Why Every Optician Needs SMS & Email Automation?

As an optician, your to-do list is often neverending. Between patient care, order and inventory management, staff coordination, and countless other tasks, it’s easy to get stuck in between tasks. As a result, your customer service can get neglected. But here’s the thing: you don’t need to do it all manually. Enter SMS and email automation—your go-to tools for making sure no patient slips through the cracks, all while allowing you to stay focused on what really matters: delivering great service.

What exactly is SMS & email automation?

In simple terms, it’s technology that lets you send automated messages to patients without having to do it all by hand. Whether it’s appointment reminders, follow-ups, or promotional offers, SMS and email automation takes care of it all.

Instead of writing out messages or calling each patient individually, you set up automated workflows that trigger messages at the right time. And voilà—your patients are reminded, informed, and engaged, all while you get on with your day.

Two tools, many benefits

Time is money, and for opticians, it couldn’t be more true. Every minute spent manually reminding patients of their appointments or sending confirmation emails is a minute you’re not focusing on your patients or growing your business.

With SMS and email automation, you can:

• Reduce no-shows – Remind patients of their upcoming appointments via text or email, reducing the chances of last-minute cancellations.
• Stay top of mind – Send automated follow-ups after appointments, gentle reminders for exams, or even personalised birthday messages to keep patients coming back.
• Offer promotions effortlessly – Want to offer a discount or remind patients about new products? Send out an email or text in seconds with no extra work.
• Save time – Automate repetitive tasks like appointment scheduling, confirmations, and recalls so your staff can focus on higher-value tasks.

How does this actually help your practice?

Automating communications makes it easy to keep your patients informed. Instead of relying on them to remember their next eye exam or follow-up appointment, automated reminders ensure they never forget. And a reminder that shows up when they need it? That’s customer care at its best.

Forget manually chasing up appointments or typing out emails for each patient. Once you set up your SMS and email workflows, everything runs automatically. You save time, and your staff can focus on providing personalised service instead of sending reminders.

Increased patient retention and more effective marketing

Automated messages don’t just remind patients about appointments—they also nurture relationships. A timely reminder, follow-up, or birthday message makes your practice feel more attentive and personal. And when your patients feel cared for, they’re more likely to return.

Running promotions, informing patients about new stock, or getting the word out about your latest CSR initiatives (more on that here: https://www.glasson.app/blog/how-independent-optical-stores-lead-the-way-in-community-impact/)? Automation ensures your marketing messages reach the right people, at the right time, without you lifting a finger. You can easily target specific groups (e.g., those who need an eye exam or who’ve been with you for years) and send them relevant updates.

What’s the best way to get started?

Look for a system that integrates SMS and email into one simple platform—so you can manage all communications in one place. Glasson.app offers SMS and email automation features designed specifically for optical practices. For more information on Glasson.app’s communication features, visit our page here: https://www.glasson.app/communication/ 

Your patients expect convenience and reliability, and automation is a simple, effective way to provide both. With SMS and email automation, you’re not only saving time and reducing errors—you’re also improving the patient experience and growing your practice.