Grapevine launches DIY USSD self-service portal for agencies and brands

Grapevine has released its cutting-edge USSD self-service portal. With no coding required, marketing and CRM professionals can rapidly design USSD-based mobile communication services for a variety of uses.

USSD is a convenient and cost-effective way to create two-way conversations with your customers in real-time. By dialling a simple USSD string (eg, *134*926#), it enables companies to offer quick, simple, and interactive access to enterprise services from any mobile device. USSD is often used for customer surveys, polls, on-pack competition entries, secure sending of one-time pins, account balance enquiries, identity verifications and more.

Previously, anything but the most trivial of USSD services required the engagement of coders, either within the WASP or on the client's side. However, with Grapevine's USSD self-service portal, users can create full services with no coding, and deploy their creations instantly.

An on-screen emulator is provided for real-time testing, and real-time reports are provided on live services.

But, what does Grapevine's USSD self-service portal mean for your business?

Simply put, it is an extension of Grapevine's integrated omnichannel platform that provides non-technical users with an easy-to-use self-service Web interface to develop and deploy fairly complex USSD-based services in five minutes, no programming needed!

More benefits

The Grapevine USSD self-service portal includes the following benefits:

* Save time;
* Cut complexity;
* Instant set-up;
* No coding required;
* Immediate feedback;
* Update in real-time;
* Simulate on the fly; and
* Reporting.

All you need to do is sign up, buy credits, set up, and go live. It's as simple as that. Says Nick Orton, CEO of Grapevine: "Our chief aims were to help solve the problem of cost and complexity. With our self-service portal, over 60% of all USSD services can be constructed and deployed by the client, in real-time, without any programming required."

The portal also allows for the triggering of external services such as SMS confirmations, or simple calls to external Web services to get or post single units of information, for those who want to push the boundaries.

Through Grapevine's managed "proxy service" option, clients can choose to "roll out their own" if they require advanced integration into their back-end systems.

Signing up for Grapevine's self-service portal is easy and it's free! You will get a free USSD string for 30 days, and 10 free credits to get you started. Simply complete a short registration form, verify your e-mail address, log in and start creating your first campaign.

For more, visit Grapevine's Web site, or contact the company on info@vine.co.za or (+27) 21 702 3333.

Sign up for a free trial here.

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Editorial contacts

San-Marie Smith
Grapevine Group
(+27) 21 702 3333
san-marie@vine.co.za