Mobile solutions vendor, Securicom Messaging, has launched a robust and versatile USSD (unstructured supplementary service data) engine and a Mobi-Competition System to enhance its suite of services that enable companies to engage with their customers via mobile messaging.
The USSD engine, developed locally from scratch by Securicom Messaging, empowers companies to improve the level of communication with people, enabling bi-directional interaction, for all manner of transactions, including competitions, account balance enquiries, and a range of other business services.
Managed by Securicom Messaging, the system is cost-effectively and easily-customised to facilitate companies’ mobile communication campaigns, and tailored to support reporting requirements and initiatives to build-out relationships with customers.
According to Willie Stebbing, solutions manager, at Securicom Messaging, the introduction of the USSD and Mobi platforms answers to the burgeoning demand from companies keen to move beyond traditional SMS short code systems used to run SMS competitions and campaigns.
“Short code systems typically used for SMS campaigns and competitions don’t allow for the bi-directional communication companies want to have when engaging with people using SMS and short codes. Our USSD engine enables deeper and more strategic interactions, turning one-way or two-way transactions into communication sessions. Our system allows companies to build-in a workflow, which navigates pathways based on the respondents’ responses.
“The Mobi- system also opens up opportunities for companies to engage with people outside of South Africa, where short codes and USSD would not work or extremely difficult to deploy. This means that organizations can run competitions across different countries with one campaign instead of having to develop separate campaigns and short codes specific to each country.”
The Mobi- system can be used in conjunction with Securicom Messaging’s cloud-based, rich competition engine which allows people to enter via a campaign-branded mobi site with their smart phones or using a connected PC.
“While smartphone penetration is growing in South Africa, they are not yet the norm, which means a significant portion of a companies’ target market are excluded by mobile applications and transactions that rely on the Internet.
“The USSD engine enables interaction with basic cell phones, as well as smart phones. Complemented with a mobi site, companies can interact with consumers using the Internet as well,” explains Stebbing.
“We are working on some really exciting campaigns with some well-known brands. Perhaps one of the most value-adding aspects of our solution is that it includes capabilities for analysing and reporting on the success of the campaigns. Our clients will also be able to delve a little deeper into the interactions and learn more about the people they touched base with.
“Our services has tremendous potential in a market that has been lacking rich, integrated and flexible mobile solutions that allow for this level of communication,” concludes Stebbing.