Communication plays a crucial role for businesses, whether it be within the company or with customers. It helps shape the efficacy, efficiency, and brand value of your business. There are numerous ways for a business to communicate. One of the most important is messaging. It is one of the best ways to provide updates and reach out to your customers and team.
However, there are numerous types of messaging systems, like RCS and SMS. Each one of them has distinct purposes, and thus choosing the right messaging system can maximize your business’s operational efficiency. However, if you do not know much about RCS and SMS messaging, stay tuned till the end. This blog will cover a detailed analysis of RCS Vs. SMS.
Understanding RCS Messaging
Rich Communication Services (RCS) is a new messaging protocol for initiating conversations through the native SMS chat. It allows businesses to use interactive and media-rich messages. Your customers would get multimedia-rich and branded content like images, videos, buttons, etc., and they will not have to download yet another app.
RCS provides the opportunity for more engaging conversations for many use cases. It also presents verified sender names to build recipient trust. Moreover, it provides actionable insights through analytics, including parcel delivery status and read receipts. Apart from this, it also gives you the ability to track basic customer actions.
Key Features of RCS Messaging
RCS offers a set of interactive tools that allow businesses to grow and engage customers on their respective platforms. Here’s a list of some interesting features of RCS messaging:
Verified Sender and Business ID
RCS allows businesses to authenticate their identity by showing a verified sender’s name and logo in the message interface. This allows for increased trust among customers and also improves brand awareness and recognition. These features are important for companies wanting to develop credibility through their communications.
Rich Media
RCS allows businesses to include high-resolution images, videos, GIFs, and audio clips. It enhances a business’s ability to create engaging content and marketing material. You can easily use elements like product showcases, tutorials, and promotions in the messaging app.
AI-Powered Chat Assistants
RCS supports the integration of AI-driven chatbots that allow businesses to automate customer interactions in an efficient manner. AI chat assistants can address inquiries or provide personalized recommendations. It can direct users through the processes of booking an appointment or completing a purchase process, and increase the overall effectiveness of the company.
Interactive Carousels
RCS allows businesses to share multiple products and services in a swipeable carousel. In addition, each carousel card can share images, descriptions, or call-to-action buttons, making it more engaging for customers. Moreover, it allows customers to gather information and shop in a more streamlined way.
Pros of RCS Messaging
Some reasons why organizations are switching to RCS for customer messaging:
Greater Customer Engagement
RCS allows brands to send messages that look and feel like mini-apps, including buttons, image screens, and quick reply options. The customer experience can be more engaging and interactive.
Greater Brand Trust
It is possible to deliver messages with your brand name and logo so the user knows they are receiving information from a verified sender. Encryption protects conversations, which adds an extra layer of trust for users.
Cross-Carrier Capability
Cross-carrier compatibility means RCS works seamlessly across different mobile networks and device manufacturers. This ensures users can send rich messages regardless of their carrier or phone brand. It eliminates the need for third-party apps, creating a unified messaging experience.
Cons of RCS Messaging
The drawbacks that are holding back RCS from being fully universal are
No End-to-End Encryption
Since RCS is not standardized globally, one user might have access to advanced features like typing indicators or read receipts. On the other hand, another user might not, even if both are using RCS. This inconsistency can lead to confusion, limited functionality, and a lack of trust in the platform’s reliability.
Reliance on Network Support
RCS requires carrier and device support from both sender and receiver. If either side doesn’t have carrier and device support, then messages may not be sent correctly or may be dropped to basic SMS messaging.
Understanding SMS Messaging
SMS messaging is a standard way for two mobile devices to communicate by delivering short text messages. SMS chat was developed in the 1980s as a component of the GSM (Global System for Mobile Communications) standards and became a significantly popular method of communication in developed and developing nations.
It uses the signaling channels of mobile networks through a store-and-forward model to provide message services without the Internet. The cellular network writes the message to a Short Message Service Center (SMSC) mailbox prior to it being delivered. This helps guarantee message delivery even if the recipient’s device is not currently available.
