Most Popular HSL Blog Posts of 2012

As the end of 2012 fast approaches (and we all wonder 'where did the year go?'), we thought it would be interesting to look at all time favourite blog posts over the past year. This is not an exhaustive list, just the top 5 most popular posts. All these posts look at innovative ways in which mobile technology is helping different sectors and markets stay competitive and add value for their clients. We also included a few of our author’s favourite blogs for some light reading!

SMS for E-Communications 5 most popular Blog Posts of 2012

1. How are Airlines benefitting from mobile

This was one of our early in the year posts looking at mobile technology within the airline industry and proved to be one of the most useful articles. Mobile technology is making huge waves in this industry to increase efficiency and produce happy travellers.

2. Banks embrace SMS to improve security

Security within banking is a hot topic that just keeps getting hotter. As this year has progressed, we are hearing more and more about the importance of banking security as cases of fraud and security breaches are reported. Mobile technology can provide a useful means of tackling these issues.

3.  How do you get yours?

This new popular article looks at communicating with staff in emergency situations in a painless fashion using an innovative solution.

4. SMS improves business communications

How do you communicate with staff and clients? This article examines the reasons why businesses are adopting SMS at an increasing speed.

5. SMS solutions help monitor energy usage

Learn how businesses and consumers can use mobile technology to cut their energy costs.

Author's Favourite Blog Posts of 2012

1. Treat yourself with more sales this Christmas

Gives retailers (and shoppers) useful everyday pointers to increase that all important shopping experience.

2. mHealth - mobile technology for the healthcare sector

mHealth is the new buzz word for the healthcare sector. Discover just a few of the ways that mobile technology is being applied across the industry to achieve some fantastic results.

3. Hot tips for cold snaps

Tips to help businesses keep running when horrendous winter weather hits - particularly useful considering the time of year!

Thanks for reading our blog and we hope there were a few gems of information there for you. We look forward to keeping you informed with our mobile communication blogs in 2013!

For further information regarding HSL, visit us at:

http://www.linkedin.com/company/hay-systems-ltd

follow us on Twitter @hslmobile

or call us on +44 (0)1506 605260

or email us at sales@haysystems.com

HSL Market Leaders in Innovation not Imitation

HSL has now opened a new office in the heart of Edinburgh to support their rapidly expanding development team. The team has tripled in size over the last 6 months resulting in the move to a larger office!

The team have been specially selected for their extensive skills and experience in successfully delivering innovative software developments, thereby continuing to drive the company's mission to be a market leader in providing cutting edge technical solutions.

Ian Campbell, Head of Development at HSL, said: "Existing customers, who already benefit from the exemplary service supplied by HSL, will see improved interfaces to the company whilst new application areas will increase the value HSL can add to both existing and new customers. The development team is a central part of HSL's growth strategy and it will continue to grow and flourish to meet the demands of the business."  

Mission Possible

HSL's marketing department has also been on a mission to provide appropriate branding for both the Edinburgh office and our existing office in Livingston as you can see below.  As always, we would love some feedback as to which sign you think is better - is it the Edinburgh or the Livingston sign? Please vote for your winner in our 'Edinburgh vs Livingston' competition by posting either 'Edinburgh rocks' or 'Livingston hands down' via our company twitter page @HSLSMS.

Edinburgh

Livingston

 

For further information regarding HSL, visit us at:

http://www.linkedin.com/company/hay-systems-ltd

follow us on Twitter @HSLSMS

or call us on +44 (0)1506 605260

or email us at sales@haysystems.com

Retail and Marketing say Ahoy to Mobile Communications Services

Using mobile communications in the retail industry is not a new phenomenon and is fast becoming common place. Customers are quickly embracing mobile as part of their shopping experience to research products and services, find reviews and even check prices whilst in store to see if they can buy it cheaper elsewhere.  

 

As a result, strengthening customer relationships and loyalty is becoming even more difficult in a world where customers are able to find an abundance of information at the touch of a button and search for the best deals around. 

However, mobile communications also opens up the possibilities of developing and nurturing relationships with customers. Retailers can keep in touch with customers via updates about new product ranges, special promotions, developing apps to enhance the shopping experience and so on.

In 2006 one of the leading companies who specialise in advertising boats for sale decided to utilise SMS for mobile marketing and developing customer relationships. They launched a new innovative service to enable visitors to describe what type of boat they were looking for and to then be notified of any potential matches by SMS. The company has a long history of being the first to offer new services to their sector. From used fishing boats to new power cruisers, the company pride themselves with helping members, individuals and businesses to buy or sell boats quickly, easily and cost-effectively.

The company decided that whilst it was feasibly possible for them to build an SMS system that could integrate with their existing systems, it would be to their advantage to instead use an established supplier with worldwide knowledge and agreements for sending SMS.

HSL fit the bill for what they were looking for. We have been providing mobile services to enterprises worldwide since 1999, giving the client peace of mind. With our competitive pricing and ease of integration the decision to select HSL as their SMS supplier was made even more simple. The client began using us purely to alert visitors of product matches but this has extended to also using our services for keeping in contact with their clients.

With SMS services suitable for all enterprise types, HSL's robust technology, coupled with their creative and flexible approach to enterprise requirements, positions HSL uniquely within the industry as a highly reliable, reputable and forward thinking SMS service provider. As a direct result of using HSL's outbound SMS services and continuing to keep their visitors informed with up-to-date boat availability, the company has enhanced their relationships with visitors and potential customers which means that when visitors next need to search for a boat, they are likely to be their first port of call.

Alternatively, visit us at:

http://www.linkedin.com/company/hay-systems-ltd

follow us on Twitter @HSLSMS

or call us on +44 (0)1506 605260

or email us at sales@haysystems.com

Treat yourself with more sales this Christmas

In a world where people are watching their pennies more and more, retailers are having to work harder to survive. The festive period is fast becoming a crucial time for many retailers to increase sales as shoppers come out in force.

