If a customer forgets their paper stamp card at home, they may miss out on a stamp, and the staff member will have to keep track of the process in their head. Loyalty programme software for cafés fits in with your day-to-day operations if it makes it easy to sign up, collect stamps and review results. In this guide, we’ll walk you through what you should compare and how stmpr’s digital loyalty card, built on Apple Wallet and Google Wallet, works.
Key Points
Loyalty programme software for cafés is most practical when it makes it easy for guests to sign up, collect stamps and redeem rewards.
Compare how customers sign up, how staff members stamp cards, and what data you can see on the control panel.
Tailor the rewards and the number of stamps required to your café’s offerings, rather than using a generic example.
Finalise the loyalty card’s structural settings before publication, then place the QR code on the counter.
stmpr’s digital loyalty card can be saved to Apple Wallet or Google Wallet. The customer connects via a QR code, whilst the staff member can add stamps and manage redemptions using a scanner app.
Table of Contents
Which features should you compare in loyalty programme software?
How do you integrate loyalty programme software into your café’s day-to-day operations?
Why do cafés look for dedicated loyalty scheme software?
A customer orders a coffee but has left their paper stamp card at home or cannot find it in their bag. In such cases, the stamp may be missed, and the staff member has to follow a separate manual process. Loyalty programme software for cafés manages enrolment, stamps and rewards digitally, making it easier for both the customer and the business to keep track of the programme.
The loyalty programme serves a specific purpose: it makes it possible to track how the customer collects stamps towards a reward. The digital loyalty card is an alternative to the paper stamp card; it is not a replacement for every business system. Loyalty programmes can be based on different rewards and participation methods, and you can tailor the details to suit your café’s operations.
What does loyalty programme software offer cafés?
Stamps can be awarded based on purchases or visits. In a purchase-based programme, a member of staff awards a stamp for a purchase; in a visit-based programme, each visit counts. You decide which suits your café best, how many stamps are needed to earn a reward, and what that reward should be. For example, you could choose a café product, but tailor the conditions to your own range.
How easy is it for guests to join the digital scheme?
Customers can join by scanning the QR code displayed on the counter, then save the loyalty card to Apple Wallet or Google Wallet. They don’t need to install a separate stmpr app; they can keep the loyalty card on their phone. You can see from the example of a café loyalty card how this solution can fit into the running of a café.
The digital card replaces some of the manual handling involved with paper cards, whilst the rewards and the number of stamps remain entirely up to you. Choose a system that guests can easily understand and that staff can follow whilst serving.
Which features should you compare in loyalty programme software?
In the right software, every step – from guest registration to redeeming rewards – is straightforward. Compare the entire guest journey, not just the number of features. Staff should be able to award stamps easily, and you should be able to see how guests are using the programme.
| Area | What should you look for? |
|---|---|
| Guest check-in | Can guests check in using a QR code and save their loyalty card to their phone? |
| Stamping | How does staff stamp the card, and is there a solution if the Wi-Fi is weak or the QR code cannot be scanned? |
| Redeeming rewards | Is the redemption process easy to recognise and manage whilst serving customers? |
| Campaign | Can the target audience and timing be selected, and how does the message reach them? |
| Statistics | Can you view the number of sign-ups, stamps issued and rewards redeemed? |
Wallet card, stamping and redemption in a single visit
The guest joins using a QR code and can save the digital loyalty card to Apple Wallet or Google Wallet. The staff member uses the Scanner app to award stamps and manage redemptions. If the QR code is unreadable, the four-digit backup code on the card can be used. The Scanner app also works offline, which can help you continue serving customers even with a weak Wi-Fi signal. It’s also worth considering the details of QR code stamping in relation to your work at the till.
The appearance of the Wallet card may vary from device to device. Card updates are managed by the Wallet service, so do not assume that it will appear exactly the same on every guest’s phone.
Campaigns and statistics, with realistic expectations
In a campaign, you select the target audience and the timing; push notifications are one way of delivering the message. Only send push notifications if you have marketing consent, and bear in mind that the monthly sending limit depends on your package. The dashboard statistics show connections, stamps issued and rewards redeemed. You can use these to track the programme’s usage, but they do not in themselves guarantee business results.
You can start setting up the loyalty programme on the registration page: create an stmpr account.
How do you integrate the loyalty programme software into the day-to-day running of your café?
The roll-out will be smooth if you clarify the rules for rewards in advance, finalise the loyalty card design, and ensure staff practise the steps involved at the counter. Proceed step by step and check that all the terms and conditions are clear before customers start using the programme.
