Zipwhip, a startup that provides text messaging services from desktops and over the web, has entered into partnership and product integration with cloud-based practice-management platform Clio.
The Seattle startup adds text messaging to existing landline, VoIP and toll-free phone numbers. The partnership means Clio’s law firm clients can now connect with their clients through text-messaging using their existing business phone numbers, and automatically archive those conversations.
Zipwhip syncs text conversations to the existing Clio database in real time. Conversation threads and photos are stored, dated and time-stamped for accountability and systematic case management.
“Through this partnership, legal practices are seamlessly recording their text conversations with clients, allowing for a more streamlined user experience,” said John Lauer, CEO and co-founder of Zipwhip. “Legal offices are making more connections with clients using our conversational texting software, and more importantly, consumers prefer it.”
Zipwhip in October 2016 raised a $9 million Series B investment , with Microsoft Ventures among the investors, and on 6 September announced a new $22.5 million investment led by OpenView, as reported by GeekWire.
In an article in Fortune in August about the airline industry introducing two-way texting, John Lauer, chief executive and co-founder of Zipwhip said: “The reality is that consumers adore text messages. Therefore, businesses have to adopt it into their workflow because consumers expect it and demand it.”