Read receipts are messaging features that notify the sender when a recipient has opened and viewed their message. Unlike traditional SMS, which offers no delivery or read confirmation beyond basic “delivered” status, read receipts add transparency to communication by confirming engagement.
Read receipts are a hallmark of rich messaging channels like RCS (Rich Communication Services), which brings chat app-like functionality to native messaging. By providing insight into when messages are seen, businesses can better understand customer engagement and optimize follow-up timing. This feature is especially valuable in customer support, marketing campaigns, and transactional notifications that benefit from knowing whether the recipient has actually read the content.