Automated Text Messages: Benefits & Examples and How to Send?

What is an automated text message?

Automated text messages are trigger-based texts scheduled in advance by practices to connect and engage with patients. These messages can be used to send appointment confirmations, reminders, transaction alerts, billing reminders, and follow-up texts.

Automated text messages streamline patient communications, reduce the administrative burden and improve patient experiences. In order to enhance practice operations, using software that is designed to automate practice operations can be helpful as it allows you to streamline patient interactions through automated text messages.

10 Benefits of Automated Text Messages for Businesses

Automated text messages boost practice efficiency, reduce the administrative workload and enhance patient interactions. They are a game-changer for healthcare practices, especially when you use a HIPAA-compliant messaging platform to engage with patients directly.

If you are interested in learning more about automated text messaging, here are some of the key benefits:

1. Save Time & Reduce Workload Text messaging each patient individually can be time consuming, laborious, and repetitive. Automated text messaging platforms allow you to schedule messages in bulk, to be sent at optimal times with little to no effort from your end.
   
   This improves engagement, reduces no-shows and saves valuable time which can be used to focus on more critical tasks.

2. Improve Customer Engagement & Retention Keeping in touch with patients before, during, and after their appointments is essential for maintaining long-lasting relationships. It also enhances patient engagement and builds trust, both of which are essential for patient retention.
   
   Automated text messages allow you to build and maintain these long-lasting relationships without manually tracking each patient’s progress.

3. Minimise No-Shows and Cancellations Keeping in touch with patients leading up to their appointments has been shown to reduce no-shows. Appointment reminders also allow patients to reschedule their appointments or cancel in advance, if necessary.

4. Increase Engagement & Conversions Text messages have an exceptionally high open rate (98%), making them an effective way of marketing your healthcare services. If you are looking to attract new patients, or re-engage lapsed ones, a text might actually do the trick.

5. Enhance Customer Experience Patients appreciate the instant access that comes with text messages. Providing them with the convenience of instant responses and real time updates is exactly the kind of thing that fosters patient loyalty.

6. Ensure HIPAA Compliance Automated text reminders sent through a HIPAA-compliant software not only enhance patient communication, but do so while adhering to HIPAA security guidelines, making it ideal for healthcare practices.

7. Streamline Payment Reminders Automated text messages can also be used to send timely reminders to patients to settle their outstanding payments. This is crucial for the financial well-being of your practice as it reduces late payments.

8. Get More Reviews Patient feedback allows practices to identify areas for improvement and improves your practice’s online reputation. Sending automated review requests containing review invite links allows you to remind patients to leave a review, and makes it easier for them to do so.

9. Provide Valuable Analytics Using a practice management software will not only allow you to send automated text messages but also help you track the engagement, response rate, and trends in customer interactions. This is valuable information that you can use to improve your practice’s performance and build more meaningful relationships with your patients.

10. Cost-Effective Communication Not only are automated text messages an incredibly affordable way of engaging with patients, but they also prevent no-shows and improve practice efficiency, which, in turn boosts revenue and promotes practice growth.

Use Cases of Automated Text Messaging

Automated text messages are used across different industries to enhance business communication. Here are some use cases of automated text messaging in various sectors:

• Healthcare:

  • Appointment Reminders: Appointment reminders are used to engage with patients before their appointments. They reduce no-shows and provide patients with the option to reschedule.

  • Follow-Ups: Engaging with patients after a treatment to inquire about their recovery improves health outcomes and also gives practices a chance to collect patient feedback.

  • Patient Engagement: Staying in touch with patients helps practices foster lasting relationships. This can be in the form of wellness tips, medication reminders, or lab result updates.

• E-Commerce:

  • Order Confirmations: Order confirmations are used to notify their customers when they have successfully placed an order.

  • Shipping Updates: Shipping updates keep customers informed on the status of their order, as well as track their package.

  • Abandoned Cart Reminders: Abandoned cart reminders encourage customers to complete their purchase, especially if certain items could go out of stock.

• Customer Service:

  • Support Notifications: Support notifications help keep customers in the loop from the moment a ticket is created until the support team has resolved the issue.

  • FAQ Responses: AI chatbots generate answers to common questions and provide instant support to users.

  • Live Chat Integration: Live chat integration provides seamless interaction with customers.

• Marketing & Promotions:

  • Discounts: Businesses can use A2P messages to inform customers about promo codes and flash sales.

  • Event Invitations: Text message alerts help boost event attendance and allow attendees to RSVP.

  • Loyalty Rewards: Trigger based text messages can be used to reward repeat customers after a certain number of orders. This can also be in the form of VIP offers and exclusive deals.

• Payment & Billing:

  • Invoice Reminders: Invoice reminders are used to notify customers about payment due dates.

  • Payment Confirmations: Payment confirmation alerts are sent immediately after transactions are completed for confirmation and record keeping.

  • Subscription Renewals: Customers receive auto-renewal alerts to ensure uninterrupted service.

Examples of automated text messages

Here are some examples of automated text messages used across different industries to engage with customers and streamline business processes.

• Healthcare

  “Hi [Patient Name], we hope you are doing well. This is a friendly reminder that you have an upcoming appointment on [Date] at [Time] with [Provider’s Name] at [Clinic Name]. Please reply ‘CONFIRM’ to confirm your appointment, or ‘RESCHEDULE’ to pick a different time. We look forward to seeing you!”

• Physiotherapy

  “Hi [Patient Name], we hope you’re feeling better. It’s been a while since we last saw you. If you are still experiencing discomfort, we recommend scheduling a check-in for better recovery. Click here: [Link]”

• Chiropractic

  “One of the many benefits of regular chiropractic care is stress relief? Book your next session with us today for improved posture and mental relaxation. [Link]”

• Dental

  “Hi [Patient Name], we would like to confirm your routine dental cleaning appointment on [Date] at [Time]. Reply ‘CONFIRM’ or call PHONE NUMBER”

• Others

  “Your order #12345 has been shipped! Track your package here: [Link]”

How to send automated text messages using DemandHub?

DemandHub is a practice management software designed to streamline patient communication, reduce administrative workload, and optimize practice efficiency in the process.

Here’s how to use DemandHub to send automated text messages.

Step 1:

The first step is to create a DemandHub account and connect your contact list, review platforms and social media profiles. This way you can access all your patient interactions through DemandHub’s consolidated inbox.

Step 2:

Now you can choose which type of automated texts you want to send. DemandHub allows you to send appointment reminders, follow-ups, review requests, payment reminders, and promotional messages.

These messages can be personalized to give the texts a human touch. You can also customize existing templates to add clear CTAs and links. DemandHub’s AI-driven technology ensures HIPAA and TCPA compliance, especially when seeing bulk texts.

DemandHub allows you to create trigger-based messaging campaigns. This means as soon as a patient books an appointment, DemandHub sends an appointment confirmation text. You can automate texts based on customer actions and ensure timely delivery.

Step 3:

The last step is to track and monitor the performance of these texts. Keeping an eye out for metrics such as delivery and open rate, response rate and opt-out management gives you valuable insight into your patient interactions, and provides guidance on how you can improve.

To learn more about DemandHub’s automated text messaging, book a free demo today.