OTP is an acronym standing for One Time Password. This is usually used by a lot of companies and businesses that have customers who generally carry out and complete transactions online. The OTP is randomly generated and sent to the registered mobile number or email address of the client carrying out a transaction to validate and complete the transaction.
The use of OTP was actually necessitated from the need to protect one’s private credentials and financial data, and also guide against fraudulent activities and cybercrime. There have been instances where a lot of people have had their login information stolen by criminals and lost a lot of money because of this. With the advent of OTPs, which is actually the second layer of authentication for a single login attempt, in addition to a username and password, this has drastically reduced.
Traditionally, or in the beginning, OTPs were sent through SMS. Once a user on your website enters the regular security information, which is usually the username and password in most cases, the next step requests for an OTP, which is then forwarded to the phone number registered with the platform at the point in time to validate and complete that transaction. In such situations, a person who might be fraudulently trying to perform such transactions because he/she has become privy to the login information might find it difficult to complete it without having access to the registered mobile phone number.
However, due to certain challenges with SMS OTP and the improvement in technology, there is now a switch to voice OTP, and that too by many of the top businesses.
What is Voice OTP?
Voice OTP is actually a very effective alternative to SMS OTP. It is still a OneTime Password made for the specific purpose of completing transactions using a single login attempt through the code. The difference though is that this time, instead of sending this through a text message, the password is received as a spoken word through a phone call. This can be used on its own in getting prompt delivery of OTPs or sometimes as a backup for SMS OTP in case the customer doesn’t receive the SMS OTP.
Why Modern Businesses are Switching to Voice OTP
By now, you already know the importance and benefits that come from implementing OTPs for your web-based services. The layer of security and protection it offers from fraudulent activities and criminal perpetrators cannot be overemphasized. While SMS OTP has been and continues to be quite effective in achieving this, here are some reasons modern businesses are switching to voice OTP.
- It Solves Message Delivery Hassle with SMS: If you have been a regular user of mobile marketing services such as SMS for a while now, you would probably be familiar with some of the issues facing SMS delivery in recent times. The DND problem being the top of the list. Because of this, a lot of phone numbers active on the service do not receive SMS. With Voice OTP though, this challenge is solved, as you can now deliver OTP successfully to these.
- It Allows You Pay for Only What you Use: Another downside with SMS OTPs is that you are mostly billed for the text messages at the point of sending them and not necessarily when they get delivered. That means in cases where the user phone number cannot receive SMS, you are just billed for an undelivered message. This is not the same with Voice OTP on SmartSMSSolutions. The only time you are charged is when the customer or user actually picks up the call and listens to the password readout.
- Voice OTP Affords Real-time OTP Delivery: OTPs are usually time-sensitive in nature. It has a window period when it should be input on the platform for transactions before it becomes invalid. That is why experiencing a long delay in delivery of this is not desirable. With SMS OTP, delays are arising from network traffic, operator service outage, or gateway timeout. The Voice OTP option helps to avoid this challenge.
- It’s a Great Alternative/Support Option to SMS OTP: While some businesses might not totally take out SMS OTP from their system probably due to the success they’ve recorded with it, they are now knowing using Voice OTP as an alternative option or support for SMS OTP. Hence, when SMS OTP doesn’t deliver to a phone number, the user can switch to the alternative option of voice.
- It Helps Those with Limited Sight: Among your customers might be those with limited sight who might not benefit from SMS OTP, and therefore, Voice OTP would benefit such ones.
Going by these benefits enumerated above, it is not hard to see why many modern businesses are not making the switch to Voice OTP to effectively deliver their time-sensitive transactional One-Time Password. You can also make that switch today. Why not get started right away with Voice OTP on SmartSMSSolutions. The effectiveness of this service has the potential of improving your service and increasing your revenue.
Do you have questions or need assistance implementing the Voice OTP? Mail us at