Loyalty card software: 9 criteria for choosing well
Loyalty card solutions all look alike on paper. Yet between a tool your customers adopt and one that gathers dust in a corner, the difference comes down to a few very concrete details. Here are the 9 criteria to check, in order of importance for a local shop.
1. Easy sign-up for the customer
It's the number one criterion. If signing up means downloading an app, creating a password or filling in ten fields, many of your customers will never sign up.
Check: how long, stopwatch in hand, does it take for a customer to get their card? Over 30 seconds is too long. See also: the loyalty card with no app.
2. Speed at the till
At peak times, every second counts. Validating a visit should be as quick as stamping a paper card.
Check: can a visit be validated in under 3 seconds? Is there a POS mode that handles customers one after another with no fiddling?
3. Protection against cheating
A loyalty program that's easy to cheat costs money instead of making it. Beware of systems where customers validate their own visits.
Check: who validates the visit? Do rewards have a single-use code? Is there a limit of one visit per day?
4. Communicating with your customers
The real benefit of a digital card is being able to contact your customers again: offer of the day, birthday, nudging a customer who no longer comes. Compare the channels offered (notification, email, SMS) and their cost, detailed in our guide SMS, email or notification.
Check: are notifications included or charged per message? Can you target a group of customers (inactive, close to a reward)?
5. Measuring results
A good tool tells you whether loyalty pays off: how many customers came back, how many extra visits, what estimated revenue. Without these figures, there's no way to know if the subscription is worth it. Our profitability calculator helps you set a target.
6. GDPR compliance and data hosting
Your customers' data is your responsibility. The provider must offer you a data processing agreement (article 28 GDPR), collect consent properly and allow data deletion.
Check: where is the data hosted? Can customers delete their account themselves? Details in loyalty cards and GDPR.
7. Customisation in your image
The card should look like your shop: logo, colours, name, reward. A generic card, identical to dozens of other shops', creates less attachment.
8. The real price and commitment
Compare the total cost over a year, options included: notifications, number of customers, number of locations. Beware of 12- or 24-month commitments and setup fees.
Check: is the free trial complete? Can you cancel at any time?
9. Support and language
For a business owner, being able to ask a question in French and get a quick answer is often worth more than an advanced feature. Check the response time and whether setup help is available.
The decision grid in a nutshell
| Criterion | What to insist on |
|---|---|
| Sign up | Under 30 seconds, no app |
| POS | Under 3 seconds per visit |
| Anti-cheat | Validated by the merchant, unique codes |
| Communication | Notifications included, targeting available |
| Results | Returning customers and estimated revenue |
| GDPR | Data processing agreement, data in Europe |
| Price | No commitment, full free trial |
FidèlPro was designed around these criteria. You can try it free for 30 days, no credit card, and compare for yourself.