Newsletter
SMS for Teams: Track Locations Through Text Messages
Location tracking may sound overbearing (or necessary!)—
But these SMS updates can help you better keep up with employees and contractors “in the field,” save you time, and even create better customer experiences.
Here’s how.
1. How "Locations" Works
Get someone’s exact location, with their permission, through SMS.
Locations is a Text Request feature that lets you send a request to contacts for them to share their location with you. They click a link on their smartphone, grant permission to share their location, and that location is sent back to you as a text, complete with a Google map and pin.
2. Who Uses Locations Tracking
It’s best for connecting with employees and contractors.
If it will save you time and hassle—like reducing check-in calls and opening up phone lines for customers—then Locations is a good fit for you. We see most businesses use it when there are employees or contractors out of the office, delivering goods or traveling between appointments.
Sending a couple of texts back-and-forth is way more convenient in these cases than stopping everything for check-in calls, and way cheaper than paying for real-time GPS tracking software.
In most cases, Locations is already included in your Text Request account. If not, just ask us about adding it.
3. How to Implement Locations
Everyone’s operations are different, but here are a few recommendations.
Set your process for location updates and make sure everyone on your team knows what that process is. Document it. Repeat it.
A few tips for creating that process:
Define when an employee should request a location update
Create a message template that includes the location request
Note the time stamps when location updates come in
If a follow-up task is needed, define what should be done and when
Using location requests can replace check-in calls, save time, keep your phone lines open for customers, and generally help your business run smoother.
