Across the globe companies are re-evaluating their offering to customers to make them more relevant to the end-users and more valuable to the business. Loyalty practitioners and the executive boards they report to are considering which technologies to employ, to please their customers, to learn more from this valuable but often untapped store of loyalty data – and crucially – to gain a march on competitors. Loyalty is in transition and emerging from this crysallis state … [Read more...] about If you are not relaunching your loyalty programme, you are in a minority
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Affinion divests loyalty firm five years after cyberattack
An Irish loyalty has been sold on by its US parent, five years after a devastating cyberattack. Loyaltybuild never recovered from the cyberattack, which put the company out of action for seven months. In 2016, it announced 37 redundancies at its Irish HQ in Ennis, Co Clare base and lost a significant customer at the end of 2016. LoyaltyBuild rebranded but its past stayed with it The firm no longer has a presence in Ennis and new accounts filed by Loyaltybuild Ltd confirm that the … [Read more...] about Affinion divests loyalty firm five years after cyberattack
Yandex offers 10% cash back by cross selling services
Two Russian banks first partners Yandex, which describes itself as a technology company that builds intelligent products and services powered by machine learning, has partnered with two of Russia’s leading banks on a payment card with a powerful reward offering. Alfa-Bank and Tinkoff Bank will be the first to partner with Yandex, and Yandex Taxi will be the first service to be offered with a 10% cash back reward. There are 15 Yandex services, and these will be offered at … [Read more...] about Yandex offers 10% cash back by cross selling services
Google Pay linking to reward imports
Link to Gmail will pull in reward benefits Google Pay is testing linking to Gmail to automatically import loyalty cards, tickets and reward points. According to technologist Jane Manchun Wong the feature first came to light back in February. Wong, says she like to spend her free time reverse engineering popular apps such as Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Airbnb and Pinterest to discover unreleased features and security vulnerabilities.She searches for new featureshidden in … [Read more...] about Google Pay linking to reward imports
Unisys launches personalised rewards platform
Taking advantage of open banking rules Software company Unisys, which works with 450 of the world’s banks, has chosen two relatively minor UK building societies to launch a new version of its banking platform, using new Open Banking rules offering personalised offers and insight. Open banking rules make it a requirement for financial institutions to share data with other organisations and for banking customers to easily access third party applications and services. Using … [Read more...] about Unisys launches personalised rewards platform
Be Present, Be Brilliant, Be Gone
James Day obituaryIt is with sadness that we pass on the news that James Day, our friend, respected loyalty practitioner and Loyalty Magazine Awards judge, has passed away after a tough fight. This gentle giant, described as “the mighty James” by his wife Annabel, was known to many in the financial services and loyalty sectors as a digital pioneer, who worked to bring new thinking to customer-centric and multi-channel communication. This he did latterly as MD with Bink, … [Read more...] about Be Present, Be Brilliant, Be Gone
Coca-Cola wants to be understood
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Soft drink brand now has a “real point of view” Coca-Cola, the behemoth of a soft drinks brand that used to be marketed as ‘the real thing’ with a catchy tune, is turning away from its former marketing which told a story. It is piloting instead a new experience led approach to make sure that as a brand, Coca-Cola “has a real point of view now as people want to understand what a brand stands for”. Really? Do they? When is the last time you had a discussion about what … [Read more...] about Coca-Cola wants to be understood
UK first market for blockchain loyalty
Money transfer company trialling blockchain platforms Payment institution MoneyTO Ltd, specialising in migrant remittance services, is launching a blockchain-based loyalty programme. The first loyalty tokens are planned to be available for distribution to the customers in December 2019. The programme is aimed at rewarding customers with the loyalty token. Security is being touted as a prime reason for the blockchain, with the claim that once credited on the … [Read more...] about UK first market for blockchain loyalty
Digital failings impact customer retention
Digital service expectations from customers are very high Financial services firms without a user-friendly digital banking experience are at risk of losing customers. According to findings from a survey of 1,000 UK bank and building society customers conducted on behalf of Fiserv, a provider of financial services technology solutions, customers expectations of digital services from their financial services providers are very high. In fact 82% of respondents said they … [Read more...] about Digital failings impact customer retention
intu to drive footfall with in-store cashback app
