RCS Messaging vs. Group Chat: Which One Is Better for Your Business?

Having a messaging channel that can serve as a private DM and a segmented group chat can greatly help you streamline your outreach efforts. 

Communication apps like WhatsApp, allows you to take advantage of both 1:1 interactions and group conversations. However, it requires your audience to download WhatsApp and can drive customers away from your outreach. 

On the other hand, having a default channel can let you engage customers without needing them to install any third-party applications. RCS is a channel that is becoming a solid choice for businesses due to its advanced features. 

Having said that, in this blog post, I will compare the advantages of using RCS messaging and group chats, informing you about the situations where you should use them, and how to make the most of their capabilities to optimize your outreach. 

So, let’s explore the strengths and applications of each to help you make an informed decision.

What is RCS messaging?

RCS messaging is the next generation of SMS. It enables you to send multimedia messages, interactive buttons, and real-time updates, all within the native messaging app on a smartphone. 

In addition to that, you also get access to rich communication features, like typing indicators, read receipts, and branding options. Using these features, you can effectively engage your customers and establish strong relationships to assist you in getting more sales.

Furthermore, this one-to-one exchange allows you to better engage customers with personalized content. For example, you send tailored marketing offers or assistance directly within the DM. This way, you can engage each and every contact individually, allowing you to better interact with them. 

Key benefits of RCS messaging

Both individual messages and group chat have their unique advantages. One is better for specialized engagement, while the other is good for multi-scale interactions. That being said, let’s take a look at the benefits of RCS messaging first.

Better customer experience

RCS makes communication more engaging with rich media and interactivity. By incorporating visually-rich elements into your messages, you can deliver value to your customers, showcasing the products instead of describing them. 

Wide reach

Since RCS runs directly from the native messaging app, Google Messages, which is part of almost all Android devices, you can gain access to a huge number of contacts that you can reach out to. Plus, with the adoption of RCS by Apple in its iOS 18 launch, you can now connect with iPhone users using RCS. 

Analytics & insights

You can monitor and evaluate the performance of your messages. The dashboard will give you insights into various metrics, like engagement, read, delivery, and click-through rate. You can utilize this information to make data-driven decisions to further improve the efficiency of your outreach campaigns. 

When should you use RCS messaging?

As I said before, individual rcs messaging allows you to send information privately that could not be shared with all the members of the group. Here are some benefits of private RCS messages:

• Promotional campaigns: Retail or e-commerce businesses can showcase new products with high-quality images and carousels.
• Customer support: You can deliver tailored customer support, automate interaction to address FAQs, and allow users to interact directly with support teams.
• Transactional messages: Being an end-to-end encrypted channel, RCS can be used to send OTPs, confirmations, and transactional updates.

These are only a few examples of how you can utilize RCS for your business. Depending on the industry you work in and the type of messages you want to send, you can create custom templates to increase your chances of getting conversions. 

What is an RCS group chat?

Similar to the WhatsApp groups, RCS group chats let you segment your audience into smaller groups, where you can engage all of them at once. 

Not just that. RCS group chats are not one-sided. This means the members can converse with each other. These group chats, let you expand the communication capabilities of RCS into a collaborative environment. You can utilize these groups to engage multiple participants in a single conversational thread.

The group chats are an enhanced version of individual messages and support all the conversational functionalities. For instance, you can collaborate with contacts in real-time, share multimedia files, and allow participants to engage in discussions. 

Some benefits of RCS group chat

Unlike individual messages, RCS group chats are a way to streamline your engagement with multiple contacts at the same time. So, the following are some of the advantages of these group chats:

Improved collaboration

RCS group chats are not only for your customers. You can create a group chat for your internal use also. By inviting your team members and company staff, you can deliver timely updates to all the departments, keeping them on the same page. 

Plus, your team members can collaborate with each other within the group, thereby resulting in increased sales efficiency. 

Multimedia-rich engagement

Similar to normal RCS messages, you can share visually rich messages, providing valuable content to your customers. Images, photos, audio files, and GIFs can increase engagement rates, enabling your customers to better resonate with your content.

Centralized communication

Having an RCS group chat helps you reduce the need to manage multiple communication channels. This way, you can make RCS a centralized conversational channel, letting you manage your interactions effectively. 

RCS messaging vs. RCS group chat: A feature comparison

Now that you have understood what RCS messaging and group chat is, here is a quick comparison of features between the two: 

Which one is better suited for your business?

Choosing between RCS messaging and RCS group chat depends on your business goals and communication strategy. Here are some scenarios to help you decide:

When to choose RCS messaging?

RCS messaging is a private communication between you and an individual customer. So, it has its own use cases. For example, if your focus is on one-on-one communication, RCS messaging is the way to go. 

Using a 1:1 interaction you can: 

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• Send personalized promotions
• Delivering transactional updates
• Providing individual customer support

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So, how should you utilize the interactivity of RCS messaging? 

This type of communication is particularly useful if you have adopted an account-based marketing approach or if you have a limited number of clients whom you can interact with on an interpersonal level. 

If not, and you have a large audience base, you can connect with them by sending bulk RCS messages for simultaneous engagement. 

In either case, you will need an RCS service provider like Zixflow that can let you access these capabilities for marketing and customer support purposes. 

With the innovative options and modern UI, you can run RCS campaigns to get in touch with thousands of contacts at once. Just create an account, select a template, and import your contacts’ details to interact directly with your customers. 

Here is a video to guide you through the steps of how to get started with an RCS campaign using Zixflow: 

When to use RCS group chat?

RCS group chat, on the other hand, allows for a wider range of interactions. That being said, group chats are the best if you need to deliver information immediately and effectively to a large number of recipients. 

These group chats are perfect for team collaboration, where regular communication among teams is a must. Both you and the members can share files and updates within this group, allowing for real-time information sharing. 

From an outbound perspective, group chats can let you build a community for your business with RCS as a centerpiece. You can run loyalty programs or conduct exclusive events for the members of your group chats. 

Additionally, you can craft custom RCS messaging templates for particular events and send them to all the attendees via the group chat, informing them about crucial details like date, time, venue, or any other information that you consider necessary. 

Combining RCS messaging and group chat

In many cases, the best strategy is not to choose between individual RCS messaging and the group chat, but to use them together. 

For example, you can use RCS to announce a new launch, and then create a group for prospects who are interested in the product and want more information or personalized assistance.

That is not all. You can provide individual support via RCS messages and encourage satisfied customers to join your group chat to share experiences or feedback.

Ready to make the most of RCS to drive business success?

RCS is evolving how you communicate with customers and teams. While RCS messaging is perfect for personalized, one-on-one interactions, the RCS group chats excel in fostering collaboration and community engagement. The right choice depends on your unique needs and objectives. 

By leveraging both RCS messaging and group chats strategically, you can create a seamless, engaging, and efficient communication experience for customers. 

So, which will you choose for your business? The answer lies in understanding your audience, goals, and the type of interaction that will create the most value. Whichever you decide, RCS is a game-changer that is worth exploring.

Get started with Zixflow’s advanced RCS Messaging Platform to manage all your communication needs. Sign up for a 7-day free trial to take out the application for a spin, and upgrade to a premium version when you are ready.