When it comes to buying, online and mobile are fast becoming the channels of choice for shoppers. A recent article in the Guardian, Mobile phones are changing the world of retail – at a remarkable speed, stated that the retail industry is going through a ‘revolution’ as mobile changes the way shoppers find and buy products and services. One of the major reasons for shoppers increasing their use of mobile is because of the sheer convenience of it – customers can buy whenever they want, from wherever they are. And let’s not forget that we can now obtain a wealth of information about the product or service and find out who is selling at the cheapest price – which is paramount in the current climate we live in. There is a growing trend where people are actually using their mobile phone whilst in shops to go online and check reviews and prices!

This Christmas researchers are predicting that mobile will continue to have a dramatic impact on sales. Whilst The Independent reports that Deloitte is expecting consumers to spend £330m straight from their smartphones, a huge £3.2 billion of Christmas sales is claimed to be influenced by smartphones as shoppers use their mobile phones to investigate prices, save their Christmas gift buying lists and interact with others over social media. Colin Jeffrey, the head of multichannel retail at Deloitte, asserted: "The strongest growth will be found online, with purchases completed on mobile phones double or even triple that of last year. It is also going to be a click-and-collect Christmas with those retailers who have invested in this service set to do well as these customers spend more and collections drive footfall into stores."

How to Increase 2012 Christmas Sales

1. Get with it - Develop a mobile friendly site

You must have a mobile friendly website. The ultimate aim for any retailer should be to make it as easy as possible for customers to find information and buy products and services. With shoppers increasingly using mobile, a mobile friendly site will help you gain visits to your website, encourage shoppers to stay and look around and help turn those visits into customers.

It is important to consider the buying experience when shoppers visit your website using a mobile. For example, it can often be more difficult to find information as screens are smaller and connection speeds can vary. Therefore, it is crucial that you ensure your content is mobile friendly on different mobile devices by making the site more simple with easy navigation and tabs. You can read further at Mobile Commerce Daily.

2. Finders keepers - Gift finder apps

Consider developing apps as they can be a very effective way to increase mobile usage. An app which we came across this Christmas and may be useful to consider is a 'gift finder' app. This could enable customers to sync their phone book to make gift lists and link with products and services. You could also highlight popular products and services through 'top gift ideas' and allow multiple delivery options to make it more friendly and convenient for the user. If you have a physical store, it is also worthwhile allowing shoppers to scan items when in store and add to gift list.

This can be an effective way to make yourself stand out from the crowd and drive customers to your store.

3. Who are you? - Know your audience

Shoppers are still being cautious when it comes to spending. Therefore it’s crucial that you know your customers well and meet their expectations. For example, will shoppers be entering your website from a smartphone or an iPad? Will they be wary about buying online from a mobile? These answers will impact on your website and whether you offer other ways to buy to ensure you do not lose sales.

Understanding the answers to key questions such as these will help determine the customer experience you deliver and influence your website design, navigation and layout.

4. Get to grips - Handle customer demand.

Capgemini is advising retailers that key dates to look out for are the two weeks beginning the 3rd and the 10th December as £920 million is expected to be spent using mobile. It is vital that you are able to process orders and meet delivery dates.

Therefore, plan ahead to ensure you have the necessary resources and infrastructure in place to handle customer demand.

5. Talk is cheap - Communicate, communicate and communicate!

An effective way to deliver great customer service and make sure your customers are having the best experience when reviewing and buying your products and services, is by communicating with shoppers throughout the buying process.

A quick and way to achieve this is via SMS communications. Retailers can use SMS to notify customers when orders are complete, due to arrive and have arrived as well as alerts on other products or services helping generate further revenue.

Message to retailers

Ensure you are not left behind the mobile trend. Tailor your website so it is mobile friendly, easy to navigate and allows customers to locate what they are looking for this Christmas. For more information about HSL's mobile messaging solutions, please see our Solutions and APIs.

Alternatively, visit us at:

http://www.linkedin.com/company/hay-systems-ltd

follow us on Twitter @HSLSMS

or call us on +44 (0)1506 605260

or email us at sales@haysystems.com

Top Tips for Flyers!

Mobile technology is transforming the airline industry making travelling more efficient, convenient and a much more pleasant experience from beginning to end.

Before you even begin your journey, you can use your mobile to research and plan your trip to make the most of ‘dead’ time such as when you’re on the bus to work or waiting for someone to arrive. Once you know where and when you want to go, you can use your mobile to book flights and manage your booking from here - meaning you can access the booking at anytime!

SMS alerts are being used by airlines to send a variety of information to passengers and you should check what type of alerts is available. For example, you may be able to receive alerts instantly when seats become available helping ensure you travel with your companions. Other useful alerts include notifications regarding flight changes as this can help you manage knock on delays on other activities such as arriving to business meetings and catching connecting flights. SMS is therefore ideal as passengers can be notified immediately regarding updates to flights or services even if they are on the move and do not have access to a computer or internet link.

One of the most wearisome aspects of travelling that mobile technology is helping to reduce is the length of time spent waiting in queues as this may result in missed flights. Therefore, the ability to actually check in online or through your own mobile helps reduce waiting times, stress levels and produce much more happy travellers!

The Financial reports that according to J.D. Power & Associates’ 2012 North America Airline Satisfaction Study digital check-ins are now becoming so popular they are already showing signs of maturity, and mobile check-in adoption rates are advancing quickly.

However, they outline a different study by SITA and Airline Business which shows only half of airlines are offering mobile check-in services for their customers. Nonetheless, it is worthwhile finding out if your airline offers mobile check-in as it will allow you to check in wherever you are which is particularly useful when you are on the move! 

Even better, Fox Business outline another study by SITA in which they state 15% of air travellers will use a mobile phone to not only check in at the airport but also to attain an electronic mobile boarding pass by 2014. This means that you no longer have to use the self service kiosks to print tickets or print them at home and then keep the boarding pass somewhere safe - helping simplify the whole process and make it speedier.

It’s also worthwhile looking out for new technology developments which are helping streamline and enhance the airline experience. For example, Fox Business highlight that Near Field Communication is beginning to be used for electronically storing and accessing all travel documents without needing to connect via the Internet such as e-Passports, e-Visas, baggage receipts and immigration forms. SAS Scandinavian Airlines is reported as already using this technology.

