Many people have been working remotely and relying on Microsoft Teams for communication more than ever, due to the shift in work culture and the convenience of remote work.
Microsoft Teams SMS is a feature that allows users to send & receive SMS/MMS using Microsoft Teams numbers. This feature has become increasingly important as companies strive to provide a single seamless communication platform to all their digital users and external stakeholders.
In this blog, we will explore how MS Teams texting works and why it is useful for your business…
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How is SMS different from MS Teams chat?
Before diving into the blog, it's important to understand the difference between an SMS and Microsoft Teams Chat.
SMS:
SMS or Short Messaging Service works on an entirely different communication channel, i.e., using cellular towers.
SMS is sent and received in control channels through cellular towers. Here, SMSC or SMS Centre is a controlling center used to temporarily store, receive, and send messages.
So, SMS requires only a mobile carrier signal and GSM to communicate without using any applications.
Thus, we could find how the same messaging services work on entirely different communication channels and cannot be directly integrated!
MS Teams chat:
MS Teams chat, like any other instant messaging service, sends text messages over internet protocols. Despite several advantages, Microsoft Teams is more like a walled garden since it requires both the sender and receiver to have the Teams application on their phones or PCs!
Additionally, it requires an internet connection to send and receive messages.
Is it possible to send SMS using MS Teams?
We all know that Microsoft Teams was designed specifically for internal team communication. Therefore, we use MS Teams to chat with teammates, collaborate and share documents, join voice calls, have video meetings, and whatnot.
However, as there was a demand for customers to communicate with businesses through SMS, the organizations thought about using MS Teams for business texting as well. The reason for this is that anyone on the staff can easily collaborate with customer queries through the Microsoft Teams software itself.
Now comes the big question. Is it possible to send SMS through MS Teams?
The short answer is YES. You can send texts to your customers right from the Teams interface.
Even though Microsoft Teams doesn't have a built-in texting solution, third-party tools like Falkon SMS allow your staff to communicate with your customers via SMS, even if the recipients do not have the Teams app installed.
How can I enable Microsoft Teams texting?
Microsoft does not provide any additional or built-in features to enable SMS in the MS Teams application. So, SMS cannot be directly integrated with Microsoft Teams. However, Falkon SMS integrates seamlessly with MS Teams, allowing you to send and receive SMS messages directly from your Teams interface.
This feature can be added by initially porting the MS Teams number through a direct routing technique. This process enables the MS Teams number to make and receive external phone calls.
Falkon VoIP provides this service and inherent additional benefits such as cost-effective plans, access to all countries, and seamless service compared to Microsoft Calling plans with access to only 16 countries.
And then, the number is text-enabled to send and receive SMS. This feature addition has a dual advantage. Customers can now use MS Teams numbers for both Voice-calling the external numbers and SMS texting the numbers using this feature.
Want to use your existing MS Teams number for SMS/MMS? No problem! Falkon SMS can text-enable your current Teams number for added convenience.
Prefer a new or dedicated number for SMS/MMS on Teams? Falkon SMS offers that flexibility as well. Just follow these steps to get started with Microsoft Teams Texting via Falkon SMS.
List of ways how businesses can use Microsoft Teams SMS
Microsoft Teams offers various ways for businesses to utilize text messaging efficiently. Here's a list of ways they can do so:
01. Internal Communication
Use Teams text messaging for internal team communication, allowing employees to quickly exchange messages, share updates, and collaborate on projects.
02. Project Management
Create separate chat threads for different projects or teams within the organization to discuss project updates, assign tasks, and share relevant files or documents.
03. Remote Work Collaboration
Facilitate seamless collaboration among remote teams by using Teams text messaging for instant communication, reducing the need for lengthy email threads.
04. Meetings and Calls
Use text messaging to schedule meetings, send meeting agendas, and share meeting links. During meetings, participants can use text messaging to ask questions, provide feedback, or share relevant information.
05. Announcements and Updates
Send company-wide announcements, updates, or reminders via Teams text messaging to ensure all employees are informed about important news or changes.
06. Customer Support
Utilize Teams text messaging as a channel for providing customer support, allowing customers to reach out with inquiries or issues and enabling support teams to respond promptly.
07. Integration with Apps
Integrate Microsoft Teams with other business applications to streamline workflows. For example, integrate with project management tools, CRM systems, or help desk software to receive notifications and updates directly within Teams.
08. Training and Onboarding
Use Teams text messaging to conduct training sessions or onboarding programs for new employees, providing them with relevant resources, instructions, and support.
09. Task Management
Use Teams text messaging to create and manage tasks within chat threads, allowing team members to assign tasks, set deadlines, and track progress collaboratively.
10. Feedback and Suggestions
Encourage open communication and feedback by creating channels dedicated to soliciting suggestions, ideas, or feedback from employees on various aspects of the business. You can also collect feedback, reviews, and opinions from customers through SMS polls and surveys.
Benefits of text-enabling your MS Teams number
Though MS teams are preferred for business communications, it is yet to gain popularity as a personal communication platform. So, you cannot expect everyone to have MS Teams on their phone or PC!
Integrating SMS into Microsoft Teams offers numerous benefits for your communication and workflow.
01. Streamlined Communication
By incorporating SMS, you streamline your communication channels within Microsoft Teams. This consolidation ensures that important messages reach your team efficiently, fostering quicker decision-making and response times.
02. Improved Workflow
The integration enhances workflow efficiency by providing a seamless platform for both chat and SMS. This unified environment reduces the need to switch between different applications, promoting a more organized and productive work process.
03. Team Collaboration
Integrating SMS into Microsoft Teams facilitates better team collaboration. Team members can communicate in real time, share updates, and coordinate tasks effortlessly, leading to improved project management and overall team performance.
04. Reduced Software Clutter
Integrating SMS directly into Microsoft Teams eliminates the need for additional communication tools, reducing software clutter. This consolidation not only simplifies the user experience but also minimizes the learning curve for team members.
05. High Accessibility and Open Rates
SMS integration ensures high accessibility, as text messages are commonly checked promptly. This leads to increased open rates for important messages, ensuring that critical information is more likely to be seen and acted upon in a timely manner.
The benefits of text-enabling MS Teams are numerous, and the ones mentioned above are just to name a few.
Also read: Why should you text enable MS Teams number
So why are you waiting? Don't miss this opportunity to text enable your MS Teams number and give superpowers to your Microsoft Teams toolkit.