2% on purchases, with app in beta now available Footfall is the golden goose for bricks and mortar retailers. If you can persuade shoppers into your premises, then sales will follow, goes the argument. intu the largest shopping centre landlord in the UK has responded to this requirement with a shopper cash-back loyalty initiative that rewards spending in physical stores. intu Pocket will give shoppers at least 2% cashback on anything they buy from participating shops … [Read more...] about intu to drive footfall with in-store cashback app
Rumours and more rumours as Tesco Clubcard price cuts
Everyone watching as latest ‘big plans’ emerge Tesco is reported to be trialling price cuts for loyalty members but this is not the only big rumour circulating. Tesco is also said to be bringing together its retail, financial services and mobile offerings in a deal that could bring it into direct competition with Amazon. First the price cuts for Clubcard holders The Sunday Times reported yesterday that Tesco was trialling lower prices for Clubcard … [Read more...] about Rumours and more rumours as Tesco Clubcard price cuts
Need publicity? Give away 1st class travel
Impressive advisory board for marketplace startup It’s an interesting stunt to get attention (that worked). Offer first class travel to members of the UK government, because they must be tired after all their Brexit negotiations. But what interested Loyalty Magazine even more was the calibre of its advisory board. Start-up Upgrade Pack’s advisory board comprises those with mega experience in fields that align directly with Upgrade Pack’s key target industries; including … [Read more...] about Need publicity? Give away 1st class travel
Insurance, utilities and telcos penalise customer loyalty
Loyalty Surgery Speaker
Introducing the latest speaker at The Loyalty Surgery, October 16&17, London Being a loyal customer is not always good policy, and this is especially the case in the insurance, utilities and telecom sectors. Competition & Markets Authority (CMA) and the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) in their report published at the end of last year found that, instead of being rewarded for fidelity, consumers often encounter a so-called ‘loyalty penalty’ for sticking with their … [Read more...] about Insurance, utilities and telcos penalise customer loyalty
Lush has left the channel
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Tired of fighting algorithms, tired of social media life Lush, the homemade cosmetics retailer, is not the first brand to close its social media channels. Weatherspoons did it to a great deal of publicity last year, and countless celebrities have switched off their feeds. Even Laura Kuenssberg, BBC Brexit commentator extraordinary, is taking a Twitter break - until nearer the next deadline, we presume. The interesting part of the Lush announcement is that it aims to … [Read more...] about Lush has left the channel
Easter about giving as more retailers increase offers
Nectar partners to give away millions Nectar’s Bank Holiday campaign gets into gear tomorrow with partners preparing to give away millions of Nectar points from 12th April – 6th May Partners including Sainsbury’s (owners of Nectar), Argos (also owned by Sainsbury’s) , eBay, AO, Laura Ashley, Dulux Decorator Centre and Furniture Village are among those that have agreed to the promotion Sainsbury’s will be giving shoppers the chance to earn 5 … [Read more...] about Easter about giving as more retailers increase offers
Asda trialling George Rewards
Shopper discounts on clothing Asda supermarket, a long time loyalty refusenik, is trialling George Rewards for its clothing and homeware brand. This will be Asda's only loyalty scheme available to shoppers. Asda supermarket, a long time loyalty refusenik, is trialling George Rewards for its clothing and homeware brand. This will be Asda's only loyalty scheme available to shoppers Even though gripped in its current battle to merge with Sainsbury’s Asda is clearly taking a … [Read more...] about Asda trialling George Rewards
Millennials seeing loyalty differently
CEO of Accor explains reasons for loyalty relaunch Millennials are less interested in loyalty programmes’ points and price reductions when compared to older generations, according to Sébastien Bazin, the CEO of French international hotel group Accor. He told media that the younger generation are driven by social responsibilities and sustainable development instead. "Loyalty programmes have never been stronger if there is a true offer." Sebastién Bazin, CEO, … [Read more...] about Millennials seeing loyalty differently
When loyalty becomes costly
Insurance, broadband and utilities struggle with concept
Being a loyal customer is not always good policy, and this is especially the case in the insurance, utilities and telecom sectors. Competition & Markets Authority (CMA) and the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) in their report published at the end of last year found that, instead of being rewarded for fidelity, consumers regularly encounter a so-called ‘loyalty penalty’ for sticking with their insurance, … [Read more...] about When loyalty becomes costlyBlockchain association INATBA launches with 105 members
105 organisations from across different industries, and representing the full distributed ledger technology (DLT) ecosystem became founding members of the International Association of Trusted Blockchain Applications (INATBA). Launched at the European Commission headquarters, INATBA will promote the use of blockchain technology by developing a predictable, transparent, and trust-based global framework. “Since we view Blockchain as an important enabler of the Circular Economy … [Read more...] about Blockchain association INATBA launches with 105 members