Another trend to watch out for is in-flight entertainment packages. The Financial claims they are proving to be hugely popular for travellers but although it creates massive advertising opportunities they are expensive for airlines to install and update which is affecting adoption rates.

More recently, we are starting to see airlines introduce in-flight mobile services allowing passengers to use mobiles for sending messages and checking email for example. However, be wary as tariffs may be higher!

So what can you do to make your trip more convenient and pleasant? Use our top tips below and check with your airline to ensure these services are available!

Top Tips for Flyers 

1. Make most of dead time - research and plan trip via mobile
2. Access information anytime - book and manage booking using your mobile 
3. Sit with travelling companions - sign up for SMS updates on available seats 
4. Manage potential delays via SMS flight alerts 
5. Save time using mobile check-in 
6. Use convenient and fast electronic mobile boarding passes 
7. Check and see if in-flight mobile services are available and check tariffs

Further examples on how mobile messaging services can help the transport industry can be found on our website at http://www.hslsms.com/sectors/transport-and-logistics/.

Alternatively, visit us at:

http://www.linkedin.com/company/hay-systems-ltd

follow us on Twitter @HSLSMS

or call us on +44 (0)1506 605260

or email us at sales@haysystems.com

m-Ticketing Made Easy

Almost everyone has a mobile phone and will use a ticket at some point in their daily lives either for travelling, going to the cinema or attending an event - making m-ticketing (tickets sent to mobiles) a powerful ticketing solution.

There are huge benefits to m-Ticketing, most of which is how easy it is! Customers can now purchase a ticket anywhere using their mobile making the most of ‘downtime’ and receive tickets immediately. This is great for consumers as they no longer have to visit the box office or queue to collect tickets and they can view ticket information from their mobile any time they wish. For the forgetful, and those of us who lose things, this is a blessing as there is no longer a need to keep the paper copy somewhere safe for long periods of time!

From a company point of view, m-Ticketing can greatly improve efficiency by saving time and money as the requirement to send tickets by post or print the paper is removed and customers receive tickets instantly helping reduce turnaround times.

Show Data Systems is one of the UK’s leading Event Registration and Ticket booking companies. They wanted to make it even easier for attendees to register for trade and consumer events and decided the best way to do this was through mobile ticketing leading to the search for an SMS supplier to make this possible.

In the end, they opted to use HSL's SMS services due to their experience within the market, competitive pricing and user friendly software. They were able to easily integrate their online systems with HSL’s services enabling them to automatically send a barcoded mobile text confirmation of their end client’s badge or booking within seconds.

During the set up period, Show Data Systems were delighted as HSL took the time to fully understand their requirements and ensure that a suitable and effective solution was created rather than just a typical ‘off the shelf offering.’ As a result, the service provided to Show Data Systems meets their exact specifications and Show Data Systems are able to reliably send SMS communications without any worry.

In regards to HSL's own customer service and support, Show Data Systems’ technical director Graham Parkins praised HSL and said that he found the company to be “a pleasure to deal with.” He commented that, “My technical questions are always answered quickly and succinctly.”

Show Data Systems has now been a client of HSL’s since 2009. If you wish to see further examples of how we have helped businesses enhance their services via SMS, please view our case studies.

Alternatively, visit us at:

http://www.linkedin.com/company/hay-systems-ltd

follow us on Twitter @HSLSMS

or call us on +44 (0)1506 605260

or email us at sales@haysystems.com

Help! SMS in need of adoption.

When did you last NOT read a text (SMS) message? Not reply. Read. 

Can't remember? Never? Well, it's the same story for your biggest assets - your 'staff'.

There is huge potential for enterprise SMS particularly when you consider that the popularity of SMS amongst consumers is on the rise. 

The recent Ofcom report The Communications Market Report: United Kingdom concluded that people are more likely to send messages to each other rather than have voice calls or hold face to face meetings. It's so much quicker to text a couple of words as opposed to having an actual conversation, especially when you are busy.

One of the biggest benefits of SMS communications is the ability to actually reach intended recipients. The International Telecommunication Union report The World in 2011 - ICT Facts and Figures estimates that 87% of the global population now has a mobile phone giving enterprises the opportunity to connect with more people around the world and even reach people they previously thought were ‘unreachable'.  With market estimates stating that over 90% of SMS are opened, and some figures as high as 98%, SMS communications are also much more likely to be read by recipients than any other form of enterprise communication. Think. Do you know anyone over the age of 16 who doesn't have a mobile phone and doesn't have it with them?

Enterprises are using SMS in a wide variety of ways and it can be implemented across offices, departments, locations and countries. For example, SMS can be used to send information to customers with reminders to take medication, changes to their flight, or when they can expect their orders to be delivered. More specific examples include using SMS for IT monitoring and sending alerts to notify staff immediately of any system issues whilst others use SMS for emergency communications including alerting employees and locals regarding extreme weather conditions.

SMS is also helping enterprises around the world reach their target customers. To read further examples of how SMS is benefiting enterprises today, and how it could add value to your enterprise, please view our case studies.

Alternatively, visit us at:

http://www.linkedin.com/company/hay-systems-ltd

follow us on Twitter @HSLSMS

or call us on +44 (0)1506 605260

or email us at sales@haysystems.com

How do you get yours?

It’s 17:10 on a Monday evening and you are just about to leave the office. Most of your colleagues have already left and as you check your inbox one last time you notice an email from your manager advising, “The office will be closed to all staff tomorrow morning due to emergency building repairs. Please communicate this to all staff immediately.”  You instantly reach for the telephone but then realise most staff left at 17:00 and that there are hundreds of them to contact. You first panic, then after taking a minute to let your blood pressure normalise, consider sending out an email to all staff; it’s quick and easy to do but not even half of your staff have access to work emails from home and the half of those that do, probably won't. In fact, according to Phonedog, "email sit unread for an average of 48 hours before being read while SMS messages are usually opened only four minutes after being sent".

