Alphanumeric Sender ID

[Shahzad_Ismail]

Alphanumeric sender IDs turn the sender ID of an SMS message into a company brand name. They are character strings composed of letters and numbers, and can be up to 11 characters long.  They are supported in many countries and you can read the full list here. Alphanumeric sender IDs are typically used for one way SMS traffic, such as B2C or B2B campaigns.

Below are some key benefits of alphanumeric sender IDs:

• Build stronger customer relationships with improved communication - Customers are more likely to engage positively with messages from known and trusted sources.  By providing a validated identifier for your brand, alphanumeric sender IDs encourage customers to trust communications from your organisation. Once trust has been established in one medium, customers are more likely to engage in other ways, such as through email or face to face interaction. This could lead to customers being more receptive to new products.
  
  
• Increased brand recognition, trust and loyalty - Because alphanumeric sender IDs serve as your brand’s sender ID, they give SMS campaigns a unique brand identity that highlights the importance of your company to customers.  This brand identity enhances trust: customers know SMS campaigns are coming from you and they know your reputation. This increase in trust can also lead to an increase in loyalty: customers know who you are, they know you are trustworthy, and as a consequence they are more likely to stick with you.
  
  
• Better open rates thanks to improved message deliverability - Customers engage more positively with SMS campaigns from known and trusted sources. They are more likely to open messages and less likely to delete or ignore them. By providing your brand with its own sender ID, alphanumeric sender IDs let customers know that an SMS message originates from your company. This makes them more likely to open messages and much less likely to delete without reading them.
  
  
• Increasing SMS cost-effectiveness - SMS campaigns are one of the most cost-effective ways for an organisation to engage its customer base.  By increasing trust, loyalty and engagement, alphanumeric sender IDs enhance an already cost-effective medium, making SMS campaigns the primary tool for effective marketing.

Popular uses of alphanumeric sender IDs

Because alphanumeric sender IDs allow organisations to brand the SMS messages they send, they are frequently used in situations that require the customer to trust the source of messages they receive. Below are 3 of the most popular use cases:

• 2FA - Two factor authentication (2FA) is a popular authentication method used everywhere from finance to IT.  It typically works by a user inputting their password and then receiving a code by SMS, which they input to confirm their identity.  Alphanumeric sender IDs enhance 2FA by providing a much needed element of trust. The user can see that the SMS they are receiving is from a trusted brand, providing a guarantee of security by reducing the possibility of fraud.
  
  
• Delivery updates - Many companies use SMS to provide updates on the progress of deliveries and packages the end user has ordered. Many customers value being informed of the progress of their order and want to trust the chosen courier to deliver it properly and promptly. By giving SMS updates a legitimate branded identity, an alphanumeric sender ID lets customers know that their orders are being handled by a scrupulous organisation. This means they can be confident they will receive the right package and it will not be broken or damaged.
  
  
• Notifications - Many organisations use SMS notifications to notify customers of key events, such as a subscription that is about to expire. Given the prevalence of phishing scams, customers need to know that the notifications they receive are from a legitimate source. Alphanumeric sender IDs can help with this, giving notifications a branded identity and letting recipients know that notifications are trustworthy.

For more information, you can read our article, What are alphanumeric sender IDs.  If you are a Sinch customer already, you can register your own alphanumeric sender ID. You may also learn how to register for your alphanumeric sender ID at Sinch here.