SMS Emerges As Vital Business Tool
60% of businesses use text messaging on a daily basis, reflecting the medium’s growing importance as a communications tool, according to new research from the Mobile Data Association (MDA).
The results of a survey carried out by the MDA among delegates at the recent SMS 2002 conference show that 80% of businesses use text messaging instead of email if they are away from their PC.
Half of the delegates attending the conference agreed that text messaging was their preferred method of communicating brief messages in all circumstances. According to the survey, the majority of business related texts are currently being sent to colleagues, customers, bosses and suppliers.
The delegates predicted that the future uses of text messaging in business will be customer communication, promotional campaigns and updating sales teams.
Commenting on the findings, Mike Short, chairman of the Mobile Data Association, said: “The survey demonstrates that businesses understand that text messaging can play a vital role in the working practices of any organisation and should not be ignored as a useful business tool. As Britain becomes a mobile workforce, customers and employees will increasingly demand more and more information at their fingertips. The use of text as a way to achieve this will inevitably rise.”
However, the conference was aimed at marketers and businesses looking for better ways to reach and build relationships with their customers and target audiences. As such the participants’ willingness to use text messaging may not reflect the practises of the wider business community.
The latest figures from the MDA show that an average of 50 million text messages were sent each day during October (see 50 Million Text Messages A Day In October).
Mobile Data Association: 01922 419600 www.mda-mobiledata.org
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