Sometimes guests leave their paper loyalty cards at home, meaning they miss out on a stamp. With a digital loyalty scheme, guests can collect stamps on a Wallet card stored on their phone, without having to download a separate app.
The stmpr digital loyalty card can be used in Apple Wallet or Google Wallet. Guests connect via a QR code, and staff can add a stamp or record the redemption of a reward by scanning the code displayed on the card.
In this guide, you’ll learn how the digital loyalty scheme works, what rewards you should consider offering, and how to tailor the programme to suit your business.
Key points to note
Find out what practical limitations paper loyalty cards have, and how the digital solution differs.
Discover how the digital points-collection system works with Apple Wallet and Google Wallet cards, without the need to download a separate app.
Get inspiration for designing your rewards, but tailor the collection criteria to your guests’ habits.
Work through the steps of planning the programme, from setting objectives to designing the Wallet card’s branding.
Find out how guests can join using a QR code, and how stamps can be applied with staff assistance or in kiosk mode.
Table of Contents
Why can a digital voucher system replace paper?
A digital voucher system involves managing stamps and rewards via a mobile phone. The customer saves their loyalty card to Apple Wallet or Google Wallet, then collects stamps in accordance with the conditions set by the business. Once they have reached the required number, they can redeem the pre-set reward. Loyalty schemes can take many forms, but their aim is to recognise and encourage repeat business.
The limitations of paper-based stamp cards
A paper card may be left at home, get wet or tear. If a customer loses it, they may be unable to present the stamps they have previously collected. The cards themselves do not show how many people have joined the scheme, how many stamps you have issued, or how many rewards have been redeemed.
Replacing printed cards may mean placing another order, whilst unused cards may become redundant. With a digital card, there is no need to print physical loyalty cards, and the programme’s data can be more easily analysed. The statistics provide an overview of sign-ups, stamps issued and rewards redeemed, so as well as managing the distribution, you can also track how the programme is being used.
Benefits of the Wallet card for guests
Guests do not need to download another app. They simply scan the QR code to join the stmpr digital loyalty card scheme and can then save the card to their phone. They don’t need to search for a separate paper card in their wallet, and they can check their stamp balance on the Wallet card. The appearance of the card may vary depending on the device and the Wallet service.
Staff can use the Scanner app to scan the guest’s QR code and record the stamp or the redemption of a reward. If the QR code cannot be scanned, the four-digit security code shown on the card can be used instead. The scanner also works in offline mode, which can help ensure service continues even with a weak Wi-Fi connection. In kiosk mode, the guest can scan the code themselves. A location-based Wallet reminder can draw attention to the card when a guest is near a registered shop. This does not involve continuous location tracking. You can find further details on how Wallet cards work.
Practical examples: digital loyalty cards in various industries
A digital loyalty scheme can work well for your business if the conditions for earning points and the rewards are linked to your customers’ habits. The business decides whether to award a stamp for a purchase or a visit, how many stamps are needed to earn a reward, and what that reward should be. Customers link to the Wallet card via a QR code, and stamps are recorded by a member of staff using the Scanner app, or by the customer themselves in self-service kiosk mode.
Cafés and patisseries: rewards for regular visits
A café, for example, could offer a free drink after a certain number of purchases, whilst a patisserie could choose a reward that suits its own range of products. These are just ideas, not hard and fast rules: it’s best to choose the terms of the loyalty scheme so that guests can easily understand them and the business can apply them consistently. Customers can track their stamps on their card, whilst you can monitor the programme’s usage. At the counter, staff can add stamps using the Scanner app, whilst kiosk mode offers a self-service option.
An automatic reward reminder can also be sent to customers approaching a reward, provided this feature is included in the chosen package. Marketing consent is required to send push notifications, and the monthly sending limit depends on the package.
Beauty salons: rewards as part of customer engagement
In hairdressing or beauty salons, a loyalty card can offer rewards linked to repeat visits. The programme is not a substitute for an appointment booking system. You can request feedback via a customer survey, and you can link a stamp to the completion of the survey according to your settings. You can use seasonal campaigns to inform guests about current offers. Only send push notifications if you have marketing consent, and bear in mind that features and monthly sending limits depend on your package.
Restaurants, gyms and studios: tailor the programme to your business
A restaurant can highlight an offer for returning guests in a targeted campaign. In a gym or a yoga and Pilates studio, stamps can be used to track rewards linked to repeat visits. Statistics provide an overview of sign-ups, stamps issued and redemptions; the availability of detailed analyses depends on the package. A loyalty card is not a digital pass, so choose a reward that suits your service.
If you’re setting up your own programme, first decide what behaviour you want to reward and what offer you can clearly redeem. Then set the conditions for earning stamps to suit your business operations.
Get started with setting up your digital programmeSetting up a digital loyalty scheme in 5 steps
A workable digital loyalty scheme doesn’t necessarily need a wide variety of rewards. It’s more important that joining is simple, the rules are clear, and stamping is consistent. The steps below will help you think through the scheme before you launch it.
1. Define the programme’s objective and the reward
Decide what you want to encourage: regular visits, repeat use of a particular service, or trying out a new offer. The reward should be clear, and the terms for redeeming it should be easy to understand. For example, a café might offer a free drink, whilst a salon might offer a special deal for returning customers. Set rules that are simple for both staff and customers to follow.
Before publishing the card, consider the number of stamps required and the conditions for the reward. Once published, the card’s settings – such as the number of stamps required and the reward conditions – cannot be changed.
