The text-enabled toll free number and landline numbers in the US and Canada and other countries, enterprises and their Customer Communications service providers will want to think about how they can leverage these new types of message originators.

Starting with the consumer, it is important to remember that a good customer experience considers context and convenience, and SMS (texting) provides a great opportunity to engage with your mobile audience (toll free number). This means considering use cases where your customer prefers to initiate the interaction on his/her preferred channel and time as well as control when they self-serve versus talk with a live agent.

Toll Free Number and IVRs

American and Canadian consumers have been educated by businesses to call these phone numbers when they need help and are familiar with using Interactive Voice Response (IVR) services. By text enabling customer service phone numbers, customers will have the option to text rather than wait for a voice call. Gartner says that “by 2020, customers will manage 85% of their relationship with Enterprises without interacting with a human.” One of the reasons visual IVRs have been embraced by mobile phone customers is because they offer a more convenient self-service solution compared with voice-based IVRs.

It is simply faster to navigate and get the information you want using visual IVRs. These same principles can apply to offering text messaging on the customer service toll free number. Additionally, some mobile engagements will still blend multiple communication channels. Where a customer may start by texting and then escalate to the voice channel to speak with a live agent using the same toll free number. Alternatively, many use cases start with an outbound notification to customers.

One really popular example is using SMS-based two-factor authentication. These messages can send via your Contact Center’s text enabled toll free number or landline phone numbers. To reach Mobile Virtual Number Operators (MVNOs). Using this messaging originator also makes it easier for customers to contact a business if they are still having trouble signing in after they received their one-time password via text message.

You can also offer your customers the ability to request a password reset. From a website from a computer’s browser (toll free number). Rather than sending an email with the password reset info. You could send a text message from the customer support phone number. With a call-to-action of “text or call us back at this number if you need further assistance.”

Provide Better Engagement

Many businesses still offer TTY and TTD toll free number for their hearing-impaired customers. These companies should consider offering a better customer service solution. By text enabling these phone numbers, which is a much-preferred communication channel compared to voice.

Even if you think this group is only a small portion of your customer base. Remember that this capability brings value to aging Baby Boomers (current customers). And engagement to Millennials (new customers) on their preferred communication channel (toll free number).

A 2014 Harris Interactive Poll finds that 64% of consumers prefer using texting over voice for customer service. And 77% of 18-34 year old consumers have a positive perception of a company that offers texting capabilities. Lastly, texting toll free number or landline numbers is still in its early stage of adoption. Where some businesses will be text enabling these phone numbers faster than other companies.

This will create confusion and pain on the part of US and Canadian and other consumers. As they attempt to text some business’ phone numbers and it works while texting other business’ phone numbers won’t work. This is not a good customer experience (toll free number).