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SMS Reminders Documentation

Automated text message reminders to reduce no-shows and improve customer communication

SMS Reminders requires BASIC+

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How SMS Reminders Work

Overview

SMS reminders automatically send text messages to customers before their scheduled appointments. This dramatically reduces no-shows and keeps customers informed.

What customers receive:

"Hi Sarah! This is a reminder from Sparkle Windows that you have a window cleaning appointment tomorrow (Tuesday, Jan 15) between 9am-11am. Reply CONFIRM to confirm or call us at (555) 123-4567 with questions."

Two-Way Messaging

With our Pro and Business tiers, customers can reply to reminders:

  • Reply CONFIRM to confirm their appointment
  • Reply with a message and it appears in your Sergio inbox

Setup & Configuration

Enabling SMS Reminders

  1. Navigate to Settings > Communications
  2. Find the SMS Reminders section
  3. Toggle Enable SMS Reminders to on
  4. Choose your default reminder timing:
    • 24 hours before appointment (recommended)
    • 2 hours before appointment
    • Both 24 hours and 2 hours
  5. Click Save Changes

Customizing Message Templates

  1. Go to Settings > Communications > SMS Templates
  2. Edit the default reminder template:

    Hi {customer_first_name}!

    Reminder: {service_type} scheduled for {date} at {time}.

    - {company_name}

  3. Available variables appear below the editor
  4. Preview your message to see how it looks
  5. Click Save Template

Customer Opt-In Management

SMS reminders respect customer preferences:

  • New customers opt-in by default when providing mobile number
  • Customers can opt out by replying STOP to any message
  • View opt-in status on each customer profile
  • Manually toggle SMS preferences in customer settings
  • Opted-out customers still receive email reminders

SMS Infrastructure

How Messages Are Sent

Sergio uses enterprise-grade SMS infrastructure powered by Twilio:

  • Dedicated number: Each company gets a dedicated phone number
  • Carrier-grade delivery: 99.9% delivery rate
  • Compliance: TCPA and CTIA compliant messaging
  • International: Works with US and Canadian numbers

SMS Pricing & Limits

SMS usage is included in your plan with generous limits:

  • Basic+: 100 SMS/month included
  • Professional: 500 SMS/month included
  • Business: 2,000 SMS/month included
  • Enterprise: Unlimited SMS included
  • Overage: $0.02 per additional SMS

View your current usage in Settings > Billing > Usage

Best Practices

Optimal Reminder Timing

  • 24 hours before: Best for residential customers - gives time to prepare
  • 2 hours before: Good for same-day confirmation
  • Both: Ideal for high-value or first-time customers

Message Content Tips

  • Keep it short: Under 160 characters avoids message splitting
  • Include key info: Date, time, service type
  • Add a CTA: Reply to confirm or contact number
  • Be professional: Include your business name
  • Test first: Send yourself a test before going live

Monitoring & Analytics

Track your SMS performance:

  1. Navigate to Reports > Communications
  2. View SMS metrics:
    • Messages sent this period
    • Delivery success rate
    • Customer reply rate
    • Confirmation rate
  3. Export data for deeper analysis

Customer Experience

What Customers See

Customers receive professional, branded text messages:

  1. Reminder arrives at scheduled time (typically day before)
  2. Message includes key appointment details

From: (555) 123-4567

Hi Sarah! Reminder: Window cleaning tomorrow (Tue, Jan 15) 9am-11am. Reply CONFIRM to confirm or STOP to opt out. - Sparkle Windows

Reply STOP to unsubscribe

Customer Response Handling

When customers reply to reminders:

  • CONFIRM/YES: Appointment marked as confirmed
  • STOP: Customer opted out of future SMS
  • Any other reply: Forwarded to your inbox for review

Response handling is now available on all tiers with two-way SMS enabled.

Need Help with SMS?

Our team can help you set up and optimize your SMS reminders.

Contact Support