The importance of loyalty apps in retail
Loyalty apps are more than just a digital replacement for the old punch card. They are comprehensive platforms that allow customers to earn points, get cashback, and receive personalized offers. For retailers, these apps can be powerful tools for gathering data on customer preferences, tracking purchasing behavior, and building long-term relationships. However, the success of these apps depends heavily on how easy they are for customers to use. The more seamless the experience, the more likely customers are to engage with the program and remain loyal to the brand.
By integrating advanced barcode and document scanning features, retailers can enhance the functionality and efficiency of their loyalty programs. This article examines how these technologies improve the user experience and optimize backend processes while driving customer engagement.
Enhancing user engagement with barcode scanning technology
Loyalty app development often faces the challenge of ensuring customers can easily and accurately scan products or receipts to earn rewards. A reliable barcode scanning feature streamlines customers’ user experiences by offering additional features:
Single Scanning for quick rewards
A Single Scanning feature allows customers to swiftly scan product barcodes, recording them in the system for immediate reward calculation. This functionality is particularly effective in loyalty apps, where simplicity and speed are critical. Retailers can offer a streamlined experience that encourages frequent app use, as customers can effortlessly scan products and accumulate points or cashback.
Batch Scanning for efficiency
This feature is ideal for bulk purchases, as it enables scanning multiple barcodes in one session. By allowing customers to scan several items consecutively, without interruption, loyalty apps provide a more efficient and user-friendly experience. This feature not only increases the likelihood of customers using the app consistently but also enhances the overall efficiency of the rewards system.
AR Overlay for real-time insights
An Augmented Reality (AR) overlay adds a layer of interactivity to the scanning process. As customers scan products, it highlights scanned barcodes and provides immediate feedback, making the scanning process more informative. For example, customers can see a real-time summary of their rewards or receive product recommendations based on their scanning history.
Retail technology company Jisp developed a “Scan & Win” feature using the Scanbot Barcode Scanner SDK. By allowing users to scan product barcodes and instantly participate in competitions, they enable their retail and wholesaler customers to significantly boost engagement and sales.
Streamlining operations with automated document scanning
Many loyalty apps require receipt scanning to verify purchases and allocate rewards. Accurate document scanning should have the following key features to streamline this process and ensure that the digitized receipts can be read by an OCR solution:
Automatic Capture & Image Cropping
The automatic scanning feature, combined with Image Cropping, enhances the precision of the document capture process and makes scanning easier for customers. The Automatic Capture feature scans the receipt as soon as it is detected, while the Image Cropping feature removes unnecessary background, focusing solely on the relevant document. This ensures that the scanned receipt is clear and free from extraneous elements, which is crucial for accurate reward processing and verification.
Binarization Filter for efficient processing
A Binarization Filter enhances the clarity of scanned documents, making them more suitable for automated backend systems to process. By implementing these filters, retailers can significantly reduce processing times and associated costs.
Document Quality Analyzer for readability
A Document Quality Analyzer evaluates and categorizes scanned documents by readability. By setting a filter that allows only certain readability levels to go through, retailers can avoid processing errors and therefore streamline backend operations.
Acardo Group integrated the Scanbot Document Scanner SDK to ensure users submitted high-quality receipt scans suitable for their OCR backend, automating their receipt verification process. This reduced manual data entry and administrative tasks, leading to more efficient backend operations. The automation not only cut operational costs but also improved the overall customer experience by providing a smoother, more reliable service.
Improving loyalty apps by adding powerful features
For retailers looking to maximize the effectiveness and user-friendliness of their loyalty apps, integrating state-of-the-art barcode scanning and document scanning features is a must. These technologies not only enhance the user experience by making the app easier to use but also optimize backend processes, reducing operational costs and improving efficiency. By adopting these advanced features, retailers can offer a superior loyalty program that drives customer engagement, fosters brand loyalty, and ensures long-term success.
