
Why RCS Messaging Is the Future of Business Communication

Where are your customers?
On their smartphones. Americans check their cellphones 144 times a day , once every 10 minutes.
Where should your business be?
Right in your customers' pockets. With a 98% open rate, SMS (short message service) already beats email’s 32%, proving itself as a powerful tool for reaching customers . But why stop there? The next generation of messaging is here: Rich Communication Services (RCS) , or SMS 2.0, is the new must-have channel . This year, global RCS users are predicted to surpass 1 billion and it’s only climbing now that RCS is available on iPhones and Android devices. The future of customer engagement is already ringing.
Keep reading to discover six compelling reasons to prepare to add RCS to your business communications toolbox.
What Is RCS Messaging?
RCS is a powerful messaging channel that combines the global reach of SMS with the rich features of chat apps (such as WhatsApp and Facebook Messenger) to deliver more interactive, captivating user experiences.
RCS can go beyond the plain text of SMS, incorporating high-res images, video and audio clips, read receipts and other features. Provided through mobile network operators, RCS comes native on customer phones (Android and iPhone).
How Can You Use RCS Messaging to Improve Customer Experience and Increase Revenue?
Businesses can use RCS similarly to how they’ve been using SMS to communicate with customers, but with more compelling features, like multimedia to show products or location sharing to display how an order is in transit. Here are some use cases.
Customer Service: Automate Customer Support
Send automated notifications with media rich messages such as:
Order status updates
Payment or appointment reminders
Delivery/service appointment confirmations and updates
Service outage notifications
Explanations of changes in monthly bills
Respond to customer queries using an integrated chatbot within the notification itself.
Marketing: Deliver Interactive Promotional Campaigns
Send interactive messages to promote products and services and drive website traffic.
