Wednesday, April 2, 2008

Frequent Customer Cards:

Eric Newman’s article at Brandweek introduces a new dimension in the process.

This week, loyalty marketing tech firm Chockstone, Portland, Ore., will unveil the next generation of "Single Swipe," a technology used by retailers that enables a single payment terminal to process gift, loyalty and credit cards. The new Single Swipe technology lets retailers put loyalty card info onto consumers' major branded credit cards. That would essentially eliminate the need for the key fobs, plastic and punch cards that form one of the primary costs for retailers in loyalty programs, and the biggest source of headaches for consumers.”

The problem with loyalty cards is that customers wind up with twenty separate card in their money belts. This will make loyalty programs more accessible, usable and manageable for both restaurateur and guest.