Communication Configuration Matrix - Real-World Examples
📊 Example Matrices for Different Business Types
Example 1: Small Retail Store (Budget-Conscious)
Business: Tienda Mi Esquina
Strategy: Email-first, minimize SMS/WhatsApp costs
| Communication Type | SMS | Messenger | Notes | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Invoice | ✅🤖 | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | Email automatic after sale |
| Payment Link | ✅🤖 | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | Email only, auto-send |
| Payment Confirmation | ✅🤖 | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | Receipt via email |
| Collection Notice | ✅ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | Manual only, review first |
| Low Stock Alert | ✅🤖 | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | Daily to admin |
| General Notification | ✅ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | Manual |
| Invitation | ✅🤖 | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | Auto for new users |
Monthly Cost Estimate: $0 (under free tier)
Settings:
- All enabled channels: 8am-8pm local time
- Max 5 emails per customer per day
- Min 1 hour between emails
Example 2: Premium Restaurant (Customer Experience Focus)
Business: Restaurante La Bella Vista Strategy: Multi-channel for better engagement
| Communication Type | SMS | Messenger | Notes | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Invoice | ✅🤖 | ❌ | ✅🤖 | ❌ | Email + WhatsApp auto |
| Payment Link | ✅🤖 | ✅ | ✅🤖 | ❌ | WhatsApp preferred |
| Payment Confirmation | ✅🤖 | ❌ | ✅🤖 | ❌ | Thank you message |
| Collection Notice | ✅🤖 | ✅ | ✅ | ❌ | Escalation: Email→WA→SMS |
| Low Stock Alert | ✅🤖 | ✅🤖 | ❌ | ❌ | Critical items: SMS to chef |
| General Notification | ✅ | ❌ | ✅ | ❌ | Promotions, events |
| Invitation | ✅🤖 | ❌ | ✅ | ❌ | Staff onboarding |
Monthly Cost Estimate: ~$150-200 (200 customers, ~300 WhatsApp messages)
Special Rules:
- WhatsApp: Only 10am-9pm (no late-night messages)
- SMS: Emergency/critical only
- Payment links via WhatsApp if amount > $500
Example 3: B2B Distributor (Supplier Communications)
Business: Distribuidora ABC
Strategy: Professional, reliable, email-focused with SMS for urgent
| Communication Type | SMS | Messenger | Notes | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Invoice | ✅🤖 | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | PDF attachments |
| Payment Link | ✅🤖 | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | B2B portal link |
| Payment Confirmation | ✅🤖 | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | With receipt |
| Collection Notice | ✅🤖 | ✅ | ❌ | ❌ | SMS after 15 days overdue |
| Low Stock Alert | ✅🤖 | ✅🤖 | ❌ | ❌ | SMS to procurement |
| General Notification | ✅ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | Policy updates |
| Invitation | ✅🤖 | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | Staff access |
Additional Configurations:
- Purchase Order (Email: ✅🤖) - Auto-send to suppliers
- Payment Remittance (Email: ✅🤖) - Payment confirmations to suppliers
- Delivery Schedule (SMS: ✅) - Day before delivery
Monthly Cost Estimate: ~$50-75 (mostly email, occasional SMS)
Special Rules:
- Collection SMS only for amounts > $10,000
- Business hours: 7am-6pm weekdays only
- Max 3 reminders per invoice
Example 4: High-Volume E-commerce (Automated Everything)
Business: TechMart Online
Strategy: Full automation, multi-channel customer journey
| Communication Type | SMS | Messenger | Notes | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Invoice | ✅🤖 | ❌ | ✅🤖 | ❌ | Immediate after order |
| Payment Link | ✅🤖 | ✅🤖 | ✅🤖 | ❌ | All channels for cart abandonment |
| Payment Confirmation | ✅🤖 | ✅ | ✅🤖 | ❌ | Order confirmed + tracking |
| Collection Notice | ✅🤖 | ❌ | ✅🤖 | ❌ | Subscription renewals |
| Low Stock Alert | ✅🤖 | ✅🤖 | ❌ | ❌ | Ops team |
| General Notification | ✅ | ❌ | ✅ | ❌ | Marketing campaigns |
| Invitation | ✅🤖 | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | Customer accounts |
Additional Configurations:
- Order Confirmation (Email: ✅🤖, SMS: ✅🤖, WhatsApp: ✅🤖)
- Order Ready (SMS: ✅🤖, WhatsApp: ✅🤖) - Pickup notifications
- Delivery Update (Email: ✅🤖, SMS: ✅, WhatsApp: ✅🤖)
- Feedback Request (Email: ✅🤖, WhatsApp: ✅) - 2 days after delivery
Monthly Cost Estimate: $800-1,200 (5,000+ orders/month)
Special Rules:
- SMS confirmation if amount > $200
- WhatsApp preferred for all customer comms (opt-in)
- Max 10 messages per customer per day across all channels
- Time windows per customer timezone
Example 5: Medical Clinic (HIPAA-Conscious)
Business: Clínica Salud Total
Strategy: Secure, compliant, appointment-focused
