SMS Two-way: How 64% of your customers prefer communicating

SMS 2 way messaging

Research has found that the majority of customers – 64% with text messaging capabilities - would prefer to perform customer service activities with companies via SMS than over the phone. They feel it’s a more efficient and convenient use of their time.

Young people are even more likely to want this. A significant 7% of those aged 18 to 34 say they prefer SMS two-way messaging over other types of communication when it comes to solving issues. Moreover, they’ll choose to stay loyal to a company that offers SMS messaging services.

How does SMS two-way fit into your business?

Many companies are already using SMS to disseminate bulk marketing messages or send reminders to customers. But users want more: they want a conversation; they want to send a question and receive an immediate answer.

Research has found that customers would like to complete these activities via SMS:

• Check the status of an order

• Schedule or change an appointment

• Make or follow up on reservations

• Ask a question

• Find the location of a store

• Check due dates or balances

• Arrange for orders to be refilled

• Reset passwords

And the most compelling statistic to convince companies to set up customer service via SMS? A massive 81% of people say they find it frustrating to be tied to a phone or computer to wait for customer service assistance. If that isn’t enough to convince a company of the importance of this method of communication, 90% of customers will choose to leave due to a bad experience and are willing to pay more for more pleasant customer experience from a competitor.

Reasons customers prefer using SMS two-way to resolve queries

• Customers dislike waiting on hold.

• SMS communication allows customers to multitask while resolving their queries.

• They are able to find solutions while in a noise-sensitive environment.

• Customers sometimes just don’t want to talk on the phone – for example if they are in an office where they don't feel comfortable speaking aloud.

If you’re convinced and are looking for a customer relationship management solution that your base will appreciate and enjoy, have a look at Clickatell’s product selector to choose the best SMS option for your business.