Key Features of SMS Messaging
Here are some of the straightforward and compelling features of SMS:
Universal Compatibility
The SMS works on any cell phone, from any brand or carrier, and all you need is a cell signal, without internet or a specific app to send and receive messages. It makes it easy to reach anyone, anywhere, anytime. As a result, it provides fewer limitations and greater reach for businesses.
High Open Rates
People usually open SMS messages within minutes of receiving them. The average open rate of SMS is over 90%, and you know that your message is most likely to be seen. Unlike email, it never goes to spam or gets buried among other communications in an inbox. It is the quickest way to gain someone’s attention.
Cost Effective
It’s very inexpensive to send SMS, especially when sending out communication to many groups. You do not need fancy designs or apps to send a message, and you can just send simple text. Moreover, bulk SMS plans drastically reduce the cost to a fraction if you have a larger volume of SMS chat needs. It is a reasonable option when making decisions and needing results without a lot of cost.
Seamless integration with CRM & APIs
Modern SMS platforms can easily be integrated with CRM tools and enterprise systems through API integration. This not only enables businesses to automate their message workflows and send messages based on user action. It also allows them to incorporate all the user information from their previous communications without needing manual entry.
Pros of SMS Messaging
SMS messaging is still trusted by businesses globally as their messaging option. Here are some of its advantages:
Universal Device Compatibility
Since SMS messages are included in the service by all mobile devices, it works on basic flip phones and luxury smartphones. The use is open-ended because no downloads or internet connection are needed.
Quick Delivery
SMS messages are delivered on cellular networks, which usually takes a few seconds. It shows how fast SMS is for real-time alerts, one-time passwords, and reminder messages.
Easy API Integration
SMS chat can be integrated into CRMs, applications, or marketing tools with very little setup time. It is easy to automate sending or scheduling bulk SMS without worrying about having consecutive or multi-step pieces of technology.
Cons of SMS Messaging
Some areas where SMS messaging is falling behind in today’s digital messaging needs:
Basic Functionality
SMS chat supports only plain text and does not allow for images and other interactivity. It limits its use for visual campaigns for those who need functionality.
Unsecured Messaging
SMS is sent over unsecured plain text without encryption. Sensitive and critical information is exposed via SMS because it can be misused or hijacked much more easily than other messaging systems.
What is RCS vs SMS?
Here’s a quick chart to understand the differences between a text message and an RCS message:
| Basis | SMS | RCS |
| Media Support | It supports limited to plain text (160 characters only) | It supports high-resolution content like media, files, images, videos, audios, emojis, GIFs, and reactions. |
| Network | It functions only under a cellular network | It functions under mobile data or WiFi |
| Interactivity | It is limited to replies only | It suggested replies, action buttons, and carousels |
| Features | It has basic features only. No read receipts and typing indicators | It has advanced features including read receipt, real-time indicators, group chats, and more |
| Payment Integration | There are no payment functionalities | It supports direct transactions |
| Security | It is prone to phishing and spoofing | It consists of end-to-end encryption and verified senders |
| Analytics | It gives basic delivery reports | It provides detailed insights, including clicks |
Conclusion
SMS and RCS are both powerful means of communicating with your customers. SMS has been around for quite some time and is affordable, and you don’t even need an internet connection to use it. Thus, SMS is an incredibly efficient way to reach out to a large audience with a simple text message. At the same time, RCS is a way for businesses to send messages that can include images and buttons. Thus, it gives businesses the ability to engage their customers in a dynamic way.
Determining which is better for your business depends on what your business wants to accomplish and how your customers want to communicate. In many scenarios, using both SMS and RCS will have the greatest impact by allowing you to reach a wider audience and engage better.
However, to ensure you have the best messaging experience, you would need a trustworthy provider. This is exactly where partnering with OneXtel would help. We are the leading business communications providers that specialise in CPaaS, RCS, SMS, etc. So, do not think twice and contact us right away to transform your business’s communication. Our experts will provide you with all the necessary tools and expertise to scale up your business.