While everyone talks about WhatsApp and chatbots, SMS remains the channel with the highest open rate: 98%, versus 20% for email. Combined with AI, it becomes a powerful conversion tool.
Why SMS in 2026
| Channel | Open rate | Read time | Requires app |
|---|---|---|---|
| SMS | 98% | 3 min | No |
| 85% | 5 min | Yes | |
| 20% | 6 hours | No | |
| Push notification | 15% | Varies | Yes |
SMS works on any phone, needs no internet, and arrives instantly.
5 AI-powered use cases
1. Appointment reminders
The AI agent sends an SMS 24 hours before the appointment with options to confirm or cancel. If the client cancels, the agent offers to reschedule and frees the slot for another client.
Result: 70% reduction in no-shows.
2. Booking confirmations
After a voice or WhatsApp booking, the agent sends an SMS confirmation with details. The client can reply to modify.
3. Post-service follow-up
48 hours after service, the agent sends an SMS requesting a rating (1-5). If the score is low, it escalates to a human to handle the complaint.
4. Reactivation campaigns
For clients who haven't visited in 60+ days, the agent sends a personalized SMS with an offer based on their history.
Example: "Hi Maria, it's been 2 months since your last haircut. We have a 15% discount this week. Shall I book you in?"
5. Status notifications
For businesses with processes (repairs, orders, medical appointments): automatic service status notifications.
Legal best practices
- Explicit consent: You need client opt-in (GDPR compliant)
- Timing: Only send between 9am and 9pm (local regulations)
- Opt-out: Always include "Reply STOP to unsubscribe"
- Frequency: Maximum 4 SMS/month per client
- Identification: Always include the business name
Costs
SMS costs between $0.01 and $0.05 per message depending on provider and volume. With AgenteUno, the cost is €0.06/SMS with AI included.
Setup in AgenteUno
- Activate the SMS channel in your dashboard
- Configure message templates for each use case
- Define automatic sending rules (triggers)
- Monitor response rates and conversion in analytics
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