It’s at that moment when you remember a text alerting service which the comms or marketing or some other department recently adopted for sending out customer service updates. "The proportion of adults who personally own/use a mobile phone in the UK is 92%," according to Ofcom and as all members of staff have already given their contact mobile number, you realise that this would be the ideal communication tool to use. You quickly scroll through your emails and call through to the marketing department who confirm that the service is active and that you can use it. They make a small change to the set up to allow you access and a few minutes later you have sent out a text to all members of staff advising of the office closure, what to do instead and also asking staff to acknowledge receipt of the message by replying with their name.

You then leave the office, safe in the knowledge that your colleagues will receive the notification and that you will be able to easily check the replies against the list of staff the message was sent to.

This is just one example of how using texting (SMS) alerts for emergency communications can work and can be quicker and slicker than other forms of communication. Texting can actually be applied in a host of situations and by all company departments whether that be updating field staff, sending out IT alerts or notifying customers that their product is available or tracking where the delivery is.

HSL have an excellent text alert solution for time sensitive communications which is known as AlertBroadcast. Put simply, the solution will enable you to text a number of contacts quickly, reliably and also offers the ability for contacts to reply back to the message sender thus confirming receipt and correct comprehension of the message. Alertbroadcast is therefore cost-effective, fast and quite simply works. In fact, a number of HSL clients have been benefiting from the solution for years. For example, Dartmoor Search and Rescue have used the solution for over 5 years and have found it to be “extremely reliable”. Likewise Newmont Mining Corporation have commented that “the technology helps the warnings to be more immediate and effective in alerting our communities and staff in case of an emergency".

To find out more about how AlertBroadcast works and how it could improve your company communications view our AlertBroadcast page. If you’d like to test the solution for yourself, contact us and we’ll set you up with a free test account so that you can see the benefits in action for yourself.

Alternatively, visit us at:

http://www.linkedin.com/company/hay-systems-ltd

follow us on Twitter @HSLSMS

or call us on +44 (0)1506 605260

or email us at sales@haysystems.com

Hot tips for cold snaps

As the first cold snap of the winter arrives to the UK, businesses need to prepare. Research conducted by Zurich Insurance has revealed that 64% of UK businesses have suffered disruption as a direct consequence of the severe weather experienced in the winter. We have all witnessed areas in the UK coming to a complete standstill with flights cancelled, trains delayed and parts of motorways completely closed. Ultimately, one of the biggest consequences of this disruption is employees struggle to get into work as they are either delayed or unable to make it in. Even when employees are able to make it in, businesses can expect less productive workers as employees are distracted and worried about the journey home.

With current economic conditions being so challenging, disruptions to business operations are severely damaging and experts have estimated that harsh winter weather has meant around 2000 businesses are more at risk of failure.

Home workers find winter warmth

One of the easiest ways to prepare for the winter weather and minimise the disruption of absent and late employees is through home working. This enables your business to operate as normal as staff can continue to perform their day to day tasks. It also removes the confusion over whether to pay employees who are absent from work due to bad weather. It could also provide competitive advantage as there may be others in the industry that fail to prepare and are therefore unable to operate as normal.

One recent survey conducted by Ceridian found that home workers are more productive, have lower levels of stress, higher morale and motivation. Research by TeamViewer also found that it can be an effective way to raise job satisfaction. This is great news for enterprises that are looking for effective ways to reward, motivate and retain staff and provides an alternative route to increasing salaries.

It is also important that we do not forget that enterprises are responsible for the well being of their employees. By removing the need for employees to travel into work when the weather is severe and dangerous doesn’t just increase safety but it also eliminates the anxiety and stress involved with getting to and from work. This is particularly important when you consider the Met Office findings that when temperatures drop below zero, mortality rates from heart attacks peaks three days later, from strokes five days later and from respiratory infections ten days later.

Therefore, if the weather is bad or dangerous for employees to get to work, enterprises need to be able to communicate with staff before they set off to work to let them know when they do not need to travel in unnecessarily. This isn't always an easy task, especially when you have to communicate with a large group of employees in a limited space of time. The most effective way to do this is by sending a text as most people carry a mobile phone with them and are very likely to read the text message immediately.

HSL's AlertBroadcast solution provides customers with an easy and cost-effective solution to keep in touch with employees. This two-way SMS alert system enables enterprises to broadcast a message to inform a group of contacts with time critical information.

For more information about how HSL's AlertBroadcast solution can help your enterprise prepare this winter, please visit us at: http://www.hslsms.com/services/alertbroadcast/

Alternatively, visit us at:

http://www.linkedin.com/company/hay-systems-ltd

follow us on Twitter @HSLSMS

or call us on +44 (0)1506 605260

or email us at sales@haysystems.com

SMS Solutions Help Monitor Energy Usage

Utility companies face increasing pressure to lower rates and help customers cut consumption as more and more households and businesses struggle to pay their bills. SwitchGasandElectric.com estimate that half of the UK population will be in fuel poverty by the end of this year and others estimate that as many as 45 companies are going bankrupt every day.

Smart Meters with built-in SMS technology is just one way in which utility customers can benefit from advancing mobile technology.  Invaluable data can be sent from the Smart Meter as and when required making it possible for households and businesses to monitor their energy usage in real time.  As a result, customers are able to monitor their consumption and make any necessary changes to their usage patterns to help them lower their energy bills.  In addition to this, energy customers are finding that by receiving information more frequently they are also able to identify and investigate any irregularities straight away, helping rectify problems such as leaks quicker than they were able to in the past.  Alarm messages can also be sent by SMS when a certain threshold has been exceeded to help ensure customers are not hit by large bills. Alerts can even be used to analyse temperature and gas consumption and when an issue arises, for example a burst water or gas pipe, the relevant parties are advised by SMS.

