Order and delivery updates
Keep customers informed from order to doorstep and cut the where-is-my-order calls.
Read moreSMS for couriers, logistics and warehousing
Get deliveries through first time and keep drivers and warehouse teams informed. Orbis SMS gives logistics operators a straightforward way to text customers and staff.
The challenge
Why logistics & couriers turn to SMS
Failed deliveries are expensive: every second attempt costs fuel, driver time and customer patience. Recipients often do not know when to expect a parcel, so they are out when the van arrives. Delivery texts are also the most commonly faked messages in the UK, which means genuine notifications are increasingly ignored or reported as scams. Behind the scenes, depots and warehouses need to reach drivers and pickers about overtime, early starts, weather disruption and site changes, often outside office hours, when a group chat or noticeboard is not enough.
How Orbis SMS helps
Messages that make a difference
- 1
Delivery day notices
Import the day's deliveries from your routing or warehouse system as a CSV and text each recipient on the morning of delivery with a time window. Knowing roughly when to expect a parcel makes it much more likely that someone is in to receive it.
- 2
Missed delivery messages
When a delivery cannot be completed, send a clear message explaining what happened, where the item is now and how to rearrange. Using your own sender ID and plain wording helps customers trust the message rather than suspecting a scam.
- 3
Collection reminders
Remind customers that items are waiting at a depot or collection point, with opening hours and how long they will be held. A follow-up a day or two before the item is returned to the sender reduces costly returns and gives the customer one more clear chance to collect.
- 4
Driver and warehouse shift alerts
Text drivers and warehouse teams about overtime, early starts during peak periods, rota changes and site access arrangements. Groups by depot or shift pattern help each message reach only the people who need it, and scheduling lets supervisors prepare alerts before they go off shift.
- 5
Disruption alerts
Send updates to customers or staff when snow, flooding, road closures or system outages affect services. Telling people early about delays reduces calls to the customer service team and protects your reputation. Keep a template ready so alerts can go out quickly when conditions change.
Good practice
Compliance notes for logistics & couriers
Delivery notifications are service messages, but because they are so widely imitated, avoid asking for payment, personal details or redelivery fees by text, and avoid links from unfamiliar or shortened domains. Use a recognisable sender ID, tell customers how you will contact them and stick to the same wording each time. Only use recipient numbers supplied for the delivery, not for unrelated marketing.
General information only, not legal advice. See our guide to UK SMS marketing rules and Acceptable Use Policy.
Use cases
Popular with logistics & couriers
Staff alerts and rota updates
Reach your whole team fast with shift changes, cover requests and urgent notices.
Read more
Emergency and service alerts
Tell people quickly about closures, outages and disruption when every minute counts.
Read moreQuestions
Frequently asked questions
Many operators export the day's delivery list as a CSV and import it into Orbis SMS each morning, which takes a few minutes and works with most systems.
Request a sender ID with your company name, subject to approval, and keep your wording consistent. Never ask for payment or bank details by text, avoid shortened links and tell customers on your website how you contact them.
Orbis SMS shows delivery information where it is available from the network, and reports summarise what was sent and delivered. This helps the office see which customers may not have received a delivery notice.
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