How To Choose A Loyalty Technology Provider? The 10 Most Important Questions To Ask

When it comes to customer loyalty, it is important to find a flexible and reliable provider of loyalty solutions. There are dozens of companies out there with different capabilities, but how do you know which one is right for your business? Read on to find out the top 10 questions you need to ask your loyalty provider…

• Is the loyalty program management software flexible enough to change with my business needs?
  
  Your customers' wants and needs may change over time. A loyalty software system that is truly flexible will allow you to shift to your loyalty program members' preferences. In turn, this will allow you to increase your program’s value and levels of engagement. 
  
  One aspect of flexibility that you should be looking for is a loyalty provider that is API-first. At White Label Loyalty, our system is designed on an API-first basis. This means that every aspect of it can be linked via an API connection - so you don’t have to build a new app or site from scratch.
  
   

Another key aspect of flexibility is direct integrations. A loyalty program solution should be straightforward for your business and your customers. That’s why we offer full integration with existing ePOS and CRM systems. Our SAAS loyalty solution can integrate with most of the world’s popular ePOS and CRM systems (and we’ve got even more in development). 

Finally, innovations in technology can rapidly change the loyalty landscape. This is why it’s important to choose software that can expand in features over time, making improvements and updates to ensure that your loyalty program is future-proof. 
 

• Can the loyalty software system create emotional loyalty in customers by going beyond transactions?
  
  Most loyalty programs can only reward transactions. This limits businesses by preventing them from creating deeper relationships with their customers. 
  
  To avoid this, choose a loyalty software solution that can reward any kind of customer behaviour. This will give you the flexibility to drive any kind of customer action you want to see. Furthermore, you are more likely to create a sense of emotional loyalty in your customers. 
  
  With our loyalty platform’s event-based architecture, you can reward any customer action. Examples include referring a friend, providing product reviews, or even simply engaging with your brand’s content. You can also create even more complex rules, such as segmenting your users by “has more than 100 points” AND “hasn’t transacted in 4 weeks” to initiate specific reward triggers. 
  
   

• Does the loyalty program solution support my needs and objectives?
  
  Choosing the right loyalty provider for you will depend on the objectives of your business. For example, you may want access to first-party customer data. If so, you should choose a loyalty app provider that can offer data capture solutions such as receipt scanning. 
  
   

Want to learn more about receipt scanning? Check out our dedicated article here. 

If you are looking for a loyalty marketing provider, make sure you choose a system that offers powerful marketing tools. For example, our marketing module allows you to segment your users and create targeted messaging that is tailored to each group. This is key for brands who want to deliver more personalised and data-driven campaigns to further drive engagement. 

 

• What kind of rewards and incentives are available for my loyalty program?
  
  How do you want to reward your customers? Each loyalty program solution provider will have different offerings for you to choose from. For businesses that don’t want to provide their own rewards, there are solutions that can offer third-party rewards instead. Our reward-fulfilment API gives you access to rewards from popular high-street brands, so rewarding your customers with something valuable is easier than you think. 
  
   

• Do you work with all budgets/company sizes/industries?
  
  Choosing your loyalty provider will depend on the kind of budget you are working with. Pricing will also depend on the solution you choose and the APIs you want access to. 
  
  Some loyalty rewards software companies specialize in specific industries such as retail or restaurants. White Label Loyalty’s solution is industry-agnostic, meaning that we are able to work with a range of sectors. 
  
  However, we primarily work with medium-large enterprises. But don’t worry - if you’re a small, independent company, there are plenty of loyalty software companies out there that can offer a solution for you. 
  
  Not sure if we’re the right fit for each other? Simply get in touch with us and we’d be happy to advise. 
   

• What kind of support is available with your brand loyalty software?
  
  Every business will have different support needs when it comes to managing its loyalty program. It’s advisable to choose a provider that can offer you assistance along the journey. Top loyalty software providers will provide resources to help you get the most out of your loyalty program, and support you with account management as well as technical support to help you be as successful as possible. 
  
   

• What is your data security policy, and how do you protect member data?
  
  Data and security will always be important topics. Make sure you understand what policies your loyalty provider has in place so you can make sure it fits in with your brand’s data protection protocol. 
  
  If you are using data capture solutions such as receipt scanning and card linking, you need to ensure your customer’s details are kept safe. Choose a provider that is fully GDPR compliant and secure. Furthermore, data compliance regulations differ based on geographical location. It's best to check with each provider if they are able to comply with your local regulations.
  
   

• Do you have case studies for brands like mine?
  
  One of the best ways to figure out if a loyalty software provider is a good match for your brand is to look at the case studies they have. Understanding the solutions that a provider has already delivered will give you an idea of how loyalty can work in your business. Most providers will have links to case studies on their websites. 
  
  If you’re interested to see some of the businesses we have worked with, check out our case studies page here. 
   

• Does the loyalty software platform manage itself?
  
  It’s important to note that when you launch a loyalty solution, there may be an initial learning phase. It can take time to understand how the platform works and how you can use it to get the most out of your loyalty program. This is where understanding the levels of support that are available to you comes in. Most loyalty platforms will require you to be proactive - but technical support and account management can help you with this. 
   

• What are the time frames to launch? 
  
  Every loyalty provider will have different capabilities when it comes to timelines. It’s important to understand what the technical and operational requirements are for your loyalty program. Once you are clear on the solution you need, choose a provider that can meet your expectations. 
  
  Find out how we scoped, built, and deployed an end-to-end rewards program for Burger King Switzerland in under 3 months here.