There was a time when phone calls and emails were the gold standard of business communication. You sent a proof, left a voicemail, followed up with a friendly email, and waited.

But that was then.

Today, customers confirm dentist appointments by text. They get payment reminders by text. They approve deliveries, reorder prescriptions, and chat with service reps, all by text. It’s fast, it’s convenient, and it’s what people expect.

Meanwhile, most print shops are still sending emails… and hoping someone checks their inbox. That’s becoming a real problem.

Print businesses are under more pressure than ever. Customers want faster turnaround times and real-time updates. They’re used to seamless, mobile-first communication in every part of their lives. And when they don’t get it from you? They lose interest or, worse, they lose confidence.

The modern print shop needs to be faster, more responsive, and more connected. But that’s hard to achieve when your team is stuck resending quotes, calling to chase down proof approvals, or wondering if an invoice even made it to the right inbox. It’s not just frustrating; it slows everything down.

That’s where SMS changes the game.

Unlike email or phone calls, text messages are short, direct, and almost impossible to ignore. They’re read faster, responded to faster, and don’t get buried under a pile of other notifications.

• 98% of SMS messages are read
• Most are opened within 2 minutes
• Over 70% of consumers want to receive business updates by text

That means every overlooked email isn’t just a missed message; it’s a missed opportunity.

Imagine sending a proof and getting an approval back before your CSR even finishes logging the next job. Imagine alerting a customer that their order is ready with just one tap, no phone call required. Imagine getting paid faster simply because your invoice went straight to their phone. That’s the kind of efficiency texting enables.

And now, for the first time, it’s available in a way that actually works for print shops.

PlanProphet SMS was built with this exact challenge in mind. It’s a fully integrated texting solution, right inside your CRM, so your team can send quotes, proofs, invoices, and reminders via SMS without ever switching systems. Messages are logged automatically, replies are routed to the right person, and if you’re ready, you can even enable an AI-powered SMS assistant to handle common questions for you.

No new apps. No extra platforms. No confusion over who sent what. Just clean, fast communication that keeps jobs moving and customers happy.

The goal isn’t to replace phone calls or emails. It’s to stop wasting time waiting on them.

Texting helps your team reduce follow-ups, shorten turnaround times, and give customers the kind of communication they already expect from everyone else in their lives. Because print shops aren’t competing with other printers for attention, they’re competing with Amazon, DoorDash, and every other company that makes updates simple and instant.

In that world, delayed communication isn’t just inconvenient, it’s risky.

PlanProphet SMS is available now as an add-on module for PlanProphet users. It’s easy to activate, simple to use, and designed to fit directly into your workflow.

The print industry doesn’t need more apps. It needs faster approvals, quicker payments, and clearer conversations. And with PlanProphet SMS, the future of print communication just got a whole lot faster.