AfterShip SMS Review, Pricing, Features with Pros and Cons

In today’s fast-paced e-commerce landscape, staying ahead in customer engagement and satisfaction is crucial for business success. Enter AfterShip SMS, a dynamic post-purchase solution that revolutionizes how businesses interact with their customers after a sale.

This article delves into the multifaceted world of AfterShip SMS, exploring its innovative features, from proactive shipment tracking to automated returns and beyond.

Whether you’re a small startup or a global enterprise, understanding how AfterShip SMS can enhance your customer’s journey, streamline your operations, and boost your marketing strategy is essential in the competitive world of e-commerce.

Read further to learn more about AfterShip SMS, in our review we will detail its features, pros and cons with our rating, and a conclusion about why you should use it.

Click on “open” if you want to see exactly what we will talk about in the rest of this article.

AfterShip SMS is a comprehensive post-purchase solution designed to enhance the customer journey from shipment tracking to returns, including all touchpoints in between. It offers proactive shipment tracking to delight customers, reduce WISMO (Where Is My Order) tickets, and optimize delivery performance.

The platform features a suite of tools including a branded tracking page, shipment visibility dashboard, and exception report.

Additionally, it provides returns automation for a positive returns and exchange experience, warranty automation to eliminate manual processes, and world-class shipping protection to capture lost revenue and optimize claims operations.

AfterShip SMS also includes AI-powered delivery date estimates to drive conversion and set customer expectations. The platform is designed for seamless integration with various platforms, apps, and carriers, offering robust APIs and webhooks for easy engineering.

AfterShip SMS specifications

AfterShip SMS pricing plans

AfterShip SMS offers two main pricing plans:

Pro Plan

• • Monthly Price: $25 per month
  • Annual Price: $30 per month
  • SMS Credits: 2,000 SMS credits per month
  • Features:
    • Dedicated sending numbers
    • Unique coupon codes
    • Newsletter campaigns
    • Advanced automated SMS flows
    • SMS quiet hours
    • UTM tracking

Enterprise Plan

• • Pricing: Custom pricing
  • SMS Credits: 125,000+ credits per month
  • Features:
    • Everything in Pro, plus:
    • Dedicated short code (additional fee)
    • Robust APIs
    • Enterprise single sign-on (SSO)
    • Dedicated customer success manager
    • Dedicated onboarding manager
    • Silver support plan

Additionally, there is a mention of a Free plan for businesses just starting out, which includes basic features. For larger organizations, there are also organization plans and support plans with varying features and custom pricing.

Diving into the features of AfterShip SMS reveals a world where efficiency meets customer satisfaction. Each feature is meticulously designed to address specific aspects of the post-purchase experience.

From ensuring customers are always in the loop about their orders to simplifying the returns process and enhancing marketing outreach, AfterShip SMS’s features are tailored to elevate every touchpoint in the customer’s journey.

This section will explore these features in detail, showcasing how they work together to create a cohesive and satisfying post-purchase experience.

Welcome SMS

The Welcome SMS feature in AfterShip SMS is designed to turn new subscribers into customers seamlessly. When a customer signs up, they automatically receive a personalized greeting message, which can include incentives and special offers.

This immediate engagement helps in establishing a positive first impression and encourages new subscribers to make their first purchase.

The use of personalized messages makes the interaction feel more genuine and tailored to the individual, increasing the likelihood of conversion. This feature is crucial for businesses looking to capitalize on the initial interest of potential customers, turning them into loyal patrons right from their first interaction.

Abandoned Cart SMS

Abandoned Cart SMS targets customers who have added items to their cart but left the site without completing the purchase. This feature sends automated texts with incentives to encourage these customers to return and complete their transactions.

By reminding customers of what they’ve left behind and offering additional incentives, businesses can significantly increase engagement and recover lost sales.

This strategy is effective in capturing sales that would otherwise be lost and is an essential tool for e-commerce businesses looking to maximize their revenue.

Winback SMS

Winback SMS is an automated feature that re-engages customers who have not interacted with the brand for a certain period. By sending texts with special incentives to these inactive customers, businesses can reactivate their interest and encourage them to return.

This feature is particularly useful for retaining customers and maintaining a loyal customer base. It helps in reminding customers of the brand’s value and offerings, potentially reigniting their interest and leading to repeat purchases.

Price Drop SMS

Price Drop SMS automatically notifies customers when there is a price drop on products they are interested in. This feature not only helps in making an easy sale but also demonstrates to customers that the business is considerate of their interests and budget.

