Can Salesforce Send SMS Messages? Discover the Best Options!‍

Wondering how to effectively reach your customers through SMS via Salesforce? You're not alone. Salesforce offers a myriad of ways to send SMS messages to your clients and partners. Let's explore the three primary methods.‍

Salesforce Digital Engagement Add-On

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‍Salesforce's Digital Engagement add-on offers SMS functionalities within the Sales Cloud or Service Cloud suite. It costs $75 USD per user/month, including 1,000 outbound messages. Need more? Additional messages come in batches of 1,000 for $30 USD. However, keep in mind that its primary focus is the Service Cloud, and its messaging capabilities aren't globally extensive or developer-friendly via Apex.

As of September 2023, messaging is only available for the following countries (from this help article):

• Australia
• Austria
• Belgium
• Brazil
• Canada  [Long Code [w/ MMS); Short Code (no MMS); Toll Free (no MMS)]
• Denmark
• Finland
• France
• Germany
• Hong Kong
• Hungary
• Ireland
• Malaysia
• Norway
• Philippines
• Poland
• Portugal
• Singapore
• Spain
• Sweden
• Switzerland
• Taiwan
• United Kingdom
• United States [Long Code [w/ MMS); Short Code (no MMS); Toll Free (no MMS)]

If you are working with or operating in a country outside this list then you won't be able to use Salesforce Digital Engagement to send messages, possibly leading you to develop a custom integration.‍

Custom-developed Integration

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Platforms like Twilio and Messente offer APIs for SMS integrations. Here's a quick look at the potential costs and concerns:‍

• ‍Development Costs: With developers charging, say, $125/hour, a two-week project can already cost around $10,000.‍
• Additional Costs: Including project management and internal operational costs.‍
• Maintenance: As APIs evolve, there's an ongoing cost to keep the integration updated and compatible.

Given both the up front and ongoing costs of building and maintain such a system, it can be very restrictive for an organisation to think about building such an integration.

Additionally, when thinking of ongoing support its worth considering what support and assistance you will get in the future. For example, if the developer who built the integration leaves, who will then make any necessary fixes? What about if you have a question of how to include the integration into a new process? and what about learning how others are using messaging so that you can leverage their best practices?

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Off-the-Shelf Solution: Messente for Salesforce‍

Why consider Messente for Salesforce? Here's why:

• ‍Versatility: Whether you're using our components, Salesforce's Flow actions, or our Apex API, there's a method for everyone.‍
• Cost-Effective: A straightforward monthly fee of £200 GBP/organization, with no user limits or automation restrictions.
• ‍Global & Flexible: Send messages globally to over 190 countries without annual bulk purchases. Pay as you go, adjust as needed.‍
• Continuous Updates: Benefit from regular updates, ensuring compatibility and new features from Messente's platform.

Harnessing the power of SMS within Salesforce can revolutionize your client communication. Whether you opt for native solutions, custom development, or off-the-shelf applications, the goal remains the same: effective and timely communication.

Want to elevate your SMS game with Salesforce? Contact us to learn more about Messente for Salesforce.