Applications for Electronic Notifications

Here are some examples of how different industries use automated electronic notifications to streamline communications and data analysis.

Financial
Credit-card companies can send instant fraud alerts to their clients at the first sign of irregular card use or large purchases. Banks can notify clients when their account is close to being overdrawn. Investment banks can send an e-mail reminder when a client's CD is due to mature.

Fraud Protection

In 2006, identity theft cost individuals and companies more than $50 billion in losses [source: www.bbb.org ].

With automated electronic notifications, customers can tell their credit card companies to call them before processing charges over a certain amount. Customers can change their contact information so they can be reached anywhere, anytime. Responses can be processed with touch-key options or even voice-recognition software. Read a white paper on how notifications can stop fraud and identity theft.

Retail
For online retailers, notifications make it easy to inform customers about the status of their purchases. They can send confirmation e-mails when a customer's credit card has been charged, a shipping alert that notifies customers when the product leaves the factory or a voice-mail message that alerts them when the item is ready to be picked up in-store.

Customers can also sign up to receive new product alerts and special sales promotions from their favorite stores.

Healthcare
Hospitals and neighborhood doctors can send appointment reminders to patients, lessening the risk of missed or forgotten appointments. Pharmacies can call or e-mail customers when their prescription is ready, or even send them a refill reminder.

Manufacturing
Automated electronic notifications mean easier communication between manufacturers, retailers and customers. Out-of-stock alerts, product-recall alerts and delivery confirmations all make manufacturing logistics run smoother. Large manufacturers can maintain contact with truck drivers and delivery personnel to alert them of severe weather or traffic delays.

Marketing
Marketing firms can reach a larger audience by surveying customers across different platforms. They can track promotion campaigns to analyze their effectiveness. And without sinking into spam tactics, marketers can target new customers with high-volume online ad campaigns.

Education
Students and professors can receive instant class cancellation alerts. In case of severe weather or a campus emergency, crucial warnings can be sent to all faculty, staff and students across all available platforms simultaneously.

Automatic Flight Updates
©2007 iStockPhoto
Automatic Flight Updates

Travel and Hospitality
Airlines can send customers instant flight-delay notifications or important travel warnings. Frequent flyers can receive special flight promotion e-mails. Hotels, restaurants and cruise lines can keep valued customers informed about special deals and last-minute promotions.

Applications for Individuals
More and more people are tapping the power of electronic notifications to stay organized, informed and in-touch 24/7. Here are just a few ways that individuals use automated electronic notifications:

  • News, sports and weather alerts
  • Web calendar reminders
  • National security and severe weather alerts distributed by emergency management agencies
  • Text messages from the local blood bank when your blood type is needed
  • Automated wake-up calls or event reminder calls
  • Traffic and accident alerts
  • Public transportation alerts so you know when your bus is running late
  • E-mail newsletters and special promotions from select companies

Next, we'll explain exactly how electronic notifications work for both large organizations and individuals.

 

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