Which is better, WhatsApp or SMS?

Mobile touchpoints are a significant differentiator since customers can select from a range of paths to complete a transaction. Businesses are currently spending more and more money on mobile channels to interact with their end customers at key times throughout the customer lifecycle (from completing a purchase to providing service updates).

With so many alternatives available, such as messages sent via SMS, RCS, Telegram, messaging applications like Facebook Messenger and WhatsApp, and others, choosing which smartphone communication channel to utilize can be challenging. The reach, responsiveness, and efficiency of each of these channels vary, but SMS and WhatsApp stand out when compared. 

The Benefits of Both SMS And WhatsApp Business Platform

A Plateform For SMS.

• Utilizes mobile networks to run. Anyone can get SMS at any time, wherever they are, by using mobile networks instead of data plans or internet connections. 
  
  
• SMS is widely used. The ability to send and receive messages is integrated into every phone, even feature phones. Users do not need to download newly developed software to be able to receive SMS, in other words.
  
  
• High response and open rates. 98% of SMS messages are opened within 5 seconds of receipt, giving the technology an exceptionally high open and response rate. Therefore, SMS is a very effective communication method for urgent messages. Businesses may make the greatest use of this channel by pre-planning and scheduling promotional SMS campaigns in addition to sending important messages like notifications and OTPs. 

A platform for WhatsApp Business.

• Powerful multimedia messaging capability. Users of WhatsApp can send and receive messages that are packed with media, such as voice, video, documents, photographs, locations, and much more. Businesses can give better customer service by employing this application to provide billing information, product demos, service catalogs, delivery service locations, and so on. builds trust.
  
  
• Builds trust. On WhatsApp, companies can build a legitimate, verified company profile. Adding the company's picture or logo, a description, and contact information is required, in addition to obtaining a verified badge.
  
  
• The messages are protected and encrypted. All messages exchanged through WhatsApp are protected by end-to-end encryption, which prevents anyone—including WhatsApp itself—from reading them. This ensures that sensitive information, such as billing data and personal data, is kept secure.

Should you select WhatsApp or SMS as your platform?

The objectives and needs of your company must be taken into account when selecting a channel to include in your communications plan. If you are seeking a cheap method, SMS could possibly be a better choice, however, WhatsApp is the greatest alternative if you would like to send out messages globally. You fundamentally need to analyze your customer base and expound on your communication strategy to determine which channel is ideal for your business's goals. It is best to use these channels in tandem to ensure that you get the most strongly out of each one, as per our advice. We use SMS for all alerts, including time-sensitive ones like OTPs, and WhatsApp for interactive marketing and service messages.

In conclusion, SMS and WhatsApp are both suitable for certain use cases and both have their own beneficial effects. SMS is more widely available, yet it has some capabilities and multimedia constraints. WhatsApp is excellent for more participatory and secure communication because it has a more comprehensive feature set and end-to-end encryption. Aspects including the communication's purpose, audience preferences, financial considerations, and the scenario's ideal qualities should all be taken into account when selecting which channel is best.