The core engagement problem in loyalty isn’t enrollment, it’s activation. Consumers join many programs and use few, and an estimated $10 billion in US loyalty rewards goes unredeemed each year. RCS attacks that directly: a timely “you have a $10 reward expiring Sunday, [Redeem now]” in the inbox converts far better than the same message lost in an app notification or an unopened email.
Personalization and immediacy compound the effect. RCS supports segmentation, two-way replies, and tap-to-act buttons, so a brand can send the right offer to the right member at the right moment and let them redeem without leaving the conversation.
Key facts
- Members who actually redeem rewards spend about 3.1x more annually than members who never redeem (loyalty research, 2026).
- An estimated $10 billion in US loyalty rewards goes unspent each year (Antavo, 2026).
- RCS campaigns commonly see 15-30% click-through, well above SMS and email (industry benchmarks).