Introduction

Nowadays most IT applications will use SMS as a means of communicating with their customers. Chances are that your back management or CRM system will have an SMS element to it. What happens is that your software is connected to aggregators, like Sendmode, using an SMS API, which sends the message to Sendmode and we sent it out on you behalf to the mobile operators.

Everything from Dental software to Hospital, Schools, Banking and nearly every other field have SMS functionality built into their software. It is ubuiqitous nowadays and you as the customer have the choice on which SMS provider you connect to.

Sendmode have a super easy to use API which connects with thousands of software applications and can have your company SMS enabled in minutes.

Integrate SMS seamlessly with your applications using Sendmode.co.uk’s API. Click on the image below to get started with our Sendmode SMS API and we’ll get you up and running in minutes.

What is an SMS API?

An SMS API (Application Programming Interface) as a bridge between an application and an SMS gateway. You are the application owner and we are the SMS Gateway.

Typically your software provider will have multiple connections available which allows different SMS gateways to connect to their software. An example would be Hubspot CRM which allows hundreds of SMS providers to connect and offer their services to hubspot customers. It is super easy to setup a connection between Hubspot and an SMS provider like Sendmode. Once you have done this, you can SMS your customers directly from your Hubspot account. The real time reports come back in seconds so you know the message is delivered.

Most API will have a number of features available from within your office software such as, Bulk SMS sending (for Marketing purposes for example), Two-way messaging (for appointment confirmations),  Delivery status tracking (for traceability) and Custom sender IDs (for branding).

How Does an SMS API Work?

As stated above an SMS API is a technical bridge between the application, your office software, and the SMS Gateway (Sendmode). In general your office software supplier will have IT developers open up multiple connections to different SMS Suppliers.

From a technical IT perspective, this is what happens when you have integrated with an SMS Gateway and you wish to send a message to a customer from your office software.

• Step 1: API Request. The application sends an SMS request via HTTP or REST API. The request is validated with an encrypted key or username and password. All requests will use HTTPS protocol which ensures end to end encryption.
• Step 2: Message Processing. The SMS gateway receives the request and formats it, checks the number and custom SenderID are valid and then passes the message onto the appropriate mobile network. The mobile network will then deliver the message.
• Step 3: Message Delivery. The SMS is sent to the recipient via a mobile network. The recipient’s handset acknowledges receipt back to the mobile network and a delivery message is sent back to the originating SMS Gateway.
• Step 4: Delivery Report – The system receives a status update (delivered, failed, etc.) and this is then passed back to your back office software. You can now see that the message was delivered to the recipient.

The above 4 steps all take place in real time in a matter of seconds.

Simplify SMS automation with Sendmode’s easy-to-use API. Sign up now!! Simply click on the image below.

Benefits of Using an SMS API for Businesses

Having access to an SMS API for your marketing and communications can have real benefits for your organization. Businesses using SMS APIs report a 40% increase in customer engagement.

• Automation SMS Messaging. You can Schedule and send bulk messages without manual input well in advance of time so you can have your marketing plan for the next month scheduled and ready to go.
• Reliability. SMS is widely proven to have a 98% read rate so you can be sure your messages reach customers AND are read by your customers. No other media channel comes even close to matching this read rate.
• Integration. You can SMS-enable pretty much any application these days via an SMS API. Connect with CRM, e-commerce platforms, and back office application in minutes.
• Scalability. SMS providers handle millions of SMS messages per month and can handle large volumes of messages with ease.

Use Cases of SMS APIs in Different Industries

Let’s have a look at how integration with an SMS API would be used in real life scenarios in different industries.

• E-commerce. You can automate a number of touch points with your customers such as order confirmations, shipping updates or even cart abandonments. We have written an article on how to reduce cart abandonments with SMS Marketing. It is available here. https://www.sendmode.co.uk/how-to-reduce-cart-abandonment-with-sms-marketing
• Banking & Finance – Transaction alerts, OTP authentication.
• Healthcare. SMS is widely used in Healthcare especially for appointment reminders in order to drive down the number of no-shows. It is also used for prescription notifications in pharmacy.
• Customer Support. Automated responses and two-way communication.
• Logistics. For logistic companies SMS can deliver real-time delivery updates for both customers.

Common Challenges & How to Overcome Them

All Bulk SMS Suppliers will offer an API. However not all are the same. There are a number of things to keep in mind when you are choosing an SMS supplier to handle your SMS API requirements.

• Message Deliverability Issues. Make sure you use a well-known reliable SMS gateways which has a lot of customer reviews and can easily handle to volume you are expecting to send each month.
• Compliance & GDPR Regulations. All good SMS suppliers will have GDPR and Data Protection policy which will ensure you remain compliant. If they don’t, then quite simply, don’t use them.
• API Downtime. An SMS supplier which sends millions of messages per month must have the capacity to provide guarantees of 9% uptime. Ask for this in order to prove they have the capacity to meet your service requirements.
• Security Risks. At a minimum level your SMS API should be using https encryption for all communications. They should also offer secure transmission protocols such as REST and SMPP connections. This makes sure any sensitive data you send to the SMS API is safe from hacking attempts.

Conclusion

SMS API’s have been used by thousands of businesses to simplify business communication and automation over many years and are now a well known part of businesses communication strategies. Many SMS services will offer APIs to customers but as we mentioned above, not all are the same. Make sure you choose wisely using some of the guidelines above and you will realise the benefits of SMS APIs in now time.

If you have back office software running which can be SMS Enabled, we encourage you to look at integrating an SMS API for customer engagement, security, and marketing. It is well proven that nothing matches SMS for customer engagement and retention and by automating this will an SMS API from your ecommerce or back office you will save both time and money, while reaching your customers instantly.

Automate your SMS communication with Sendmode.co.uk’s robust API solutions. We send millions of messages per month via our SMS Gateway. Start now by clicking the image below.

FAQ Recommendations (Answers in 50 Words or Less)

1. What is an SMS API?
   An SMS API allows businesses to send and receive text messages programmatically using software applications which have connected to SMS Gateway such as Sendmode. It is the SMS API which makes the bridge between the software and the SMS Gateway
2. How does an SMS API work?
   The API connects an application to an SMS gateway, authorizes the connection and then sending messages through telecom networks. The networks will then delivery the message and return a delivery report back up the chain to the originating back office software.
3. What businesses can use SMS APIs?
   Any business who uses software for businesss management or marketing. This is pretty much ALL types of business nowadays. Including but not exclusive to E-commerce, banking, healthcare, logistics, and customer support benefit from SMS APIs.
4. Is an SMS API secure?
   Yes, reliable APIs use encryption and authentication to ensure message security. APIs will also use the HTTPS protocol which will ensure End to End encryption for your messages.
5. Can I send bulk messages using an SMS API?
   Yes, All SMS APIs should support bulk messaging for marketing, alerts, and updates. As this is a critical part of SMS Marketing you should ensure that your back office software, and subsequently your SMS Gateway allows you to send Bulk Messages.
6. How much does an SMS API cost?
   Costs vary depending on SMS Gateway. Some suppliers such as Sendmode will keep the cost down and still provide awesome customers service to our customers. Others, well …. Not so much…
7. Do I need coding skills to use an SMS API?
   Some technical knowledge is helpful, but many providers offer no-code integrations. Most software providers will have already created an integration pathway to SMS Gateways such as Sendmode.
8. How can I track SMS delivery using an API?
   All APIs should provide delivery status reports to monitor message performance. If your SMS Supplier does not provide this or tries to put everything to a status of Delivered, then maybe look at a different SMS Gateway.