SMS Messaging Opt-In Story

Business Use Case

Our platform provides appointment scheduling automation for local service businesses such as roofers, plumbers, carpenters, and general contractors. These businesses often rely on phone-based communication with customers, and SMS is the most convenient way for both sides to coordinate appointments.

By leveraging Twilio phone numbers, service providers can publish a single point of contact on their websites and marketing materials. When a customer reaches out, the conversation is handled by an AI agent running on our platform, which guides the customer through the process of booking an appointment via SMS.


Opt-In Flow

  1. Initial Contact by Customer

    • A customer visits a service provider’s website and sees a Twilio phone number listed for “Book an Appointment” or “Text Us to Schedule.”

    • The customer sends the first SMS message to initiate the conversation.

  2. Automated Response and Disclosure

    • Upon receiving the initial SMS, the AI agent responds with an acknowledgment message that includes:

      • A welcome message from the service provider.

      • Disclosure that the conversation may be automated.

      • A clear statement that by continuing, the customer consents to receive SMS messages related to scheduling.

    Example:
    “Thanks for contacting [Business Name]! This is our scheduling assistant. By replying, you agree to receive SMS messages about your appointment. Msg & data rates may apply. Reply STOP to opt out.”

  3. Ongoing Conversation

    • The AI agent guides the customer step-by-step to confirm service type, preferred date/time, and contact details.

    • All messages remain strictly transactional, limited to appointment scheduling and confirmations.

  4. Opt-Out

    • At any time, the customer can reply with STOP to end communications.

    • The system immediately acknowledges the request and no further messages are sent.


Compliance Measures

  • Single Purpose Messaging: Messages are strictly related to booking, confirming, or rescheduling appointments.

  • Consent Transparency: Consent is explicit when the customer initiates the conversation and is reinforced in the first automated response.

  • Opt-Out Controls: STOP, CANCEL, or UNSUBSCRIBE are supported at any time, with immediate suppression.

  • Opt-In Records: All opt-ins (the initial SMS sent by a customer) are logged with timestamps for compliance tracking.


Example Flow

Customer Action: Sends “Hi, I’d like to book a roofing inspection.”
Platform Reply:
“Thanks for contacting [Business Name]! This is our scheduling assistant. By continuing, you agree to receive SMS messages about booking your appointment. Msg & data rates may apply. Reply STOP to opt out. What service would you like to schedule?”

Customer: “Roof inspection.”
Platform: “Got it. What date works best for you?”

…and so on, until the appointment is confirmed.