Consequently, utility companies are finding that these types of SMS messaging alerts can help improve customer satisfaction and retention rates which is a top priority for utilities. Due to the competitive nature of the market, customers can easily find out the best rates available via dedicated online websites and switch to cheaper rates and tariffs. SMS alerts to create energy efficiencies and help customers cut costs can prove to be a simple yet effective way to ensure customer loyalty.  Another way that utility companies can achieve higher levels of customer satisfaction and retention rates is by using SMS to enhance general customer communications. For example, energy customers can also receive alerts regarding updates to their account or when an engineer will be arriving at their premises, helping keep customers informed and reducing the number of missed appointments.

Utility companies can also use SMS internally. Internal uses can include IT alerts, sending passwords, corporate promotions, sending meeting appointments and communicating with engineers in the field, all helping to increase operational efficiency and communications with staff. HR departments are also using SMS to update potential candidates on the status of their application, helping reduce the recruitment cycle.

There are many more ways in which mobile communications can be used to reduce energy consumption and lift customer satisfaction and retention levels and we continue to see new solutions enter the market. For example, using SMS messaging to turn off electrical devices remotely.  Further information on how HSL’s reliable and easy to use SMS solutions can be used for utility companies can be found on our website at http://www.hslsms.com/sectors/utilities/. Alternatively if you wish to find out more about the general uses of enterprise SMS, please read our case studies.
  
Alternatively, visit us at:

http://www.linkedin.com/company/hay-systems-ltd

follow us on Twitter @HSLSMS

or call us on +44 (0)1506 605260

or email us at sales@haysystems.com

How can SMS enhance CRM within the Hospitality sector?

Enterprises are now realising the benefits of using SMS for CRM. According to a recent SITA survey almost 9 out of 10 airlines intend to offer flight search, check-in, boarding passes, purchase and status notification as part of their core mobile services offering. Mobile services should be a key consideration for hoteliers and other hospitality providers given that a large proportion of hotel and event guests are often airline passengers enroute.

In the HeBS Digital’s Sixth Annual Benchmark Survey on Hotel Digital Marketing almost one-third of those surveyed intended to spend up to 49% of their advertising and marketing budgets on digital marketing initiatives, although hoteliers only spent about 15.6% on Mobile Marketing. The reason for this is explained quite concisely by Michael Kasavana, NAMA Endowed Professor of Michigan State University's Hospitality Business School, who found that, "When considering mobile technologies, many hospitality managers are not convinced of the potential benefits resulting in enhanced guest engagement, improved customer satisfaction, and increased consumer spending."

Mobile technology, and in particular SMS solutions, can in fact open the door for companies in the hospitality sector to re-market to opted-in consumers by sending them targeted, relevant branded information that adds value by offering incentives for participation and streamlining the guest's overall service experience. There are also a multitude of other ways in which SMS can be used to improve client relations, for instance by encouraging feedback and conversation, updating guests in terms of bookings, service availability and generally ensuring that they have all the sufficient up to date information requested.

Within the hospitality sector there is one group of enterprises who are well aware of the branding and CRM advantages that SMS has to offer. Restaurateurs are already incorporating SMS into their communications strategies to drive consumer loyalty and encourage repeat bookings and visits. The market certainly is more than willing to participate as, according to Pew Research released this year, 30% of smartphone or cell phone owners used their phone to decide whether to visit a business such as a restaurant. SMS therefore offers the diner a quick and instant way to confirm their reservation and when used intelligently will save restaurateurs money, remove the need for unnecessary admin and free-up phones, computers and most importantly staff.

We have been providing highly reliable and effective mobile services to the hospitality sector since 1999 and during this time our clients have benefited from improved efficiency of their communications, reduced administration and marketing costs as well as enhanced the overall customer relationship process by keeping customers informed through SMS and more importantly by listening to their requirements and suggestions.

With our wealth of experience in the hospitality sector we have a range of services that can be tailored to suit a number of differing requirements and solve a number of problems. They range from simple easy to use SMS solutions to fully integrated enterprise packages designed to complement and enhance your existing communication software. To read further examples of how SMS can enhance CRM in your enterprise, please view our Sector Information.

Alternatively, visit us at:

http://www.linkedin.com/company/hay-systems-ltd

follow us on Twitter @HSLSMS

or call us on +44 (0)1506 605260

or email us at sales@haysystems.com

Why SMS should be used for emergency communications

There has been much debate lately regarding the suitability of SMS for emergency communications. SMS is now being successfully used by emergency services, councils and also by rescue teams within the UK. Critics would argue that SMS can be subject to external factors and supplier issues such as poor network coverage, low quality supplier routes and low redundancy on the part of your SMS service provider. However recent research from Ofcom shows that SMS remains the most popular form of communication for mobile users in the UK. The Mobile Marketing Association (MMA) has additionally stated that there are more mobile phones in the world than there are toothbrushes and as we know SMS messages are normally delivered within a handful of seconds, it is easy to see why SMS should be considered for emergency communications.

Whilst there is not much to be done to avoid external factors such as the mobile handset being switched off, suppliers can at least ensure that the service they offer is of a high quality and therefore eliminate other concerning issues.

As part of our enterprise solutions we offer a critical alerting tool called AlertBroadcast which is ideal for time-sensitive messaging. The technology behind our AlertBroadcast solution is based on our highly capable and resilient SMS delivery infrastructure which includes using established mobile operators alongside our own technology. This enables us to provide enterprises with not only a cost-effective but also a highly robust service, offering 99.9% service availability.

HSL's AlertBroadcast solution is technically sophisticated, but simply put, it provides customers with an easy to manage two-way SMS alert system between a controller and contacts. The controller simply sends an SMS message from their mobile handset to a dedicated mobile number provided by HSL and the message is then forwarded on automatically to the designated group of contacts. The controller and contact lists can be set up remotely and can be quickly amended to ensure that the most up to date contact details are used at all times.

This solution is ideal for using in an emergency situation or when information is needed quickly as it enables customers to quickly and reliably send critical SMS alerts to employees, team members, suppliers or partners. Additionally, the controller can also request a response from the contacts within their broadcast message. By requesting the response and receiving the reply, the controller can be confident that the message has been delivered on time to the contact and interpreted correctly by the recipient (which is crucial if the recipient is acting upon instructions).

