• Bob Group has successfully implemented Infobip’s RCS solution into its Ship Logic division.
• The RCS solution will add tracking features on top of Ship Logic’s existing messaging solution.
• With this solution the user experience for customers and couriers should be far more secure and seamless.

Bob Group, which was formed out of the remnants of Bid or Buy, has recently concluded the implementation of a Rich Communication Services (RCS) platform powered by Infobip.

RCS is a messaging standard that resembles iMessage on Apple in that it supports images, video, GIFs and more. For now, RCS is limited to Android devices but it does make things like customer support easier as customers could chat to a representative and access additional features without needing to download an additional app.

Bob Group is comprised of five services, namely: Bob Shop, Bob Go, Bob Box, Bob Pay and Ship Logic. Ship Logic is where the RCS feature has seen the largest implementation. Building on top of Bob Group’s existing SMS platform, RCS adds tracking features to its messaging solution.

“The power of our RCS solution made it an obvious choice for Bob Group, offering an enhanced end-user experience without compromising cost-effectiveness. With our implementation framework already in place, collaboration ensured a seamless transition,” explains Andrew Egan, Africa Regional Sales Director at Infobip.

The pair say that the RCS solution integrated with Bob Group’s systems seamlessly and customers now enjoy a more secure and authentic experience for both customers and Ship Logic couriers.

“The future for Bob Group is to incorporate all of our services with RCS through Infobip and use the full spectrum of their services. That is part of our growth plan, and Infobip will be part of our technology journey,” explains operations manager at Ship Logic, Stephan Naudé.

In an era where AI is being added to almost every facet of our lives, the implementation of RCS at Ship Logic puts it in good stead to implement AI powered solutions into the solution.

Recently, Infobip announced it had integrated Google Vertex AI into its RCS platform, giving businesses a way to integrate their AI solutions into basic text messaging.

“This collaboration between Infobip and Bob Group sets a precedent for future technological advancements in the South African ecommerce sector. As Bob Group expands and innovates, integrating RCS across all its services will drive growth and enhance customer satisfaction,” Infobip adds in a press release.

While it’s not clear if Bob Group will leverage the aforementioned integration with Google Vertex AI, it now has that option thanks to its investment into RCS.