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Square Loyalty expands into Canada

Square, the POS payments company co-founded by Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey, has launched its new loyalty programme, to Canadian businesses this week.

It has been running in the US since 2017.

The tool, called predictably Square Loyalty, allows business owners to customize loyalty programmes for their customers; ranging from simple points-earning systems to more complicated tier-structured loyalty programmes.

“Canadian customers love loyalty programmes, and in … [Read more...] about Square Loyalty expands into Canada

Some things never change – Aussie spat over rewards

Virgin Australia and Qantas are engaged in a media argument over how easy it is to book seats with reward points and which is the best programme.

It all started when Qantas announced that it was embarking on a “huge” overhaul of its frequent flyer programme, to make seats more available.

Virgin Australia responded with a billboard campaign that said “nothing’s changed – in its award winning seat availability.

Qantas responded by saying that nothing had changed … [Read more...] about Some things never change – Aussie spat over rewards

Fintech startup offers automatic switching to best rates – to guard against ‘loyalty penalty’

The practice of penalising customers for being loyal is coming under major attack in the UK, where utilities, mobile phone companies and insurance firms have been particularly culpable. Financial services are not without fault either and last month a ‘super complaint’ was lodged by Citizens Advice to the Competition and Markets Authority which estimated savings customers had lost out on more than £800 million since September 2018.

The CMA claims that as with other sectors, … [Read more...] about Fintech startup offers automatic switching to best rates – to guard against ‘loyalty penalty’

PSD2 enabling new loyalty offerings

The pressure is on to find a loyalty proposition for payment cards that is better than the existing models and PSD2 is helping.

One company hoovering up retailers is startup Joko which has as investors Partech, Axeleo Capital, Lafayette Plug and Play, plus some financial services angels and which has just raised 1.6 million euros in a funding round. What it says it will do is develop a “simple and universal loyalty program integrated into credit or debit cards.”

The … [Read more...]

Understanding the implications of Facebook’s participation in Libra

Facebook is just one of the 28 founding players backing the Libra digital currency system. Other parties involved include Visa, Mastercard and Paypal plus others such as Uber and Vodafone.

Libra blockchain digital currency has 28 founding members and by its launch in 2020 will have as many as 200 participating players.

Libra is a permissioned blockchain digital currency. It is an open system, which means that any consumer, developer, or business can use the Libra network, build … [Read more...] about Understanding the implications of Facebook’s participation in Libra

Fines for firms exploiting customer loyalty

Retiring prime minister of the UK, Theresa May intends to reform the current practice for customers to be penalised for their customer loyalty, as is currently the practice by utilities, telcos, insurance and financial service firms particularly.

UK regulators will be given new powers to stop loyalty penalties which are estimated to be costing households billions of pounds.

A consultation is to be held on giving the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) the ability to … [Read more...] about Fines for firms exploiting customer loyalty

John Lewis trials rewards for beauty recycling

UK department store chain John Lewis & Partners has launched a beauty packaging recycling trial working with their loyalty programme.

John Lewis loyalty card members will receive £5 off any beauty purchase when they bring empty make-up and skincare packaging for recycling - Picture John Lewis

BeautyCycle allows members of its my John Lewis loyalty programme to earn £5 off any beauty purchase when they bring empty make-up and skincare packaging from any brand in-store for … [Read more...] about John Lewis trials rewards for beauty recycling

Strong Superdrug results attributed to loyalty product linking

Health & Beautycard membership tops 14 million

Superdrug says its Health and Beauty card membership has now reached more than 14 million members, driven by special deals for those using the Superdrug mobile network, plus additional beauty services such as lash bars, nail bars and double loyalty points for mobile network members, hairdressing services.

Superdrug health&beautycard members gain double points if they use Superdrug mobile services

The use of the … [Read more...] about Strong Superdrug results attributed to loyalty product linking

Only 22% of companies use real-time metrics

Study calls for better use of APM (application performance measurement

A recent survey has revealed that only 22% of companies have access to real-time metrics meaning that potentially, nearly 80% of companies are putting their customer loyalty at risk because they don’t monitor key areas of dissatisfaction or poor customer experience.

The Harvard Business Review Analytic Services survey found that large time lags between metrics-based reports "can keep causes … [Read more...] about Only 22% of companies use real-time metrics

BPme launches across retail network

Trend establishing for fuel and shop reward earning

BP has announced the launch of a new customer loyalty programme, BPme Rewards, across the BP retail network in the UK which, like Shell, will reward points for spend across both fuel and shop purchases.

BPme rewards spend on fuel and shop purchases

BPme Rewards offers customers the option to earn and redeem BPme Rewards Points, for the first time, with the choice of using either the BPme app or a physical card, to … [Read more...] about BPme launches across retail network