AlertBroadcast is an effective tool and is already used by a number of our clients for updating staff with important company information such as alerting mine employees of impending tsunamis and tropical cyclones and also providing time sensitive updates to search and rescue staff in the field.

To read further examples of how HSL's AlertBroadcast solution can be applied in your enterprise and used for emergency communications, please view our AlertBroadcast page.

Alternatively, visit us at:

http://www.linkedin.com/company/hay-systems-ltd

follow us on Twitter @HSLSMS

or call us on +44 (0)1506 605260

or email us at sales@haysystems.com

SMS improves business communications strategy

The number of enterprises adopting SMS as part of their communications strategy continues to grow as they are realising the advantages that can be gained across their organisation. There is great potential for enterprise SMS as highlighted by the recent Ofcom report The Communications Market Report: United Kingdom which revealed that the popularity of SMS is rising.

Within enterprises, SMS is being used as a way of communicating more effectively with staff. One example of this is where an SMS alert is sent to employees to notify them of company information such as office closures and meetings scheduled. As staff are alerted immediately, and can respond where necessary, the enterprise will save a significant amount of time and improve efficiency.

Enterprises are also using SMS messages for external communications such as updating potential new staff applying for positions within the business. In this instance, SMS alerts can be sent to conveniently notify candidates of the status of their application thus ensuring they do not miss any crucial updates and shortening the recruitment process. Furthermore, enterprises are able to check the status of the sent SMS message by using delivery receipts. This provides the enterprise with the ability to audit sent messages and encourage feedback from the recipients.

SMS alerts are also being used within business CRM systems as a way of communicating with customers. A great example of this can be found in the airline industry which utilise SMS for mobile ticketing helping improve efficiency and enhancing the customer service experience. Airlines are also using SMS to communicate with passengers by providing updates concerning changes or cancellations to passenger flights, or general service information. This helps to significantly improve customer satisfaction as customers are informed immediately of any changes to their flights and allows them to respond where necessary.

An easy way for enterprises to introduce SMS alerts into their communications strategy is by adopting an EmailSMS solution. This is ideal for companies wishing to adopt an extremely straightforward SMS solution as it is easy to implement and requires very little technical knowledge.

Using HSL's EmailSMS solution couldn’t be simpler and companies can use any existing email software such as Microsoft Outlook. To send a message, you would simply compose an email as normal however in the ‘To' field you would include the mobile number in the email address. Staff or customers can also reply back to messages they receive on their mobile phone as they would reply to any other text message.

To read examples of how HSL's EmailSMS solution can be applied to improve your corporate communications, please view our case studies.

Alternatively, visit us at:

http://www.linkedin.com/company/hay-systems-ltd

follow us on Twitter @HSLSMS

or call us on +44 (0)1506 605260

or email us at sales@haysystems.com

mHealth - mobile technology for the healthcare sector

mHealth is described as the adoption of mobile technology within healthcare organisations and is becoming the new buzz word within the healthcare sector. According to an article by mHIMMS a “perfect storm of factors is coming together to ensure that mHealth explodes into mainstream consciousness by the end of 2012.”

Mobile technology can be applied across all healthcare organisations from hospitals, to clinics, to specialised health applications. Within hospitals the technology is used to offer in patient entertainment and communication facilities, reducing feelings of isolation by the patient whilst helping to make hospital stays that little bit more pleasant. Additionally, as hospitals continue to face growing pressure to improve productivity and meet strict budget and regulation requirements, mobile technology is revealing itself as a way of enabling cost efficiencies through automating and simplifying processes.

According to an article by FierceMobileHealthcare, doctors in particular are enthusiastic about mHealth with findings showing that almost 90% of doctors are keen to introduce mHealth. The article also shows that nearly 90% of doctors want patients to monitor health indicators such as weight, blood sugar levels and vital signs via mobile devices. This form of remote monitoring can be easily achieved through, for example, a customised app on the patient’s mobile handset or by simply texting their indicator details to their doctor or practice.

The use of SMS text messaging in GP practices is not a new concept as it is already used within a number of UK practices for sending patient appointment reminders or alerting patients when to take medication. SMS is a simple yet very effective means of communicating with people and unlike the telephone or postal service, is generally considered to be more discreet, immediate and less subject to delay. It is also convenient as messages can be sent outwith standard GP practice office hours thus making it easier to confirm, reschedule or cancel appointments which benefits the patient and also the practice by reducing the number of missed appointments.

A number of healthcare organisations already use HSL’s reliable and easy to use SMS services for these purposes and more. Further information on HSL’s mobile messaging services for the healthcare sector can be found on our website at http://www.hslsms.com/sectors/healthcare/.

Alternatively, visit us at:

http://www.linkedin.com/company/hay-systems-ltd

follow us on Twitter @HSLSMS

or call us on +44 (0)1506 605260

or email us at sales@haysystems.com

Banks embrace SMS to improve security

Every individual wants to know their bank accounts are safe but unfortunately this is not always the case. Recently, it was reported that as a result of human error, banking information along with the personal details of councillors from a UK city was accidently released to a member of the public. Maybe even more concerning is the recent estimate from the National Fraud Authority’s third Annual Fraud Indicator (AFI) that the cost of fraud in the UK has now risen to a massive £73 billion a year from last year’s estimate of £38 billion. Clearly security breaches still take place within banking institutions and this is particularly concerning considering fraud is on the rise. It is therefore even more critical that banks and finance companies make security and fraud prevention a number one priority.

SMS alerts can provide a reliable tool for banking firms to tackle these issues. With almost everyone in the UK having a mobile phone, and most messages estimated to be read within a matter of minutes, SMS communications allow banking institutions to reach customers anywhere and at any time. As a result, accounts can be monitored in real time to avert security breaches from taking place and quickly resolving any issues when they do arise. For example, banks can use SMS to send customers secure passwords when they set up a new direct debit via their online banking facility. In order to complete the process, customers are required to enter the password online, helping prevent fraud from occurring in the first place. Customers can then also flag up any changes attempted to their account without their knowledge.

