Travellers want their seat, departure time and pick-up point confirmed — and they want to know immediately if a bus is delayed. SMS delivers all of it, even to passengers already on the road without data.
What to send
- E-ticket confirmations seat number, departure time and boarding point.
- Departure reminders the evening before and an hour before.
- Delay and change alerts sent to every affected passenger at once.
- Parcel and courier updates for goods sent on your buses.
- Crew and driver messages roster changes and route instructions.
- Feedback a one-question rating after the trip.
Example messages
- “Booking confirmed: Nairobi–Mombasa, Fri 8:00am, seat 14A, ticket MB-4821. Board at our River Road office by 7:30am.”
- “Delay notice: the 8:00am Nairobi–Kisumu bus will depart at 9:15am. We apologise for the inconvenience.”
- “Your parcel PX-221 has arrived at our Kisumu office. Collect with ID until 6pm.”
Tips for better results
- Connect your booking system to the SMS API so tickets go out as soon as payment is received.
- Keep ticket codes in the SMS so passengers can board without data.
- Send cross-border passengers updates on their Ugandan or Tanzanian numbers.
- See also SMS for logistics for parcel services.
Related
Payment confirmation SMS · SMS reminders · International SMS
Get started
Create a Connect Media account — SMS from KES 1.0, no minimum top-up, credit that never expires, and one account for Safaricom, Airtel and Telkom. Call +254 707 339 945 or email info@connectmedia.co.ke.
Frequently asked questions
How do bus companies use SMS?
For e-ticket confirmations, departure reminders, delay alerts, parcel updates, crew messages and passenger feedback.
Can passengers board using an SMS ticket?
Yes. Include the ticket code and seat in the SMS so staff can verify it without data.
Can we alert all passengers on a delayed bus at once?
Yes. Send one message to everyone booked on that departure from the dashboard or API.