5 Reasons Why RCS is the Future of Business Messaging

I know reaching out to contacts and keeping them engaged is a challenging task. These days customers expect lightning-fast interactions from your end, and these interactions have to add meaning to their lives. 

So, in order to match this ever-growing demand of customers, you need to implement a solid customer engagement strategy and make use of modern communication channels, ensuring your messages get delivered on time. 

Now you may ask, which channel should I go for amongst the countless ones that my customers might be using. Well, why not choose the one that comes by default with most Android devices and is supported by Apple in its latest iOS 18 update? That’s right, RCS!

RCS is a communication channel that is gaining popularity among businesses, allowing them to engage customers via the default messaging app. 

Having said that, let’s see why RCS is going to be a game changer for business messaging in the future and why you should consider adopting it as a channel for your business. 

What is RCS?

In layman's terms, RCS is the next-gen communication platform which is a better version of SMS/MMS. It works using internet connectivity rather than the cellular network, allowing you to send media-rich messages. These messages include text, visuals, audio clips, and documents to engage customers and deliver value. 

You can consider RCS messaging as an alternative way to engage your customers other than modern communication apps such as WhatsApp. It includes similar kinds of features like read receipts, typing indicators, and single chat tread, making your messages look like chats between two people. 

What is the existing state of RCS messaging?

Even though RCS is considered a relatively new channel, it has been around for quite some time. Businesses around the world are already using RCS to interact with their customers and generate positive ROI. 

For example, European nations like France are amongst the top countries to drive engagement with RCS. On top of that, brands are sending promotional messages during festive seasons such as Black Friday or Cyber Monday to compel customers to make a purchase.

Furthermore, RCS saw a huge boost in the number of messages sent in November 2023 from February 2022. How much was this boost? Almost 25,000 times more than the previous year. This is not a small number by any definition and goes to show the power of RCS in shaping the future of mobile marketing. 

With that said, let’s see the five major reasons for you to consider RCS as a primary business communication channel to engage your audience. 

5 reasons why your business should switch to RCS

I understand that it takes a lot of consideration to adopt a communication channel. For example, your customers’ preferences, cost of implementation & usage, and the potential ROI you can drive from it. So, here are the five reasons why you should think about getting RCS. 

Rich multimedia support

A communication channel should not only be reliable but also come with great engagement capabilities to ensure your message is delivered correctly to your customers, adding value to their lives. And RCS allows you to do just that. 

With RCS, you can send engaging messages full of high-quality images, videos, and audio files. This aspect of RCS makes it significantly better than SMS or MMS where you have to worry about file sizes before sending out a message. 

On top of the media, you can send product recommendations using the catalog feature, letting your customers browse through offerings and pick a product that best matches their requirements. This way, you can make the most of your RCS marketing campaigns to bring revenue to your company.

Top-notch interactivity

In addition to sending media-rich messages, you can include links and CTA buttons to your messages, boosting the overall interactiveness of your outreach and encouraging customers to take immediate action. 

This is a major step up from the traditional SMS where all you can do is click on a link and redirect customers to your website. For example, with RCS’s robust features, you can showcase your products using a carousel and by adding a “Buy Now” button, your customers can complete the purchase directly from the app.

Not just that. RCS supports other interactive elements to streamline your conversations. You can use suggestive replies to make it easy for customers to reply back to you without having to type out their messages. It is particularly useful if you have set up a chatbot and your customers can simply choose a response for quick interaction. 

Building solid customer relationships

One of the biggest issues with SMS is that you cannot tell who is messaging you. Since SMS sender IDs are a combination of letters and numbers, it can be difficult to distinguish between a legitimate sender and a fake one.

This issue is completely countered by RCS’s profile. RCS needs you to create a business profile before using RCS, just like you would do with the WhatsApp Business Platform. Google requires you to create a unique profile that includes your brand’s logo, colors, and description. 

Doing so allows your customers to see that you are an authentic business and gives them the peace of mind that their information is secured.

Automate conversations with AI chatbots

Like other advanced communication channels, RCS also supports chatbot integrations to automate your conversations and deliver instant customer support. 

These chatbots utilize your help center resources or documentation to provide necessary assistance to customers, resulting in a lower burden on your support teams. 

Additionally, you can train these chatbots to offer personalized conversations by using customers’ past interactions and buying behaviors. This way, your bot will be able to suggest relevant information to help them in the best possible way.

Global reach

RCS operates through the native messaging app on Android devices, meaning it can reach a vast audience without requiring any special apps or updates. And with 71% of the mobile market dominated by Android and 27% occupied by iOS, you can reach out to a huge audience base. 

Unlike OTT (Over The Top) services like WhatsApp or Facebook Messenger, RCS does not require users to download an external app, making it incredibly accessible. 

It works primarily on Android and Apple has adopted it as a backup channel, RCS is set to become even more widespread in the coming days across networks and carriers.

Ready to switch to RCS yet?

Rich communication services are revolutionizing how businesses communicate with their customers. With rich media capabilities, interactive features, and a seamless user experience, RCS is positioned to replace traditional SMS as the go-to platform for business messaging. 

By providing enhanced branding, real-time analytics, and broad accessibility, it is clear why RCS is the future of business communication. 

As more mobile carriers and devices support this technology, if you adopt RCS early, you will be better positioned to engage your customers in meaningful, impactful ways.