2. Design the Wallet card’s visual identity
Use your business’s logo, colours and a recognisable stamp design. The card should clearly display the name of the programme, how stamps are collected and the terms of the reward. A Wallet card with your own branding will be easier for customers to recognise on their phones. Once published, visual elements such as the logo, colours and stamp icon can be edited, but the programme terms and conditions remain locked.
3. Make signing up and collecting stamps simple
You can place the QR code for connecting on the counter, share it on social media, or print it on a leaflet. The guest scans the code and can then save the card to Apple Wallet or Google Wallet without having to download a separate app. Staff can stamp the card using the Scanner app, or you can use kiosk mode. If the QR code is unreadable, the four-digit security code shown on the card can be used instead.
4. Train your staff, then plan your campaigns
Show staff how to scan a guest’s code, record the stamp and handle the redemption of rewards. The scanner works in offline mode too, and if the QR code is unreadable, the four-digit security code can be used. Also discuss how you will help guests get connected.
The campaign selects the target audience and timing, and push notifications are one way of delivering the message. Only send push notifications with the guest’s marketing consent. The monthly sending limit and available campaign features depend on the package.
5. Review the data and refine your approach
In the statistics, you can view sign-ups, stamps issued and rewards redeemed. If few people are signing up, check that the QR code is in a clearly visible location and that the programme description is clear. If lots of stamps are being collected but few are being redeemed, check that the reward and the terms and conditions are clear. Try one change at a time and monitor the data. These can provide insights into how the programme is being used, but they do not, on their own, explain guest behaviour or guarantee business results.
The business is the data controller for the guest data collected upon sign-up. When designing the programme, ensure that data processing and the management of marketing consent are handled appropriately.
Get started on setting up your digital loyalty programmeSwitch to a digital solution with stmpr
stmpr’s digital loyalty card can be used in Apple Wallet and Google Wallet. Customers join via a QR code and can save the card to their phone without having to download a separate app. When setting up the programme, you enter your business’s basic details, design the card, define the conditions for stamps and rewards, and then publish the programme. Once published, the card’s structural settings cannot be changed, so it’s worth thinking these through in advance.
Tailor the card to your business’s brand identity
Upload your logo, select your brand colours, and customise the appearance of the stamps. The visual elements can still be edited after publication, so you can update the card’s appearance at a later date. However, you must finalise the number of stamps and the reward conditions before publication, as these structural settings are locked afterwards.
You can manage multiple branches, along with their opening hours. The number of locations available depends on your package. You can control team members’ access using permissions assigned to roles; the number of team members also depends on your package.
Use the data to review the programme’s performance
In the dashboard statistics, you can view guest logins, stamps issued and rewards redeemed. Detailed statistics and export options depend on the package. The data helps you track how guests use the loyalty programme, but no single metric on its own explains their behaviour.
If you make changes to the programme – for example, by setting up a new reward on a new card – monitor the available data and draw your own conclusions. The stmpr ROI calculator provides an estimate of the expected return on investment; it does not guarantee a specific result.
The Free plan supports up to 15 guests. Paid plans come with a 14-day trial period. When selecting a plan, check that the features and limits meet your business’s needs.
Try out the stmpr systemStart building customer loyalty
A digital loyalty scheme will work well for your business if it operates with clear rules, appropriate rewards and a simple sign-up process. A Wallet card stored on the customer’s phone can serve as an alternative to a paper loyalty card, whilst the programme’s data helps you keep track of sign-ups, stamps and redemptions.
stmpr offers QR code sign-up, Apple Wallet and Google Wallet cards, staff scanning and kiosk mode. Marketing consent is required for push notifications, and the monthly sending limit depends on the package. When setting up the programme, finalise the terms for stamps and rewards, as these structural settings are locked once the programme is published.
Choose an easy-to-understand reward, prepare the card, and show your staff how the stamping process works. You can then review how the programme is performing based on usage data.
Launch your digital loyalty programme for free with stmprFrequently asked questions about the digital voucher system
Do I need a separate app, and on which phones can the Wallet card be used?
You do not need to install a separate stmpr app. The digital loyalty card can be saved in Apple Wallet or Google Wallet, so guests need a phone that supports the relevant wallet. To connect, they scan the business’s QR code. The appearance of the Wallet card may vary from device to device, as it is managed by the phone and the Wallet service.
How is a stamp added to a guest’s digital card?
The guest presents their Wallet card, and the staff member scans the QR code displayed on it using the Scanner app. If the code cannot be read, the four-digit security code shown on the card can be used instead. In kiosk mode, the guest can scan the code themselves. The business determines the conditions under which a stamp is awarded and what rewards can be redeemed.
What security measures are in place for digital stamping?
As well as scanning the QR code, the Scanner app also allows the four-digit security code to be entered if the QR code is unreadable. In kiosk mode, features such as a waiting time, daily limit, activity log and PIN-protected logout help to regulate the process. These can mitigate the risk of misuse, but do not guarantee complete protection in every situation.
Can the loyalty programme be managed across multiple locations?
Yes, the control panel allows you to manage multiple branches and their respective opening hours. The number of locations available depends on the package, so please check that your chosen package suits the structure of your business. If you have multiple shops, you should also consider whether to use a common programme or set different rewards for each location.
What kind of messages can you send to guests?
In push notifications sent to Wallet cards, for example, you can share a reward reminder or a current offer. The campaign selects the target audience and timing, whilst the push notification is one way of delivering the message. Marketing consent is required to send these. The monthly sending limit and available campaign features depend on the package.