As a result, SMS security alerts can also improve customer satisfaction. Customers are instantly aware of any security concerns and with additional safety steps in place, they can rest assured that their information is being safeguarded. Furthermore, by allowing customers to set up their own security alerts such as sending a notification when their cards are used for overseas transactions, they can control the nature and regularity of when information is received leading to greater overall customer satisfaction.

Additionally, banking SMS alerts have also been found to enhance customer loyalty and attract new customers which is crucial considering the competitiveness of the banking market today. The ath Power 2012 Mobile Banking study found that only about 1 in 8 mobile banking customers stated they would switch banks within 2 years compared to 1 in 5 within the general customer group. Furthermore, the quality of mobile banking was a key consideration for the most affluent and small business owners when deciding which bank to select.

It is therefore not surprising that banking institutions are rapidly embracing SMS to protect customers' details and accounts against security risks. We would expect security to remain a number one priority for banks, and with additional benefits such as greater customer satisfaction and loyalty, banks have even more incentive to continue adopting SMS.

At HSL, we have been providing high quality and reliable SMS services since 1999 and banking and finance is one of the many sectors which we serve. For further information on how HSL’s mobile messaging services can help you, please visit our website at http://www.hslsms.com/sectors/banking-and-finance/.

Alternatively, visit us at:

http://www.linkedin.com/company/hay-systems-ltd

follow us on Twitter @HSLSMS

or call us on +44 (0)1506 605260

or email us at sales@haysystems.com

How can SMS help agricultural growth?

One of the biggest challenges facing agriculture today is changeable weather conditions. An extreme case was experienced recently in the UK where drought was declared in many of the UK's largest wheat growing regions in England. Then just a few weeks later this was followed by one of the wettest months on record and even led to a number of flood warnings.

Changes in weather conditions like this can have a huge impact on crops, pricing and wildlife and ultimately curb agricultural growth. With weather conditions becoming more extreme and varied these days, it is becoming more apparent that we need more accurate and timely information.

SMS alerts are proving to be a very useful tool to overcome these challenges within agriculture. For example, Makerere University illustrates how farmers in Uganda have dealt with problems of drought by developing a mobile-based early warning system and sending SMS alerts about the availability of water. This is expected to help farmers reduce lost cattle and increase milk production. Elsewhere, SMS message alerts are being used to send information on current weather conditions to improve crop yields.These types of alerts can send much needed information instantly, accurately and reliably which can significantly help farmers to plan ahead and respond to changing conditions much more quickly and effectively.

Fluctuating pricing is also causing havoc as farmers find it more and more difficult to get the best price in different markets. However, text alerts can give farmers current pricing information straight to their mobile handset. The International Telecommunication Union reports that farmers in India and Ghana are already using message alerts for these purposes and are achieving better pricing as a result.

The Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations have also reported that fishermen are using SMS not only for pricing information but also for information on supply and demand within markets. This is allowing them to reduce waste substantially and even sell supplies whilst still out at sea! SMS text alerts are clearly proving to be a really valuable communication tool for farmers and fishermen as they are able to receive the crucial information they need quickly and reliably.

Given all the benefits of using SMS within agriculture, it is surprising that it is being adopted by the UK at a considerably slower pace than overseas markets, especially considering some of the extreme weather we have been witnessing recently. A survey conducted by Farmers Weekly concluded that 56% of farmers could not live without their mobile phones, which again highlights the enormous potential for SMS communications to be used widely within this sector.

At HSL, we have been providing SMS services since 1999 and agriculture is one of the many sectors which we serve. For further information on how HSL’s mobile messaging services can help you, please visit our website at http://www.hslsms.com/sectors/agriculture/.

Alternatively, visit us at:

http://www.linkedin.com/company/hay-systems-ltd

follow us on Twitter @HSLSMS

or call us on +44 (0)1506 605260

or email us at sales@haysystems.com

How are Airlines benefitting from mobile technology?

The use of mobile technology within enterprises is becoming more commonplace and one interesting case is how it is being adopted by airlines. Many airlines are now seeing the potential business benefits for SMS use within the travel industry with one of the main benefits of using SMS being cost efficiencies. Given the ever increasing price of fuel, costs are clearly a prime concern for this sector.

As such airlines are now introducing technology to various stages of the journey to improve efficiency. Mobile ticketing is being used as a means of streamlining the check in procedure resulting in fewer staff being required and generally speeding up the process – a benefit to both airlines and passengers.

Mobile technology, and SMS in particular, can also be used to enhance the passenger experience in other ways. Passengers want assurance from their chosen airline that they will arrive at their destination on time as scheduled. As such any planned or unexpected interruptions to their travel could cause not only a delay in their arrival but also have knock on effects to further activities, for instance, holidays, business meetings or connecting flights. Therefore it is crucial for passengers to be alerted to any changes to their schedule and to receive this time sensitive information as and when it is generated. SMS is therefore the ideal solution for airlines to communicate flight or service information updates as it provides immediate notifications to passengers. It can be easily used by airlines to update passengers on the move who may not have access to a computer or internet link but most likely will be carrying their mobile phones.

SMS is also used within airports for system monitoring. SMS alerts can be generated and sent to warn staff of system failures or downtime. In addition to this, SMS is also being used for communication between employees within airports and airlines.

When you take into account the requirement for increasing cost efficiencies, coupled with the pressure from passengers to constantly review and improve airlines services, it is of no surprise that SMS is taking off within airlines as they adopt mobile technology into their business not only for mobile ticketing but also for improving the passenger experience itself.

SMS is discreet and perfect for travellers on the move and considering the high read rates for SMS, airlines can rest assured that updating passengers by SMS is an effective and receptive method for receiving flight and travel information.

HSL have been providing SMS services since 1999 and the travel industry is one of the many sectors which we serve. Further information on our mobile messaging services for the transport industry can be found on our website at http://www.hslsms.com/sectors/transport-and-logistics/.

