Appointment reminder texts
Cut missed appointments with a timely text the day before, sent automatically at the time you choose.
Read moreEmergency and service alerts when speed matters
When a school closes for snow, a water supply is off or a site must be evacuated, people need to know fast. SMS is read within minutes and works on any mobile phone.
Why it matters
What goes wrong without it
Disruption rarely comes at a convenient time. Burst pipes, power cuts, severe weather and IT outages all demand quick, clear communication. Posting on a website or social media relies on people checking, which many will not do until it is too late. Phone trees take too long and leave gaps. Without a reliable way to reach everyone, organisations face confused customers, wasted journeys, safety concerns and a flood of calls just when staff are busiest. A prepared SMS alert plan means the right people get the right information in minutes, with follow-ups as the situation changes.
How Orbis SMS helps
Step by step
- 1
Prepare groups before you need them
Organise contacts in advance into groups such as residents by area, parents by school year or staff by site. When something happens, you can select the affected group immediately rather than building a list under pressure. Review these groups regularly, especially after people move or leave.
- 2
Draft alert templates now
Write templates for likely scenarios: closure, delay, outage and all clear. Include who you are, what has happened, what people should do and where to find updates. Having approved wording ready removes hesitation during an incident and keeps messages calm and consistent.
- 3
Send immediately and follow up
Send the first alert as soon as the facts are confirmed, then follow up with updates as the situation develops. Make sure your credit balance is healthy at all times, so an urgent send is never held up by an empty account.
- 4
Keep a record of what was sent
Your message history provides a clear record of every alert, the time it was sent and delivery information where available. That supports post-incident reviews and helps you show exactly how and when people were informed, which regulators, insurers and boards may ask about.
Questions
Frequently asked questions
No SMS service can guarantee delivery, as it depends on networks and handsets. SMS is still one of the fastest and most widely reachable channels. For critical situations, many organisations combine text with other channels such as voice calls.
Yes. Orbis SMS runs in a web browser, so authorised staff can log in and send alerts from wherever they are, at any time an incident occurs.
Genuine service and safety messages are not marketing, so a marketing opt-out is not required. Keep them strictly factual and do not add promotional content.
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Order and delivery updates
Keep customers informed from order to doorstep and cut the where-is-my-order calls.
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SMS marketing campaigns
Promote offers, events and new stock to customers who have chosen to hear from you.
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