Setting up the rewards and the card
Set up the programme in this order:
Decide on the reward. Choose an option that suits your café’s menu, such as a drink or another special offer. The reward and the number of stamps required are up to you.
Design the look of the card. Use your business’s branding elements and check that customers can easily understand what reward they are collecting towards.
Check the terms and conditions before publishing. Review the number of stamps and the rules for the reward. Once published, visual elements such as the logo, colours and stamp icon can be modified, but the structural settings are locked. The appearance of the Wallet card may vary by device; updates are managed by the Wallet service.
Make the connection available. After publication, display the QR code on the counter, share it on social media, or print it on a leaflet.
Your business is the data controller with regard to the guest data collected upon connection. Ask for consent to collect data and explain to the guest why you are requesting their details. Only ask for data that you need to run the programme.
Handling stamps at the counter
Provide a brief training session for staff before the programme launches. Let them practise scanning the guest’s QR code, adding the stamp and redeeming the reward. If the QR code cannot be scanned, the four-digit backup code on the Wallet card can be used. The Scanner app works offline, so it can be used even with a weak Wi-Fi connection.
If you’re using kiosk mode, bear in mind the waiting time and daily limits, check the activity log, and use the PIN-based logout. These measures help manage the self-service process, but do not guarantee the prevention of all misuse. Before implementation, test both the guest and staff workflows.
When is stmpr suitable for a café’s loyalty scheme?
stmpr is a digital loyalty card built on Apple Wallet and Google Wallet. Guests join via a QR code – there’s no need to install a separate app – whilst staff can stamp cards and manage redemptions using the Scanner app. The Scanner app works offline, so stamping can continue even with a weak Wi-Fi connection.
What sort of café would this be a good choice for?
This solution may suit your business if you’re looking for app-free connection, a customised Wallet card and digital stamping. Your café’s branding can appear on the card, but once published, only the visual elements can be modified; the structural settings are locked. Therefore, finalise the reward, the number of stamps required and the programme’s rules before publication.
The Free package can be used for up to 15 guests at a single location, without the need to provide a bank card. If you need to manage multiple venues, staff members or campaigns, please check the features and limits of each package. Only send push notifications with marketing consent, and the monthly sending limit depends on your package.
Trial, data management and next steps
With the free package, you can familiarise yourself with the card setup and the process at the till. No digital programme can guarantee an increase in revenue or customer retention, so track sign-ups, stamps issued and rewards redeemed, and then evaluate usage based on these figures.
Your business is the data controller with regard to the customer data collected upon sign-up. Ask for consent and clearly explain the purpose for which you are collecting the data.
To get started, create the loyalty card, finalise the rules, and then display the QR code on the counter.
Create a digital loyalty card for your caféLaunch a loyalty scheme that suits your café
When making your choice, don’t just look at the number of features. Loyalty programme software for cafés is best suited to your day-to-day operations if the rules are easy for both your customers and staff to understand. Start with a straightforward reward, then see if signing up and the checkout process at the counter fit comfortably into your service flow.
Once you’ve got started, ask your staff which steps were clear and where customers got stuck. Use this feedback to refine the programme, and only introduce changes that make it easier to use.
Try out stmpr’s digital loyalty card with the free package.
Try stmpr for freeFrequently asked questions about café loyalty programmes
Do customers need to install a separate app for the coffee shop loyalty card?
No. The customer scans the QR code and then saves the digital loyalty card to Apple Wallet or Google Wallet. The appearance of the card is managed by the Wallet service, so there may be differences between devices.
What kind of reward should I set up for my café’s loyalty programme?
Choose a reward that suits your offering and your customers’ habits. Consider whether a drink, a pastry or another special offer of your own would be more suitable for your programme. You also determine the number of stamps required; there is no one-size-fits-all setting for every café. Check the reward and the number of stamps before publishing, as the settings cannot be changed once published.
What happens if a member of staff is unable to scan a guest’s QR code?
If the QR code cannot be scanned, the four-digit backup code shown on the Wallet card can be used. Staff can award stamps or process reward redemptions using the Scanner app. The app works offline too, which can be useful even with a weak Wi-Fi connection.
Can I send push notifications to all guests who have saved their loyalty cards?
Only send push notifications to guests who have given their marketing consent. The monthly sending limit depends on your package, so please take the terms of your specific package into account when planning a campaign. In a targeted campaign, you select the audience and the timing; the push notification is one way of delivering the message.
What data do the loyalty programme statistics show?
The dashboard provides a basic overview of sign-ups, stamps issued and rewards redeemed. You can use these to track how many guests have started using the card and how often rewards are redeemed. Detailed statistics and data export depend on the package you have chosen.