By informing customers of price drops, businesses can encourage quick purchasing decisions, leveraging the customer’s existing interest in the product. This feature is an effective tool for driving sales and enhancing customer satisfaction.

Back-in-Stock SMS

Back-in-Stock SMS automatically informs customers when an out-of-stock product they are interested in becomes available again. This feature creates a sense of urgency, encouraging customers to act quickly to secure the product.

It is an effective way to capitalize on existing customer interest and can lead to immediate sales. By keeping customers informed about product availability, businesses can improve customer experience and loyalty.

Order Status Update SMS

Order Status Update SMS provides customers with automated updates about their order status, such as when it is shipped, out for delivery, or delivered. This feature offers transparency and reassurance to customers, keeping them informed every step of the way.

It enhances the customer experience by eliminating uncertainty about order status and builds trust in the brand. Keeping customers updated in real-time is a key aspect of customer service and can significantly improve customer satisfaction.

Dedicated Number

The dedicated number feature in AfterShip SMS allows businesses to send SMS messages using a specific toll-free number, long code, or short code, tailored to their brand. This dedicated approach enhances brand recognition as customers begin to associate the specific number with the business.

It also streamlines communication, making it easier for customers to recognize and trust the messages they receive. By using a dedicated number, businesses can build a consistent and professional image in their SMS marketing campaigns.

This feature also simplifies the process for customers to reach out and respond to messages, fostering better customer engagement and interaction.

The use of dedicated numbers can significantly improve the efficiency and effectiveness of SMS marketing strategies by providing a reliable and recognizable point of contact for customers.

SMS Quiet Hours

AfterShip SMS’s SMS quiet hours feature ensures that messages are sent during reasonable hours, respecting the customer’s time and adhering to telemarketing laws like the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA).

This thoughtful approach to messaging not only enhances customer experience by preventing disturbances during inappropriate hours but also helps businesses stay compliant with regulations.

By setting quiet hours, businesses can avoid the negative impact of sending messages at inconvenient times, which could lead to customer dissatisfaction or even opt-outs.

This feature demonstrates a business’s commitment to customer-centric practices, building trust and loyalty. Additionally, it optimizes the timing of message delivery, increasing the likelihood of messages being read and acted upon during active hours.

Tap-to-Text

The tap-to-text feature in AfterShip SMS is designed to simplify the subscription process for website visitors. By clicking a call-to-action (CTA), a pre-populated text message opens, and with just a tap, visitors can subscribe to the SMS list.

This feature significantly reduces the barriers to subscription, making it more convenient and user-friendly. It eliminates the need for manually entering phone numbers or navigating through multiple steps to subscribe, thereby enhancing the user experience.

The ease of subscription provided by tap-to-text can lead to higher subscription rates, expanding the reach of SMS marketing campaigns. This feature is particularly effective in capturing the interest of mobile users, who can subscribe instantly without disrupting their browsing experience.

Automatic URL Shortener

AfterShip SMS includes an automatic URL shortener for text messages, which enhances readability, increases click-through rates (CTR), and enables more data collection points. Shortened URLs make messages look cleaner and more professional, encouraging higher engagement from recipients.

This feature also allows brands to include more content in a single message, saving costs and avoiding the need for multiple messages.

The data collected from the interactions with these URLs provides valuable insights into customer behavior and preferences, aiding in the optimization of future marketing strategies.

The use of shortened URLs in SMS marketing is a strategic approach to improve message effectiveness while gathering useful data for analytics and strategy refinement.

SMS Automation Flow

The SMS automation flow feature in AfterShip SMS allows businesses to create automated actions that are triggered by various customer behaviors and events. This includes contact behavior, shopping behavior, product-related actions, or specific shipping events.

By automating these processes, businesses can ensure timely and relevant communication with their customers, enhancing the overall customer experience. This feature not only streamlines the process of sending SMS messages but also makes campaigns more tailored and effective.

It allows for a high degree of personalization, ensuring that messages are not only sent at the right time but are also relevant to the individual customer’s journey.

This level of automation and customization is key in building lasting customer relationships and driving engagement in a highly competitive market.

SMS Trigger Filter

The SMS trigger filter feature in AfterShip SMS enables businesses to send highly targeted messages by narrowing down the audience to specific segments. This is achieved by setting up SMS triggers based on various event properties, such as the source of sign-up, cart value, and customer status.

This level of targeting ensures that the messages are highly relevant to the recipients, increasing the likelihood of engagement and conversion. By focusing on specific segments, businesses can create more effective SMS campaigns that resonate with their audience.

