WhatsApp vs SMS for School Notifications in Pakistan

Schools need to reach parents quickly, whether to report an absence, share a fee reminder or announce a closure. The two common channels are SMS and WhatsApp. Each has trade-offs in cost, message length and what can be sent.

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Branded SMS

Branded SMS is sent through an SMS gateway with a sender name. Its main points:

• Cost: Charges depend on the provider and the volume you send. Get the rate in writing.
• Length: Standard SMS messages have a short character limit, and Urdu script usually fits less text per message.
• Content: SMS is text only. It cannot carry a fee challan PDF or an image.
• Delivery: Delivery depends on the carrier and the provider.

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WhatsApp Through Schooliee

Schooliee sends WhatsApp messages from the school's own WhatsApp number. The school pairs the number by scanning a QR code.

• The sender is a Windows desktop app that works through WhatsApp Web. It is not the WhatsApp Business API.
• Messages go into a background queue. The sender retries failed messages and stops after repeated failures.
• The sender does not include anti-ban throttling. Keep messages relevant and avoid sending large volumes of unrelated messages.
• PDF receipts can be sent to the parent's WhatsApp.

Automatic WhatsApp messages can be set up for:

• Attendance, when it is marked
• Scheduled fee reminders
• Payments received
• Diary and exam notices
• Announcements

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SMS in Schooliee

Schooliee also has an SMS option. It works through an Android app that uses the school's own SIM. Carrier charges apply, and the option is available on Android only.

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What Is Not Measured

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Choosing

Compare the cost per message, the length and content you need, and which families you need to reach. Many schools use WhatsApp for routine messages and keep SMS for families without WhatsApp.

Get a 30-minute demo at www.schooliee.com to test the messages with your own school number.