updated with logistical notifications

There’s nothing more satisfying for a customer than clear and timely communication. 

With transactional SMS, you can keep your customers in the loop about every stage of their shipment by automating pick-up, delivery, and estimated time of arrival notifications. 

Our SMS attachment feature allows you to send tracking URLs and location maps to customers so they can track their shipments in real-time and stay updated.

2. Reduce missed deliveries by sending time-sensitive updates

Send text message updates to your customers ahead of time so that they can make themselves available to collect their parcel when it arrives.

 Missed deliveries are straining for business because, for every missed delivery, you have to pay additional costs for re-delivery, including:

• added fuel cost
• transportation cost
• additional cost of manpower
• increased customer support calls

You can reduce the chances of missed deliveries by simply sending a text message beforehand to the customer.  This will result in cost savings since it won’t waste resources and riders’ time.

3. Simplify your customer service with 2-way text messaging

With dedicated shortcodes/long codes for your business, set up keywords for different support scenarios with our 2-way text service. This will give your customers the advantage of being able to text you directly whenever they have any queries. All for the cost of a standard SMS.

Let’s assume a customer wants to track a shipment or has a query regarding the rates for international delivery. They can simply send a keyword to the dedicated number to get an automated answer or to connect with a support agent. 

4. Enhance your operations with voice SMS

Replying to a text message while driving can be dangerous. So leverage voice messages to manage your drivers and ensure their safety. If there are any changes to the delivery address or route, convey it via voice message which the drivers can listen to easily. 

In the same vein, let your drivers provide route planning and transit time updates in a convenient manner by simply recording a voice message on the go. This is a great way to optimize operations and logistics tasks while increasing safety and productivity for your workforce.

5. Manage your staff better by communicating on the go

Reduce time spent on voice calls and get your message across quickly to your staff via text messaging. Assign jobs, send reminders, and keep your staff updated via group SMS.

6. Get feedback from customers easily

Be a business that’s always striving to improve. Send your customers surveys and questionnaires, asking them for feedback on how you can improve your service. Engaging with your customers this way shows that you value their input.

7. Leverage the SMS attachment feature

Go paperless and improve customer experience by sending attachments in text messages about invoices, details of the product, billing details, etc. 

You can also send parcel tracking URLs and location maps to customers for real-time tracking. 

8. Send reminders to customers

It’s important as a company that you don’t miss any payments. Send reminders to your customers about their outstanding bills or payments. 

With SMSCountry’s ‘Schedule Messages’ feature, you can set reminders in advance which means you aren’t stuck chasing around your client for payment. 

Also, add an online payment URL in your SMS to give your customers an instant way to pay their dues.

9. Promote your business with SMS marketing

One way to increase brand awareness and promote brand value to customers is through text messaging. People open, click, and respond faster and more frequently to marketing texts than to marketing emails.

By using SMS services, you can send out promotional content, sales, and discounts being offered by your business. For example, if you have just reduced the price of your service, this would be great information for people to receive over text!

Check out our blog on writing effective promotional SMS

10. Easily integrate with internal systems

With robust communication APIs, you can integrate SMS, Voice, or WhatsApp functionalities into your existing software or system. By doing so, you’ll be able to send SMS directly without logging into any separate SMS platform. 

Anything you need to communicate with drivers, customers, or the staff can be connected through simple API integrations.

A real-life example of how GarudaVega – a logistics company is using SMSCountry text messaging services

Let’s take an example scenario.

This is Stacey.

Stacey frequently shops online and the #1 thing she wants after placing an order is quick communication.

She wants to know the status of her shipments at all times. She also doesn’t want to jump through hoops to access that information.

GarudaVega, a logistics provider, knows what customers want most. 

They keep their customers informed through shipment information texts. 

This is a true win-win for GarudaVega and its customers. The customers get instant updates and GarudaVega benefits from fewer inbound customer service inquiries, making their team more efficient. 

Not only that, SMS is the secret weapon GarudaVega uses to deliver a great customer experience while being extremely cost-effective. Here’s how:

Stacey is expecting a shipment to arrive. Suddenly, she has to travel for work the next day. The annoying thing is that her shipment is due to be delivered that day.

She could ring the call centre, quote her order number, and go through the whole annoying, long-winded process of rescheduling her delivery. But who has time for that?

To her delight, she receives a text message from GarudaVega saying her delivery is due tomorrow. It even offers an option to rearrange. She selects a new time and date in an instant. And, best of all, she does it all from her taxi to the airport.

Stacey is not only a satisfied customer but a big advocate of GarudaVega as well because of the pleasant experience.

All of this is executed simply via an SMS platform. Cost savings, increased revenue, and happy customers – what could be better?

Streamline communication with an all-in-one SMS solution for transport and logistics

If you want a smooth flow of work, then bulk SMS is non-negotiable.

Start your bulk SMS journey now and equip your logistics team to make smart decisions on the road.

SMSCountry is a reliable and secure SMS gateway that has served over 60,000 businesses for decades. Let us serve you too.

If you are not sure about your choice, contact us to request a demo and see how SMSCountry works firsthand, or check out our blog on the best bulk SMS providers in the market.