Send a Bulk Email to Customers On a Route

This topic explains how to send an email message to all customers along a route.

Before You Begin

Your company must be set up to use Universal Billcomm (UBC) and Bulk Messaging must be turned on in the UBC menu. You must also have a document file (.doc or .docx) to send, either created within Trash Flow or by a program like Microsoft Word.

Context

One of the more common reasons to message a group of customers is to let them know about a change in their route schedule. This often occurs when picking up trash during the holidays, dealing with a broken truck, or having to shuffle around what days your routes get run. You can use an existing Word document or follow these steps to write a new email template within Trash Flow. Please note that customers can go to TrashBilling.com and opt out of receiving some emails. The same options appear on the E.F.T. tab of customer accounts; you can view them there and change them at the customer's request. There are four categories and all bulk emails should be categorized as one of these:

  • Immediate Service Notifications
  • Holiday Schedule and Service Time Changes
  • Regulation Changes
  • Promotions and/or New Services

Steps To Follow

  1. Click Reports > Routes > Route Sheets.
  2. Choose the route to which you want to send the message.
  3. Set the Format to Bulk Email and click OK.
  4. Choose the Route Date and click OK.
  5. Choose the document file that you want to use for a message, then click Open.
  6. Trash Flow will ask if you want to preview the file. (If you click Yes you will see an example of how the message to the first customer on the route will look. Close the window when you are done reviewing it. If you are confident you chose the right file click No.)
  7. Trash Flow will ask "Are you sure you want to use this file?". Click Yes.
  8. Type a Subject line for the email.
  9. Choose the appropriate Message Type for what you are sending. Note that all bulk email messages sent through Trash Flow must fit into one of these categories, and you may not use this feature to send "dunning" messages demanding payment.
  10. The last warning window will list how many email addresses you are about to send messages to. Click OK to send.

When You're Done

Everyone along the route for whom you have a valid email address should have gotten the message. The return address will be NetComm@TrashBilling.com and the message will show as coming from your business.