| Communication Type | SMS | Messenger | Notes | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Invoice | ✅🤖 | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | Encrypted email only |
| Payment Link | ✅🤖 | ✅ | ❌ | ❌ | Secure portal |
| Payment Confirmation | ✅🤖 | ✅ | ❌ | ❌ | Receipt via email |
| Collection Notice | ✅ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | Manual review required |
| Low Stock Alert | ✅🤖 | ✅🤖 | ❌ | ❌ | Medical supplies |
| General Notification | ✅ | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | Health tips, reminders |
| Invitation | ✅🤖 | ❌ | ❌ | ❌ | Patient portal access |
Additional Configurations:
- Appointment Reminder (Email: ✅🤖, SMS: ✅🤖) - 24h before
- Lab Results Ready (Email: ✅🤖, SMS: ✅) - Secure link
- Prescription Renewal (Email: ✅🤖) - 7 days before expiry
Monthly Cost Estimate: $100-150
Special Rules:
- WhatsApp disabled (HIPAA compliance concerns)
- All messages: 8am-7pm only
- No automated collection notices (privacy)
- Patient consent required for all communication
🎨 Configuration Pattern Templates
Pattern A: Cost-Minimizer
// Email everything, nothing else
{
"*": {
"email": { enabled: true, automatic: true },
"sms": { enabled: false },
"whatsapp": { enabled: false },
"messenger": { enabled: false }
}
}
Best for: Startups, tight budgets, low-volume businesses
Pattern B: Engagement-Maximizer
// Multi-channel for customer communications, email for internal
{
"invoice|payment_link|payment_confirmation|collection_notice": {
"email": { enabled: true, automatic: true },
"sms": { enabled: true, automatic: false }, // Manual escalation
"whatsapp": { enabled: true, automatic: true },
"messenger": { enabled: false }
},
"low_stock_alert": {
"email": { enabled: true, automatic: true },
"sms": { enabled: true, automatic: true }, // Critical alerts
"whatsapp": { enabled: false },
"messenger": { enabled: false }
}
}
Best for: Customer-focused businesses, higher margins
Pattern C: High-Value Filter
// SMS/WhatsApp only for amounts above threshold
{
"invoice|payment_link": {
"email": {
enabled: true,
automatic: true
},
"sms": {
enabled: true,
automatic: true,
conditions: { min_amount: 1000 } // Only if > $1000
},
"whatsapp": {
enabled: true,
automatic: true,
conditions: { min_amount: 500 } // Only if > $500
}
}
}
Best for: B2B, high-value transactions
Pattern D: Time-Sensitive Escalation
// Email first, escalate to SMS if no response
{
"collection_notice": {
"email": {
enabled: true,
automatic: true,
// Day 1: Email
},
"whatsapp": {
enabled: true,
automatic: false, // Manual after 7 days
conditions: { min_days_overdue: 7 }
},
"sms": {
enabled: true,
automatic: false, // Manual after 14 days
conditions: { min_days_overdue: 14 }
}
}
}
Best for: Collections, payment reminders
📊 Decision Matrix: Which Channels to Enable?
| Factor | SMS | Messenger | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cost | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐ |
| Engagement Rate | ⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐ |
| Deliverability | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐ |
| Rich Content | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| Attachments | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ❌ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐ |
| Tracking | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ |
| Reach | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐ |
| Professional | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐ |
🎯 Recommendations by Communication Type
Invoices
- Always: Email (PDF attachment capability)
- Optional: WhatsApp (for engaged customers)
- Rarely: SMS (too limited, no PDF)
Payment Links
- Primary: WhatsApp (high engagement)
- Secondary: Email (fallback)
- Optional: SMS (urgent/high-value only)
Payment Confirmations
- Primary: Email (receipt for records)
- Secondary: WhatsApp (instant confirmation)
- Rarely: SMS (if specifically requested)
Collection Notices
- First: Email (professional, detailed)
- Escalation: WhatsApp (personal follow-up)
- Final: SMS (urgent, last resort)
Low Stock Alerts
- Internal: Email + SMS (to staff)
- Never: WhatsApp/Messenger (internal only)
💡 Pro Tips
1. Start Conservative, Scale Up
Begin with email only, then add channels based on:
- Customer engagement metrics
- ROI analysis
- Cost vs. value
2. Let Customers Choose
Use communication_preference table to let customers override business defaults.
3. Monitor and Adjust
Track:
- Open rates by channel
- Conversion rates
- Cost per conversion
- Customer feedback
4. A/B Test Configurations
Test different strategies with small customer segments before rolling out.
5. Respect Customer Time
Always set appropriate time windows. Never send messages at 2am!
Last Updated: October 25, 2025
Version: 1.0.0