This feature is particularly useful for creating personalized marketing strategies and improving the efficiency of communication efforts, ensuring that the right message reaches the right customer at the right time.

SMS Conditional Split

AfterShip SMS’s SMS conditional split feature allows businesses to deliver unique experiences to consumers based on their behavior and engagement. This is done by creating two distinct paths in the SMS campaign, using a contact’s profile properties or activities as the branching condition.

This feature enables businesses to tailor their communication strategy to individual customer needs and preferences, enhancing the personalization of their marketing efforts.

By using conditional splits, businesses can ensure that each customer receives messages that are most relevant to their specific interactions and behaviors, leading to increased customer satisfaction and loyalty.

SMS A/B Testing

SMS A/B testing in AfterShip SMS enables businesses to create multiple versions of their SMS campaigns to test various elements such as time delays, SMS content, the number of messages, and discounts.

This feature allows businesses to determine which version of their campaign is most effective in driving key business metrics. By comparing different outcomes, businesses can gain valuable insights into customer preferences and behaviors, helping them refine their SMS strategies.

A/B testing is crucial for optimizing the impact of SMS campaigns, ensuring that businesses are not only reaching their audience but also engaging them in the most effective way possible.

SMS Newsletter

The SMS newsletter feature in AfterShip SMS allows businesses to reach customers with personalized text messages on a large scale, ensuring higher visibility. This tool is particularly useful for keeping customers informed about important business events, such as new product launches, promotions, or special events.

By using SMS newsletters, businesses can maintain a consistent line of communication with their customers, keeping them engaged and informed. This feature is key in building a strong brand presence and keeping the business top-of-mind among customers.

Customer Segmentation

Customer segmentation in AfterShip SMS enables businesses to target exactly the right people with their SMS campaigns, ensuring that the timing and content of the messages are tailored to specific customer groups.

Segments can be defined based on various customer attributes and website interactions, such as VIP customers, repeated buyers, or those who have shown interest in certain products. This level of targeting allows for highly personalized and effective SMS campaigns, increasing the likelihood of engagement and conversion.

By understanding and segmenting their audience, businesses can create more impactful and relevant messaging strategies, leading to better customer relationships and increased sales.

Seamless Integration with Shopify and Shopify Plus

AfterShip SMS offers seamless one-click integration with Shopify and Shopify Plus, streamlining the synchronization of customer profiles and order data. This integration allows for a smooth transfer of information between the platforms, ensuring that customer data is up-to-date and accurate.

By connecting with Shopify, businesses can easily track website interactions and customer behaviors, providing valuable insights for targeted messaging. This feature is particularly beneficial for e-commerce businesses looking to enhance their customer engagement strategies.

The integration facilitates personalized communication by utilizing the rich data from Shopify, enabling businesses to send relevant and timely messages based on customer actions and preferences.

Moreover, this seamless connection simplifies the management of customer information and order details, making it easier for businesses to maintain a comprehensive view of their customer interactions and improve their overall marketing effectiveness.

AfterShip SMS is a versatile post-purchase solution that enhances the customer journey from shipment tracking to returns, offering a suite of tools for proactive shipment tracking, returns automation, warranty automation, shipping protection, and AI-powered delivery date estimates.

The software is designed to delight customers, reduce WISMO tickets, and optimize delivery performance, making it an ideal choice for businesses looking to improve their post-purchase customer experience.

Pros:

• Enhanced Customer Experience: Provides proactive shipment tracking and a positive returns and exchange experience.
• Efficiency and Automation: Features like rule-based returns automation and warranty automation eliminate manual processes.
• Data Insights and Integration: Offers seamless integration with platforms like Shopify and Shopify Plus, enabling better data utilization for targeted messaging.
• Customization and Support: The Enterprise plan includes options like a dedicated short code and robust APIs for tailored solutions.

Cons:

• Cost Consideration: While offering a free basic plan, more advanced features require paid plans, which might be a consideration for smaller businesses.
• Complexity for Smaller Operations: The range of features and integrations, while beneficial for larger businesses, might be overwhelming for smaller operations or those new to SMS marketing.
• Dependency on External Platforms: The effectiveness of AfterShip SMS is partly dependent on the integration with other platforms, which might limit its use in certain scenarios where such integrations are not feasible.

AfterShip SMS Review, Pricing, Features with Pros and Cons

• 1Overview
• 2Pricing
• 3Features
• 4Conclusion
• 5FAQ

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