In response to increasing client demand for a wider range of communications channels with their customers, leads and staff, OA Systems have recently developed an add on which allows SMS “Text Messages” to be sent from within the Microsoft CRM system.

These messages can be easily composed and sent to any number of contacts, leads, marketing lists or users, and may optionally be automatically recorded as an activity against the recipients.

Message administrators can define such items as compulsory headers or footers to create a standardised message format. They may also set up a maximum number of recipients for a single message, so managing costs. Predefined roles are used to control access to message creation and also sending, allowing a simple to use approval process.

Historical messages sent can be viewed, along with their recipients and success rates.

Both OA Systems and their partner provider are aware of the need for control of SMS permissions in New Zealand, and these permissions are controlled in the same way that other channels are, with the added reassurance that a “stop” message at any time will block outbound messages at both the CRM and provider levels, ensuring no accidental sends to unsubscribed individuals.

OA Systems is a Microsoft CRM Certified Software Advisor.