Yes, you can have a digital loyalty card even if you take payment with Swish or Zettle. The card is separate from the payment. The customer pays as usual, and staff then scan the customer’s card on a phone and add a stamp.
Many small businesses in Sweden take payment with Swish, a card terminal or a till such as Zettle. It is good to know that you do not need to change any of that to get a modern loyalty card.
How does it work alongside payment?
The flow at the counter looks like this:
- The customer orders and pays, with Swish, card or cash.
- The customer shows the card on their phone.
- Staff scan the card with the camera in the scanner, which is a web app on an ordinary phone.
- The card gets a stamp and the phone updates within a few seconds. Staff see the customer’s first name and how many stamps they have.
Because the card is not linked to the payment, it works whatever till or payment method you have. You need no special reader, no integration and no change of terminal.
What does it mean that the card is standalone?
It has two sides, and it is good to be honest about both.
Advantages.
- You can change till or payment provider without affecting the loyalty card.
- You decide what earns a stamp: a coffee, a visit or a purchase over a certain amount.
- It also works for customers who pay in cash.
Drawback.
- Stamps are not given automatically when the payment goes through. Staff have to scan the card, which is one more step.
For a café or a small shop it takes a few seconds. In a queue where things move very fast it can feel like an extra moment, and then it helps to practise with staff and keep a QR stand near the till.
Should I use Zettle’s own features instead?
That depends on what you need. Zettle and other till providers may offer their own customer features, and they can change over time. So look at Zettle’s own website for what is included in your subscription today, and compare with what you want to be able to do.
Questions to ask:
- Does the card end up in the customer’s Apple Wallet or Google Wallet, or is it something the customer has to find in an app?
- Can you send messages to customers, and to which ones?
- Can you take the customer details with you if you change till?
- What does it cost, and what does it cost per customer or per send-out?
At Fidelia the card lives in the wallet, and you can send messages to customers who have agreed to them on the Pro plan. Read more in the comparison with Zettle.
How do you think about Swish?
Swish is a payment method, and it says nothing about who the customer is. A loyalty card complements it: Swish receives the money, the card remembers the customer. That means you can accept Swish at a market stall or a food truck and still give the regular a stamp. See Swish for how to accept payments.
What does it cost?
Fidelia has a fixed monthly fee: Essential costs 299 kr and Pro 599 kr per month, excl. VAT. The first QR stand is included, and you can try it free for 14 days. Read more about what a digital loyalty card costs.
Summary
A digital loyalty card works alongside Swish, Zettle and every other till, because it only requires staff to scan the card. It gives you freedom to change payment method, but requires one extra step at the counter. Always check what your till provider offers today, and compare with what you need. See the complete guide to digital loyalty cards for more.