{"id":39886,"date":"2024-02-13T05:32:43","date_gmt":"2024-02-13T05:32:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/onesaas.local\/au\/?post_type=use-cases&p=39886"},"modified":"2024-03-19T18:27:32","modified_gmt":"2024-03-19T18:27:32","slug":"sms-for-appointment-reminders","status":"publish","type":"use-cases","link":"https:\/\/messagemedia.com\/au\/use-cases\/sms-for-appointment-reminders\/","title":{"rendered":"SMS appointment reminders"},"content":{"rendered":"\r\n
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\r\n Home<\/a>\r\n > <\/span>\r\n <\/a>\r\n > <\/span> <\/p>\r\n \r\n \r\n

Drop no-shows with SMS appointment reminders.<\/h1>\r\n \r\n

Put the power of SMS to work and watch the number of no-shows drop. Here\u2019s why texting comes out on top for appointment reminders.<\/p>\r\n \r\n \r\n

\r\n \"This\r\n Amanda Ranville wrote in\r\n \u2022 <\/span>\r\n February 13, 2024 <\/div>\r\n \r\n <\/div>\r\n\r\n \r\n \r\n\r\n
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Every time a customer misses an appointment, it costs you. Not only do you miss out on revenue, but you still have to pay the staff standing around waiting for the customer to show up. It\u2019s a double whammy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

And the problem is, no-shows are rife. In healthcare, a whopping 27% of appointments are missed<\/a>. More broadly, the average no-show rate is 10-15%, and the costs quickly add up<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Missed appointments are annoying for customers too. If they simply forgot the appointment, then they have to go through the hassle of rescheduling.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Make life easier for you and your customers by sending appointment reminders via text.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

What are SMS appointment reminders?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

In a nutshell, SMS appointment reminders are automated text messages that remind customers about upcoming appointments. Timed to perfection and super convenient, they help reduce the number of no-shows.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The reminder text typically includes the date, time, and location of the appointment. If you use two-way texting, then it can also include a confirmation request. You can also use two-way texts to communicate changes, cancellations, or other info about their appointment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Note the word \u2018automated\u2019 above. The beauty of SMS is that it\u2019s set-and-forget. Integrate SMS into your appointment management software to automatically send a reminder a certain period of time before the appointment. This takes the onus off your team and saves heaps of time, too.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Why use SMS over email, phone, or an appointment card?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Remember appointment cards? Written in good faith by a friendly receptionist, only for you to slip it into your bag and promptly forget about it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Or what about phone calls to remind customers about appointments? Just think how much time that takes out of a busy admin team\u2019s day \u2013 not to mention how many people ignore calls from unknown numbers these days.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Then there are other ways of reminding people about upcoming appointments. Email is one. Push notifications from a business app is another. These methods can work \u2014 but they rely on customers either downloading your app or checking their emails (and, potentially, their junk folder). Neither are guaranteed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s why SMS can be the most effective channel for appointment reminders. SMS is:<\/p>\n\n\n\n