Alternatively, visit us at:

http://www.linkedin.com/company/hay-systems-ltd

follow us on Twitter @HSLSMS

or call us on +44 (0)1506 605260

or email us at sales@haysystems.com

Technology sector takes to text alerts

The Post Office came in for criticism earlier this month when its main IT system crashed for the fourth time in nine months. It is just the latest example of the disruption - and bad publicity - that can be caused by computer network failures.

There are many reasons why a network can go down: power outages, temperature fluctuations in server storage areas, or human error when making a change to the system, to name but a few. The complexity of the systems involved mean that slight changes can make a big difference, but be almost impossible for IT specialists to spot.

That is why many businesses, particularly those with large corporate networks, or those with a big online presence, rely on some form of network monitoring. This keeps a permanent eye on the state of websites, servers or databases, and sends out automated alerts to staff - often by SMS - as soon as something goes wrong.

It is not surprising that network administrators, and the technology sector as a whole, have been keen to make use of the benefits offered by SMS texting. Messaging alerts can easily be added into monitoring systems of all types, from security to employee attendance, and allow companies to respond to problems early on, reducing the impact on the business and customers.

The immediacy of SMS is also an advantage when it comes to another aspect of the technology sector - software.

In particular, text alerts are proving to be very useful for software activation purposes, allowing firms to enhance their customer support services.

One of our clients, Code Factory, currently uses text messaging to activate software that helps the blind and visually impaired use screen readers, screen magnifiers, and Braille interfaces on a wide range of mainstream mobile devices.

It is a quick and easy process, whereby the user sends an SMS to Code Factory and receives a reply directly from the application, containing the appropriate activation key. The service means that the customer no longer has to wait for the software to be manually activated, but can do it himself, at any time of the day or night.

The seamless process fits perfectly with Code Factory's focus on customer support.

You will find more information on our mobile messaging solutions for the technology and telecoms sector on our website (http://www.hslsms.com/sectors/technology-and-telecoms/).

Alternatively, visit us at:

http://www.linkedin.com/company/hay-systems-ltd

follow us on Twitter @HSLSMS

or call us on +44 (0)1506 605260

or email us at sales@haysystems.com

SMS alerts save lives

Thirty-nine people were killed when severe tornadoes swept through ten US states in early March but, according to reports, the death toll would have been a great deal higher if a complete early warning package - including SMS text alerts - had not been in place.

“Everyone knew that this tornado was coming and that it would be on the ground a long time,” tornado victim Roger Jones, 60, from Kentucky, told USA Today. “They were absolutely right on."

Local authorities and public sector bodies have been using text messaging as part of their emergency alert systems for some time now.

In the US, many local counties broadcast tornado text alerts to subscribers as soon as the National Weather Service issues a tornado warning. The same systems are used to disseminate other emergency messages relating to the health, safety or welfare of local communities.

In Australia, federal governments use SMS alerts to broadcast bushfire, flood and even tsunami warnings to the public, while in Canada text alerts are part of the Ontario government's Emergency Public Warning System. This sends 'Red Alerts' to subscribers when a serious incident has occurred, such as a large fire or explosion; chemical leak or spill; nuclear emergency or extreme weather event.

Similar systems are in operation in the UK, but our public sector agencies are also finding more mundane, but practical uses for bulk SMS messaging. Examples include:

• Advising of changes to refuse collection during holidays or bad weather
• Warning of the unexpected closure of community facilities, such as libraries or leisure centres
• Hospital appointment reminders
• Court appearance reminders to witnesses
• Missing dog alerts to dog walkers
• Rental balance reminders for tenants

HSL supports a range of clients who use text messaging to communicate emergency alerts. For example, Newmont Mining Corporation in Indonesia, one of the world’s largest gold producers helps to protect its workforce of 7000 people and neighbouring communities through a Tsunami and tropical cyclone text alert warning system delivered by HSL. More information on how this works can be found at http://www.hslsms.com/about/clients/case-study-newmont/.

Dartmoor Search and Rescue Service has worked with HSL for the last five years using text messaging for emergency call outs for their team. This is also used as a two way communication system, as team members can confirm their attendance with a text reply. You can read about how Dartmoor’s Search and Rescue team works with HSL to protect visitors who get into difficulty here: http://hslsms.com/about/clients/case-study-dartmoor-search-and-rescue/.

You will find information on our mobile messaging solutions for the public sector on our website at http://www.hslsms.com/sectors/public-sector/.

Alternatively, visit us at:

http://www.linkedin.com/company/hay-systems-ltd

follow us on Twitter @HSLSMS

or call us on +44 (0)1506 605260

or email us at sales@haysystems.com

Business continuity: communicating with staff via text

Is your business prepared for disaster?

Perhaps you run a transport firm, and heavy snow is disrupting some routes. Maybe you are a city office manager, trying to contact staff during a terrorist alert. Or maybe you are in charge of operations at a large legal firm, trying to get things moving after a fire at your head office.

Whatever your business, you will find it difficult to function in a crisis situation if you have not planned your responses in advance.

Business continuity plans are an increasingly important part of running an organisation: in fact new research from the British Insurance Brokers’ Association and the Cabinet Office has revealed that having such a plan is likely to stop businesses failing after a major disruption such as a flood or fire.

Business continuity plans require firms to think through all the issues that could affect them, and to put in place systems and procedures to resolve any difficulties. Key areas to consider include:

· premises;

· equipment and machinery;

· people;

· transport; and

· communication

Communication is clearly a major issue in the three scenarios mentioned earlier. In each case those in charge need to contact a large number of people in a short space of time, providing warnings, information and instructions.

Text alerts are the obvious solution, as they allow messages to be sent instantly - and en masse - to individuals and groups of people around the country.

SMS messaging also has the advantage of being cost effective and, because it doesn't transmit over voice channels, will work at times of crisis - when the phone lines and mobile voice networks are likely to be jammed.

For more information on mobile messaging solutions visit us at:

http://www.linkedin.com/company/hay-systems-ltd

follow us on Twitter @HSLSMS

or call us on +44 (0)1506 605 260

or email us at sales@haysystems.com