Mobile messaging is becoming increasingly popular within the Real Estate Industry. A growing number of real estate businesses are using SMS and MMS solutions as cheaper and more efficient alternatives to communicate with renters, buyers and agents.

First National Real Estate use SMSGlobal to assist in delivering timely messaging solutions using their existing application suite and specially designed messaging portals. The real estate business has integrated SMS and MMS into Utopia, an e-marketing platform especially for the real estate industry allowing franchisees to send SMS and MMS Property Listings using intelligent CRM processes. The portal also integrates confirmation messaging and general communications, which in turn streamlines business processes.

The second solution involves the development of SMSGlobal's specially designed web portal for the purpose of sending payment reminders as well as other critical alerts and notifications. This in turn helps improve the collections process and business cash flow. First National Real Estate also utilise SMS as a staff communication tool. This is effective as it helps touch base with a large team of agents and property managers who spend a large amount of time on the road.

The real estate industry is a big advocate of mobile messaging, with additional applications of SMS and MMS including:

Appointment Reminders: SMS can be sent to remind and alert clients of upcoming property viewings, rental inspections and auctions.

Application Updates: Notify clients of the progress of their applications for properties.

Property Look-up: A prospective buyer can request information about a property by sending an SMS. The buyer then has the property profile and agent details sent direct to their mobile phone.

Market Information: Information based on the property values in the surrounding area may be sent via SMS to local home owners or potential buyers.

New Property Listings: Inform potential buyers when a property of interest is listed via SMS or MMS.

Rotana Hotels and Resorts are a well-respected first class provider of 4 & 5 star hotels across the Middle East and North Africa. Catering for a wide range of clientele and covering 26 cities, they are renowned for their quality accommodation and dining experiences across the region.

Rotana were looking for an integrated SMS service which could keep their customers up to date and provide booking notifications across both their property management and restaurant management software.

Using Al Bustan Rotana in Dubai as a pilot for their SMS integration (for both their accommodation and restaurant bookings), Rotana were able to closely monitor and evaluate the effectiveness and benefits of SMSGlobal's SMS messaging service.

Integrating SMS into their current software was paramount. Al Bustan use two different types of software - "Opera PMS" for their hotel reservations and "Respak" for their restaurant management.

After consultation directly with both Rotana and the software providers, SMSGlobal were able to integrate and automate a SMS notification system which serviced not only their local, but international clientele. The SMS service improved the quality of their customer service and added value to both the property management and restaurant management software.

SMSGlobal are excited in partnering with Rotana to integrate mobile messaging across the rest of the expanding number of hotels and resorts.

The increased occurrence of natural hazards and pandemic health emergencies has meant that unparalleled situational awareness and communication alerting is crucial to the safety and well-being of our population.

One of our clients, Early Warning Network (EWN) has made it their business to ensure that registrants get speedy and relevant communication alerts using bulk SMS. Kerry Plowright, Managing Director of EWN recently provided feedback about our service and support:

"Due to the critical nature and time sensitivity of our service and warnings, it's essential that we receive the highest levels of support. This is one of the most attractive features of dealing with SMSGlobal. I can pick up the phone at any time of day or night to speak with someone who knows what they're talking about, knows who I am, and can act. That type of service is almost impossible to come by today. SMSGlobal's service has contributed to us attracting large business/government users i.e. Lend Lease, Australand, Origin Energy, Metcash, Theiss, Suncorp, Elders Insurance, Patricks, Motorola, Brisbane City Council, Townsville City Council, NSW State Water and John Holland, amongst many others".Kerry Plowright, Managing Director, EWN.

Australia's Most Experienced Early Warning System, EWN sends emergency alerts to mobile phones, home phones, pagers and more via SMS, automated phone calls, e-mail and their website. Alerts via SMS are available for residents of councils, customers, members of Elders Insurance Weather Alerts and employees of EWN partners.

Here's what one of EWN's customers had to say about their alerting service:

"I live in the western suburbs of Melbourne. I can only say how grateful I've been to have your email/text message service available to me. A property has been under construction next door to me now for over 7 months. I have had endless problems with flooding of my property from lack of stormwater connection and blockages in their stormwater connection. Had I not had your text message on Saturday, I would have been away from my home and unable to take some action to protect my property. I also forwarded your message on to my son who was about to travel from West Footscray into the CBD for Moomba. He told me later that had it not been for the message, he and his girlfriend would have been "in the thick of it" in the Melbourne CBD. Thanks again for what is a wonderful service." Lois

For many storm and flood stricken clients of Suncorp, the use of SMS was recently used as a means to communicate with clients, in an effort to have their insurance claims processed quickly. For the biggest general insurer, the increase in claims highlighted the need to keep clients better informed on the progress of their claims.

The urgency surrounding the disaster recovery situation required an increased capacity of Suncorp's SMS messaging systems to handle insurance and banking related communications. Together with Better Network Services Group (BNS Group), SMSGlobal helped to respond to the needs of Suncorp and through this partnership SMSGlobal's messaging platform enabled Suncorp to swiftly scale up and meet the demands to reach hundreds of thousands of flood affected customers in a very short period of time.

Five Tuition, a small-group tuition company that offers tuition to pre-school to year 12 students, needed an easy and cost effective way to communicate with a growing number staff and an expanding clientele base.

"With growing communication demands, we needed to find a method of communication that would integrate seamlessly with our current system. Following the very simple online instructions, and with limited programming skills, I was able to successfully integrate our existing system with SMSGlobal's HTTP API. Our staff can now send bulk SMS's to tutors, students, or parents with ease." Peter Hanley, Manager, Five Tuition.

Providing Five Tuition with online instructions for integrating their existing database system with SMSGlobal's API, the process of integration was simple. Having successfully integrated SMS into their existing database, this enabled Five Tuition to contact students, parents and staff via SMS.

"I feel confident that as our business evolves further, we can rely on SMSGlobal to provide reliable, affordable, and flexible communication technologies, along with the support needed to make them work" said Peter.

To read more about the great work of Five Tuition, go to http://www.fivetuition.com.au/