Sinch & Singtel partner to launch RCS messaging in Singapore

Sinch and Singtel have collaborated to launch the first Rich Communication Services (RCS) Business Messaging service in Singapore, marking a significant development in the communications landscape.

This partnership aims to enhance customer engagement through secure and branded messaging solutions.

Wendy Johnstone, Sinch's Executive Vice President for the Asia-Pacific region, commented on the new collaboration: "RCS brings branded, interactive messaging to the forefront, enabling businesses to engage with their customers in dynamic new ways. With over 15 years of building the best super network and strong partnerships with Google and mobile operators globally, we are excited to usher in this new era of messaging. Apple starting the roll out of support for RCS with the release of iOS 18 this week only increases our excitement. Today marks the starting point for making RCS a global, ubiquitous, rich, conversational channel for businesses in Singapore to communicate with their customers and users on all devices. What a week to announce this partnership with Singtel."

The Rich Communication Services Business Messaging service offers businesses an advanced platform to connect with customers directly within their native mobile inboxes. These messages come from a verified sender agent and utilise a secure channel, thereby enhancing trust and security. Additionally, RCS brings added functionality over traditional SMS, such as branded messages, interactive features, and advanced analytics including read receipts.

On the impact of RCS on customer relationships, Terence Lai, Vice President of Digitalization, Products and Partnerships at Singtel, stated, "Customers are used to personalised and interactive communication across mobile platforms and seek to engage businesses in the same way. With RCS messaging, enterprises can offer richer and more immersive experiences that integrate seamlessly into consumers' digital lifestyle which helps them to build a stronger relationship with their customers and their brand. Through this partnership with Sinch, we aim to help businesses in Singapore increase customer satisfaction, foster brand loyalty, and stay ahead in a competitive digital landscape."

Sinch's Customer Communications Cloud provides businesses with various tools to make the most of RCS, including comprehensive APIs, an intuitive RCS campaign builder, and integrations with platforms such as Salesforce Marketing Cloud and Zapier. For companies looking to transition from SMS to RCS with minimal hassle, Sinch offers the RCS Upscale solution. This solution provides an easy transition while retaining SMS as a backup channel, ensuring continuous communication.

This launch makes Singapore the first South-East Asian country to benefit from Sinch's RCS Business Messaging services. Companies across multiple sectors, including banking, logistics, and retail, in countries such as the United States, France, Germany, United Kingdom, Mexico, Brazil, and India, are already leveraging Sinch's solutions to enhance customer engagement.