How SMS Bulk Messaging Can Ease The Chaos Of Winter Weather
Winter can yield some pretty dire and changeable weather, especially here in the UK, where cold drizzly days can turn into freezing, snowy conditions in the blink of an eye. SMS bulk messaging is a great tool to alert people to sudden, adverse conditions, to ensure they stay safe during emergencies.
Nurseries, primary and secondary schools can use an SMS service to alert parents to closures – either before the event (‘Due to snow, we are unable to open today. Please do not send your child in’ – or during the event (‘Please collect your child from school before the weather deteriorates). This may be because conditions on the roads nearby are considered dangerous, because of staff shortages due to the snow, or there is no power in the building, making it unsafe for children to attend.
Adverse weather such as snow or ice can affect transport, whether on the road, rails or in the air. England, in particular, has suffered from devastating floods in recent years, causing roads, bridges and railways to collapse and leaving homeowners stranded without electricity and water supplies. The immediate danger can be eased with electronic water level sensors triggering flood warnings which in turn are used to automatically notify vulnerable homes via SMS, giving occupants time to evacuate safely.
Utility companies use SMS to advise customers what to do regarding safety in such an emergency or notifying them of a power cut or water outage. Not only are the messages lightning fast, using them also avoids overloaded call centre phone lines, freeing up time and staff for other vital jobs.
Travel companies can also keep customers up-to-date on delays and closures, meaning less congestion at stations and airports and improving traffic flow. Local councils also use SMS gateway to communicate road closures, road works or transportation delays, allowing people to choose the best course of action.
While Cosmic SMS can’t control the weather, our SMS bulk messaging service can be effectively used to tackle emergencies that it causes, providing companies with an opportunity to transform user experience. Find out more how an SMS service can improve your business’s communication strategy.
