· 5 min
A digital loyalty card works like the paper stamp cards many shops hand out, but it lives on a customer's phone. Here is how the whole thing works.
A digital loyalty card works the same way as the paper stamp cards many shops hand out, but it lives on a customer's phone instead of their wallet. No plastic. No printing. No stamps that fade in the wash.
When a customer visits your business, they scan a QR code at your counter. That scan adds a point, stamp, or token to their card. When they collect enough, they unlock a reward. The whole interaction takes under 30 seconds.
How the customer experience actually works
- Customer scans a QR code at your till or counter
- Their loyalty card opens instantly in the phone's browser
- A point or stamp is added automatically
- Once they reach the target, they can claim their reward
- You confirm the redemption from your admin panel in one tap
Most customers figure this out without any explanation. The card is always in their pocket, and they never have to search through their bag for a crumpled piece of card.
Do customers need to download an app?
No. A properly built digital loyalty card loads directly in the browser using PWA technology. Customers can add it to their home screen if they want, but visiting an app store is never required.
App download rates are low. Most people will not install a dedicated app for a single business unless they visit very frequently. A browser-based card removes that barrier entirely.
What you get as the business owner
Paper stamp cards give you almost nothing to work with. Digital ones give you real data:
- A customer list you own (not rented from a third-party platform)
- Visit frequency for each customer
- Which rewards are actually being redeemed
- How many customers are close to earning a reward
- When a regular has not been in for a while
How long does it take to set up?
With a platform like Loyenix, setup takes around 5 minutes: choose your business name, set the number of visits or points needed to earn a reward, and display the QR code at your counter. Your customers do the rest on their own phone.
Is it expensive?
Most digital loyalty platforms charge a flat monthly fee. Loyenix starts at €19 per month, which for most small businesses works out to less than the cost of printing paper stamp cards over the same period, with far better results.
67% of customers say they are more likely to return to a business that offers a loyalty scheme