# Make every text a shopping conversation Recover carts, answer product questions, and keep follow-up conversational. Today 1. Northstar: Your Trail Pack is still saved. Questions? Reply here. Northstar Supply **Trail Pack · Black** northstar.example/checkouts/trail-pack 2. Does it fit a 16-inch laptop and arrive by Friday? ZIP 60614. 3. It fits laptops up to 16 inches. Checkout currently estimates Thursday for 60614. ## Why SMS + BuyScout® SMS reaches a device shoppers already carry and lets a reminder become a concise two-way conversation. BuyScout® keeps the product, cart, order, and handoff context behind each reply. 98% of US adults own a cellphone ### Reach the device shoppers carry Give product, cart, or order messages a direct reply path—without another app or account. 2.2T US SMS and MMS messages exchanged in 2024 ### Make a high-volume channel conversational Let shoppers reply with the question behind their hesitation, backed by relevant store context. No app a native message and reply are enough ### Keep short conversations connected BuyScout® keeps product, cart, and order context together, then carries the full thread to a teammate when needed. Sources: [Pew Research Center, Mobile Fact Sheet](https://www.pewresearch.org/internet/fact-sheet/mobile/) (2025) · [CTIA, 2025 Annual Survey Highlights](https://www.ctia.org/news/2025-annual-survey-highlights) (2025) ## What BuyScout® does over SMS BuyScout® can bring relevant Shopify context into a concise, two-way text conversation and provide a direct path back to the store. 01Recover an abandoned cart by text Send a concise, branded reminder with a real checkout URL, then answer the shopper's reply. 02Turn a back-in-stock alert into a sale Send a back-in-stock alert, answer the buying question behind it, and share the exact product URL. 03Time a useful replenishment reminder Send a timely replenishment reminder and make it easy for the customer to ask a follow-up question. Today 1. Northstar: Your Trail Pack is still saved. Questions? Reply here. Northstar Supply **Trail Pack · Black** northstar.example/checkouts/trail-pack 2. Shopper: Does it fit a 16-inch laptop and arrive by Friday? ZIP 60614. 3. AI Store Agent: It fits laptops up to 16 inches. Checkout currently estimates Thursday for 60614. Today 1. Northstar: RidgeWalk Wide is back in size 8. Questions? Reply here. 2. Shopper: Is it waterproof enough for rainy commutes? 3. AI Store Agent: It has the documented waterproof rating and is in stock in wide, size 8. Northstar Supply **RidgeWalk Wide · Size 8** northstar.example/products/ridgewalk-wide Today 1. Northstar: It has been 30 days since your ClearFlow filter arrived. Need a replacement? Reply here. 2. Shopper: Do I need Standard or Max? 3. AI Store Agent: Your ClearFlow uses the Standard Filter. Here is the six-pack. Northstar Supply **Standard Filter Six-Pack** northstar.example/products/standard-filter-six-pack ## Human handoff and unified inbox BuyScout® sends the SMS thread, cart or order context, delivery status, and unresolved question to the unified inbox, then pauses while a teammate owns the conversation. Connected channels - SMS - Website chat - WhatsApp - Instagram - Messenger - TikTok **Unified inbox** Every conversation in one queue **Merchant review needed** Full thread and shopping context attached **Assigned to teammate** AI paused ## How BuyScout® starts helping 1. **Connect your business number** Connect your business number or a BuyScout®-managed sending number, then authorize BuyScout® to start handling texts. 2. **Reads your store automatically** BuyScout® uses the Shopify products, store pages, policies, availability, cart, and order context already connected for website chat. 3. **Use your existing AI Store Agent settings** BuyScout® applies the same store knowledge, AI behavior, handoff, and store actions used by website chat. No separate SMS behavior setup is required. 4. **Optional testing** Merchants can send a test text to confirm the connection and handoff path before sharing the channel with shoppers. ## Where SMS has limits - **BuyScout® checks whether a message can be sent.** Before sending, BuyScout® checks the configured workflow, sender, customer messaging preferences, and suppression state. - **Carrier and regional rules still apply.** BuyScout® supports opt-out and timing safeguards, while carrier filtering, final delivery, recipient charges, and jurisdiction-specific requirements remain outside its control. - **Private actions require proof.** BuyScout® reveals private order or account information only after secure verification and asks for confirmation before an eligible consequential action. - **Exceptions reach a teammate.** Policy exceptions, disputes, safety concerns, and requests without reliable store evidence move to a person with the conversation context attached. ## Frequently asked questions ### What happens when a shopper replies to a cart-recovery text? BuyScout® continues with the saved cart and checkout context, answers follow-up questions, and helps the shopper return to checkout. ### Can shoppers reply naturally, or do they need to use specific keywords? Shoppers can ask product, cart, policy, and order questions in ordinary language. STOP and HELP are still recognized and handled as standard messaging commands. ### Can BuyScout® send product links, and will a preview always appear? BuyScout® can send the relevant Shopify URL in the message. The recipient's device and messaging app decide whether to render a page preview, so a preview is not guaranteed. ### Can a shopper reply to an SMS reminder and continue the conversation? Yes. BuyScout® carries the relevant product, cart, campaign, or order context into the reply, answers the shopper's question, and guides the conversation toward checkout or handoff. ### What happens when a shopper texts STOP, HELP, or another opt-out request? BuyScout® suppresses future messages after STOP, a supported equivalent keyword, or another unambiguous opt-out request. HELP returns the configured merchant and support information when BuyScout®, rather than the messaging provider, handles that response. ### How does BuyScout® protect private order information over SMS? BuyScout® requires an authenticated customer flow or secure one-time verification before showing private order details or performing an eligible change. Possession of the phone number alone is not proof of order ownership.