USSD and SMS Services – Washindi Technologies LLP

USSD stands for Unstructured Supplementary Service Data. A USSD code is a short (usually three, four or five) series of digits for accessing information using the USSD protocol. The code usually starts with an asterisk and ends with a hashtag. A USSD communication normally starts with a subscriber sending a query from their mobile phone.

To send, just like requesting for Airtime balance, a user dials a certain 3-5 code (for example, *131#) and sends to the telecom. The telecom then connects to our server, through an aggregation backbone, to check for the designed menu which it collects and sends back to the subscriber. There are usually several stages in this query depending on the setup of the project.

There are a vast number of uses of the USSD for many businesses, and we, at Washindi technologies are well equipped to provide this to any size of business.

We have worked with several organisations and companies over the years to serve their desired USSD service as laid out below.

Case Studies

Bwindi Community Hospital

The hospital needed a solution where it would interreact with the community on a number of issues, they wanted the community members to be able to make inquiries, in a way of collecting feedback on a number of issues. They would respond to them, mainly by SMS and where necessary a phone call.

They contacted us and we gave them the solution that they have found very useful to-date

Then also, hospital is able to send out information to their correspondents in a quick way through our integrated Bulk SMS tool.

Financial Service providers

Over the years, we have provided financial service providers with a tool to seamlessly manage their customer data at the same time have several reports. Among the requirements they have needed is to enable their clients have a self-service in the palm of their hands using their phones. On sending a request to a certain code, the client is provided with a menu with options like

Request a loan
Check loan status
Pay my loan
My Savings

So the clients are able to service themselves without a need to visit an agent or the office, in the process, the code has provided speed and efficiency to the Service providers. The other thing, they no longer have to worry about fraud at the office as most of the cash is NOT handled by staff but rather by the system through Mobile money integration.

A USSD and SMS combination has been proven to be a very reliable and a cost-effective tool in cases where companies need to reach masses in a very interactive way, either to provide a service menu, conduct surveys, collect feedback, or simply just Bulk SMS.