Latency is the length of the trip that a data package needs to take to get to its destination. So, SMS latency is generally defined as the amount of time it takes from the submission of a message (for instance, via the Sinch SMS API) for that message to be delivered to the intended customer device. However, the definition varies from provider to provider – so read those contracts carefully!  

Why is SMS latency important? 

We expect text messages to be pretty near instantaneous. Think about it: when you request an SMS online to receive a verification code, for instance, how many seconds does it take before you get annoyed and wonder where that darn code is? You want latency to be low. 

Speed is of the essence if you want to guarantee a good customer experience. Not to mention preventing churn – many users give up quickly when a message doesn’t arrive within seconds! 

How does Sinch work with SMS latency? 

At Sinch we take latency seriously, and help you optimize the speed of delivery for each message! We've got over 600 direct connections worldwide. We proactively monitor our system performance and message delivery times.  

Our system continually runs tests, some of which are outbound to the carrier networks and partners to measure message delivery times and to alert us to any changes in latency.  

Early detection means we can quickly work with carriers and partners to correct the performance any time there's an issue. If you have mission-critical messages and time-sensitive use cases, you need to take message delivery latency seriously, and choose your provider wisely. The need for speed is real!