5 things you need to know before selecting your sms api service providers

API (Application Programming Interface) is basically an interface, wherein an end-user can easily communicate with various other software components. API basically consists of subroutine definitions, tools and protocols for building the required application software. 

HOW SMS API WORKS:Through the SMS API platform, you will be able to develop your own customized SMS based upon your needs, and use it for sending and receiving text messages. The integration of SMS with API is carried out through a well-defined sequence of steps. 

Integrating SMS API with your Software application involves 5 steps

 1. Selecting the right SMS messaging company: When it comes to selecting the right SMS messaging company, Vectramind is one of the best tier 1 sms aggregators, sms api and bulk sms providers with more than a decade of messaging solutions to fortune 500 companies A well-established Bulk SMS provider it brings Network reach, professional technical support, and a committed customer support team

 2. Get to know as to how other Software Apps use the SMS facility: Understand as to how other Software Apps provide global text messaging to their clients. SMS alerts and transactions is another pertinent area wherein you have to stress upon. 

3. Find your ideal SMS API Provider: In some scenarios, SMS messaging companies themselves provide us with the SMS API platform. You can count on Vectramind, when it comes to choosing for the ideal SMS API Provider, as Vectramind has got the required experience and expertise in carrying out seamless SMS API services. SMS API acts as an interface between your software app/website and the Bulk SMS Provider, so that you can send and receive your customized SMS without any hassle whatsoever. 

4. Sync up your customer database with your system: For configuring  API with your application.you will need  to use a simple web-based interface, so that there will be ease in managing your API based connections, run campaigns and view the statistics. 

5.Finally, integrating your fully enabled software app (with SMS API) with the SMS messaging company: Finally, the configurations and integration of API has to be thoroughly tested. When everything is set in place and is fully functional, then after you got to test your Software app by sending bulk messages. 

How can SMS API’s help businesses grow? Marketers are using the SMS API platform to carry out their marketing communication activities with the help of text messages. Businesses can use this profitable platform in order to streamline the business communications that take place in an organization. There are two ways in general, wherein businesses can use the SMS API platform to reach their target audience. 

1. 2-Way SMS: In 2-Way SMS scenario, a particular company can use the API platform to deliver in-built responses based on inputs made by end-users. This will, in turn, help companies to gather a wide variety of information from their customers so that they can communicate even better and in a more meaningful manner. Companies using the 2-Way SMS strategy will eventually help them get to know about their customers in a better manner, which will, in turn, help them in customer engagement. 

2. Confirmations and Alerts: On a personal level, we send alerts and confirmations to our friends in order to get their attention for an upcoming event or party etc. Professionally, businesses send alerts and confirmations to their respective customers, in order to build long-term customer relationships. Alert based messages are used for account related information such as low balance, fine-tuning the pricing plans etc. When it comes to confirmation based messages, it is used for online ordering, notifications, reminders etc.  This ensures customer relationship is strengthened to a considerable extent. 

For example, you own an online retail store wherein you want to send your customers a message, whenever they have purchased a product from your website. Suppose John is your customer and he purchases a shirt from your online store. What happens is John puts in all the relevant details as per your website rules, and then clicks on the ‘buy’ button. Technically, when John clicks on the buy button, a purchase script detects that a purchase has been made and sends the request to the SMS API Provider. Then after john’s mobile phone gets an SMS (in a matter of just a few seconds) with all the relevant details that he has typed in while purchasing the shirt, along with the purchase order number and delivery date. This is how SMS API is being implemented.

According to Transparency Market Research, the global opportunity in the A2P SMS API market is expected to rise from US$171.9 mn in 2015 to US$245.9 mn by 2024, expanding at a 4.1% CAGR between 2016 and 2024. 

Meanwhile, consumer usage of bulk SMS continues to be the leading segment worldwide accounting for 34.1% of the market. On the other hand,  the  API segment accounted for 55.3% of the market in 2015. However, cloud API segment is expected to expand at a 4.3% CAGR, whereas traditional API segment is expected to exhibit at a 3.9% CAGR from 2016 through 2024.