Basic RCS – Get started with the new messaging format for businesses

What is Basic RCS?

Imagine a messaging channel where your business can send messages with a verified sender, include your logo and brand colours, and receive delivery and read receipts. That’s what Basic RCS offers — an upgrade from traditional SMS that delivers a richer, more interactive messaging experience.

By implementing Basic RCS, your business can:

• Build trust with verified senders, giving customers confidence that the message comes from a legitimate and secure source.

• Strengthen your brand identity by adding your logo and brand colours to every message, creating a consistent and professional appearance.

• Gain insigths through delivery and read receipts, helping you track engagement and optimise future communication.

Why choose Basic RCS?

Switching from SMS to Basic RCS brings several key benefits:

• Better customer experience: Verified senders and branded messaging create a more engaging and trustworthy experience.

• Easy to implement: You can start using Basic RCS via your existing SMS API – no new integrations are required.

• Cost-effective: Basic RCS shares the same pricing model as SMS, making it a budget-friendly way to modernise your messaging strategy.

Use cases for Basic RCS

Basic RCS kan användas i en mängd olika sammanhang där företag traditionellt har använt SMS:

• Booking confirmations and reminders: Send automated reminders for upcoming appointments or reservations. Read receipts to help you confirm the message was received.

• Campaigns and promotions: Deliver branded promotions with your logo and colours to drive higher engagement and conversions.

• Delivery status updates: Keep customers informed with delivery notifications from a verified sender, reducing uncertainty.

• Internal communication: Use RCS to send important updates to employees — with read receipts confirming the message has been seen.

👉 Explore more use cases for Basic RCS.

The future of RCS

Once you’ve introduced Basic RCS, you can explore more advanced RCS Business Messaging (RBM) options to further enhance your communication strategy.

Single

Send high-quality images, videos, and interactive cards or carousels. Add buttons for quick actions or suggested replies to boost engagement. Ideal for promotions, product launches, or customer support.

Conversational

Enable real-time two-way communication for a chat-like experience similar to WhatsApp. Great for quick support, customer-initiated conversations, and chatbot automation.

Getting started with Basic RCS

It’s easy to get started with Basic RCS — no new API integration is needed. Just follow these steps:

1. Choose an RCS provider: To send RCS messages, your business must register with a certified RCS provider, such as LEKAB. These providers work with Google and mobile operators to verify your business and ensure compliance with industry standards.

2. Register your business: After choosing a provider, register your business and create an RBM agent — your brand’s official profile in RCS. This agent allows for direct, interactive messaging with your customers. For a detailed setup guide, check out our step-by-step instructions here.

Make a smart move for the future

Basic RCS is the perfect solution for businesses looking to upgrade their communication without changing APIs or investing in complex systems. By adopting RCS today, you gain a competitive edge with secure, branded, and interactive customer messaging.

Apple has announced support for RCS, joining Android in adopting the format. While initial focus has been on person-to-person messaging, business messaging (A2P) is expected to follow soon. In a market like the Nordics, where iPhone usage is high, it’s crucial to prepare for broader RCS adoption.

Step into the future — let us help you get started with Basic RCS, and take your customer communication to the next level.