What Does Your Business Need: Transactional or Promotional SMS?

According to Denmark International's assessment, the open rate for SMS or text messages has now surpassed 98 per cent. In addition, 90% of text messages are read within 3 seconds after delivery. SMS has become a significant component of omnichannel consumer communication due to its high and rapid open rate. Text messages are now used by a huge number of customers to communicate with businesses and brands. Similarly, most firms utilise text messaging as a reliable means of communicating with customers and running marketing efforts.

A business, on the other hand, sends Promotional Bulk SMS to tell consumers and prospects about offers, discounts, and promotions in order to market a product or brand. The TRAI has not properly defined promotional SMS. Non-transactional or service text messages, on the other hand, are treated as promotional text messages. As a result, before making use of bulk SMS services, organisations must understand the key distinctions between transactional and promotional SMS.

Major Differences between Transactional SMS and Promotional SMS

TRAI Guidelines

The Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI) has issued many rules to regulate bulk SMS services in India. It forbids companies and marketers from sending Promotional Bulk SMS to phone numbers on the Do Not Disturb (DND) list, for example. However, it permits enterprises to send transactional SMS to DND-listed clients.

As a result, it is critical for firms to refrain from sending promotional text messages to clients who meet the DND criterion. TRAI, on the other hand, updates the regulations and limits governing bulk SMS services on a regular basis. While sending any sort of text message, organisations must adhere to the most recent TRAI laws.

Purpose

As previously said, a company must send Transactional Bulk SMS and promotional SMS for several reasons. Existing customers can get essential product or service information via transactional text messages. A bank, for example, can send transactional SMS to transmit crucial information such as bank account balances, current bank transactions, and financial transaction OTPs.

Businesses, on the other hand, employ promotional tools as a potent tool for advertising and promoting their products and services. Customers receive these text messages with offers, discounts, or promotions. They also send promotional SMS to clients and prospects without their permission.

Delivery Time

Transactional Bulk SMS can be delivered in response to specific consumer activity, such as requesting an OTP or placing a purchase. As a result, a company may send transaction SMS messages at any time of the day. However, no company can send promotional communications to customers and prospects between the hours of 9 a.m. and 9 p.m.

Sender ID

Using various independent SMS gateways, bulk SMS service providers transmit transactional and promotional messages. However, companies must choose the sender ID based on the sort of text message they are sending. A firm can send transactional text messages using a six-character alphabetic sender ID. However, when sending promotional text messages, it must utilise a numeric sender ID.


Leading cloud telephony service providers to offer bulk SMS services that allow organisations to send both Transactional Bulk SMS and Promotional Bulk SMS while staying under TRAI restrictions. The providers not only assist businesses in running several SMS campaigns at the same time, but they also enhance the campaigns by providing advanced features like automatic DND verification, marketing campaign scheduling, automatic SMS retries, and business system connection. Please visit the website of SMS Squad and avail of the services.