In the fast-paced digital age of instant messaging and notifications, one man is creating ripples in the business sector. Enter entrepreneur Brian Elrod, co-founder of Text Request – an ingenious platform that allows businesses to communicate with their customers through texts. Text Request capitalizes on the modern culture of immediate and personalized communication, offering a unique solution to businesses that are tired of unresponsive calls and distant customer interactions.
Elrod, a seasoned business developer with various previous ventures under his belt, was inspired by a simple, relatable experience. While dining out with their toddler, he and his wife, Jamey, had difficulty getting their server’s attention to pay the bill. An off-the-cuff remark from Jamey – “Why can’t we just text them?” – was a spark that kindled into an innovative business idea.
“When we got back in the car, we looked at each other and said ‘You know, that’s not a bad idea,'” Elrod recalls. He recognized a glaring gap in the market – everyone was texting each other, but one couldn’t text a business. Seeing the potential, they partnered with software developer Rob Reagan and jumped headlong into an industry the Elrods hadn’t dabbled in before – technology and software.
Their mission was clear: Brian wanted to meet the new communication needs of businesses and customers alike, and the answer lay in the ubiquitous medium of text. Despite facing the challenge of navigating an unfamiliar terrain, Elrod and his team forged ahead with their vision.
Text Request offered a unique solution to a prevalent problem. Most people would prefer texting over talking, even when interacting with businesses. Whether it’s closing sales, scheduling appointments, or providing customer service, traditional phone calls were becoming increasingly ineffective.
“We enable businesses to text from their office phone numbers,” Elrod explains. This simple but revolutionary concept allowed businesses to quit calling and start getting responses. Additionally, Text Request’s unique approach to business texting is rooted in conversation. They believe in enabling two-way communication between businesses and customers rather than unilateral blasts of information. A suite of solutions for key business needs such as Google review collection, processing payments, and managing conversations across multiple business locations faster.
Looking forward, Brian has a few predictions about the evolution of the industry. “RCS or Rich Communications Service is going to be the next major evolution in business texting,” Elrod anticipates. It’s envisioned as a feature that allows for the transmission of high-quality content and interactive messages and, eventually, will become the default communication protocol by 2024, replacing the ubiquitous Short Message Service (SMS).
Artificial intelligence is also on his radar. Elrod sees AI as a powerful catalyst for advancements not just in his industry but also across all sectors. The future he envisions includes intelligent software capable of generating and sending messages on its user’s behalf, making interactions more robust and effective.
As an entrepreneur, Brian Elrod has consistently challenged the status quo. With Text Request, he’s redefined business communication, adapting and evolving with the times. He’s determined to drive the industry’s progress with innovations like RCS and AI in the pipeline. Elrod’s journey, one marked by audacious dreams, practical solutions, and relentless execution, is a testament to the enormous potential of combining everyday problems with technology. It’s a future we’ll have to watch unfold. For now, it’s safe to say that Elrod’s Text Request is already making that future seem a lot closer.
