How can I send messages from my back-office systems?

WEL Corporation offers an API, using Web Services, that you can use to send faxes, email, SMS's and voice messages directly from any server based application or desktop system and check the status of your messages and get reports back. The API sends and receives messages using SOAP (Simple Object Access Protocol) over HTTP. The Web Service is cross-platform and conforms to the Web Service Standards. The interface can be implemented using .Net or Java systems, or indeed any SOAP tool kit will work.

The WEL Web Service is an application programming interface (API), which enables businesses to send messages from applications to external recipients though WEL's messaging platform. With a minimum amount of programming, applications can be communicating through WEL to other external programmes and/or to humans as part of your business process. WEL provides documentation with examples that will make the implementation and integration easy. Businesses often have the interface up and running in a matter of one day!

Additionally, businesses can offer their customers all of the features of our enhanced messaging platform services including automatic fax retries, billing for only successful deliveries, and low-cost delivery throughout the world.

How does it work?
The user sends an authentication header to WEL consisting of a user name and password together with the SOAP header. Then "job" consisting of an abstract class containing the message data, destination etc., is sent to WEL. WEL processes the job and various status reports can then be retrieved via the Web Service interface. These reports can be obtained while the message broadcast is in progress or when it is completed. Users can also log into the WEL web site and monitor their message traffic as well as view reports.

All message traffic is sent though WEL's global delivery platform for optimum routing and allocation of resources. Fax and voice traffic is carried through the global backbone of our telecommunications partner, Verizon. Email is sent though our dedicated internet gateway. And SMS traffic is routed globally through our partner, VeriSign. Status of all message traffic is gathered by WEL's platform from each carrier and delivered in a standard format to the user.

The applications for the API are wide. Most programs need to deliver status messages. For example, a system managing dispatch of goods will often notify recipients when goods are dispatched and when they are expected to be delivered. This can be in the form of a fax, email, SMS or a voice message. These messages can be routed to WEL for delivery to the recipient with a status report returned to the program for updating of internal data bases.

Systems that manage schedules often send out "reminders" when appointments are near. These messages can be sent via API and allow customers to respond with a message if they can keep the appointment.

The use of the WEL API is not governed by any long term contracts. You only pay for what messages are sent though. No monthly fees or minimum message traffic levels. WEL provides its platform so your business can demand our resources only when you need them.

For more information
Contact WEL for access to the API documentation.