How Does Text-to-pay Billing Work?

The modern customer demands convenience; they want you to tailor the customer experience to their specific needs and expectations. Part of appealing to your customers is offering them the payment methods that they prefer. Adding text-to-pay to your payment options is an excellent way to do this. In addition to making life easier for your customers, it also helps your business. 

Take a closer look at how SMS payments work, why they can be a game changer for your business, and how to get started.

What is Text-to-pay?

As the name implies, text-to-pay allows your customers to pay via text directly from their smartphone. Text-to-pay can also be referred to as SMS payments because it uses short messaging service (SMS). This payment method eliminates the need for customers to manually enter their credit card information, making it a quick and convenient way to make a payment.

With text-to-pay, you can send a payment request to your customers’ smartphones. They simply need to click the payment link provided in the text message to complete the transaction. This method is particularly useful for businesses that provide services on-site, such as home services, food delivery, or professional services.

By offering text-to-pay as a payment option, you can streamline the payment process and improve customer satisfaction. It’s a win-win situation for both your business and your customers.

Ready to get started with text-to-pay? Watch our demo to see how it works and learn how Podium can help your business.

SMS) messages.

Once customers sign up to receive texts from your business and make their first payment, you can store their payment information in your files. This way, you can simply send them a message asking if they want to pay and they can text back a codeword to confirm, such as “Yes.” 

An alternative form of text messages for payment involves you texting customers a payment link.

Why Text-to-Pay is a Game Changer for Small Businesses

Text-to-pay has various benefits both for you and your customers. Here are a few reasons this payment method is a game changer for small businesses. 

It’s Fast

Text-to-pay allows you to automate your payment process. With the right text-to-pay platform in your toolkit, you’ll be able to automatically send payment options and have your customers respond right away. This is quick for both you and your customers.

On the customer’s end, they only have to click on a link, enter their payment info, and press submit. No need to physically visit a store or make a phone call to relay card information. 

On your end, the fact that customers can pay in seconds means that you receive payments more quickly. This saves your business even more time and lets you focus on tasks that are more important. Furthermore, if a customer forgets to make a payment, all you have to do is fire off a quick reminder to nudge them in the right direction. 

From reduced phone calls to less time asking for bill payments, text message payments save time for everyone involved.

It’s Convenient

The convenience of SMS payments can’t be overstated. A big part of this is due to the already-mentioned fact that customers don’t have to make a phone call or visit a physical store. They can pay in seconds without having to disrupt their day.

It’s Easy

An SMS payment is easy for both your business and your customers to use. The process is intuitive and eliminates friction. Anyone who uses a smartphone knows how to click a link and enter payment details.

As an added bonus, with the right system, you can even store your customer’s buying preferences—so you can continue to provide effective, targeted outreach in the future.

Customers Can Pay Without Disrupting Their Day

Text messages have a 98% open rate—most people are glued to their smartphones. Because of this, it is incredibly likely that when customers receive a text payment reminder from your business, they’ll pay immediately. And they won’t need to schedule dedicated time to do it.

This results in less time wasted on your end—as we’ve already mentioned, text reminders can be automated, which means no more chasing down customers.

It Reduces Late Payments

Any small business owner knows how important it is for customers to pay on time. Small businesses simply don’t deal with the same cash flow as larger companies, so they rely on their customers for on-time payments. Because text-to-pay allows for quick and frictionless payments, it also greatly reduces late payments.

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