One of the biggest moves Starbucks and Chick-fil-A have made to attract and retain customers is replacing plastic cards with restaurant loyalty apps. With these new applications, you can earn rewards such as free drinks just by checking in for visits or scanning your receipt after a purchase.
Some people are skeptical about switching over from conventional physical customer reward cards to using an application on their phone. To address this concern, coffee shops like Dunkin’ Donuts allow users who sign up through email rather than downloading the app onto their device to still rack up points that they will eventually be able to use towards future purchases at any participating store’s location nationwide!
You don’t have to be a world-famous app developer like Instagram or Snapchat in order to reap the benefits of using mobile technology for your customer loyalty program. Here are some essential tips and tricks on how you can design, develop, launch a successful campaign with ease:
Why a mobile loyalty app?
Make your loyalty program easy to use. You can make it so that all customers have to do is download a smartphone app, and they’ll be able to dedicate their phone as the keychain for their restaurant’s rewards program. Now instead of carrying around an extra card in addition to other keys or cash, customers only need one thing on them: The device in which you’ve developed this new technology!
Giving your customers a sense of belonging is key to cultivating brand loyalty. You can make them feel like they are an exclusive part of the neighborhood with special offers, content, news, and other incentives so that they don’t think anyone else deserves it more than them. But you also need to listen – which means responding quickly when someone has feedback or suggestions about how we could be better for their business!
Great loyalty programs of restaurants using mobile apps
My Starbucks Rewards
This is one of the best, if not the best, loyalty programs in any industry. The first version was introduced back in 2008 with a card that would reward customers for purchases and eventually lead to free drinks or food after collecting enough points. In 2009 they launched Gold level which gave $25 annual fee holders 10% off almost anything at their stores but now you can earn lots more benefits than before like earning four stars on every purchase instead of three only when ordering using a mobile app!
A year later, they merged these two programs and gamified them. Their idea was to reward customers for visiting often with free drinks!
Gold level—Gold members are the cream of the crop, enjoying all benefits from Green to Silver plus a personalized Gold Card and free beverage with every 12 stars.
In 2016, Starbucks decided to switch from a visit-based program to a purchase-based one. They eliminated the Gold card entirely and kept only two levels: Green and Silver for those who still want rewards but don’t need them as often. Customers earn 2 stars per dollar spent or 3 stars if they’re using their registered credit cards; whichever is greater depending on which way you prefer it. For every 30 dollars in purchases you make at an eligible store (like Target), that equates to 1 star! That means after buying groceries with your reward check, get some coffee too—it’s better than nothing when our wallets are running low near payday!
Starbucks has always been known for their signature caramel macchiato or a delicious iced coffee, but they’ve also had an equally important role in the lives of many people who use it as more than just a place to get that morning cup. As Starbucks soon realized after launching what is now called My Starbuck Rewards back in 2009, this loyalty program still felt too complicated and confusing despite all its potential perks; so with new changes coming in next years such as fewer required stars needed at 25 instead of 300 before getting freebies like refills on drinks or one-time prizes upon achieving 50-star status – customers are finally going to be able to take advantage of these rewards without feeling bogged down by how much work was necessary beforehand.
Chick-fil-A
You may not be able to get Chick-fil-A in your hometown, but you can have a membership with them! Sign up for the loyalty program and earn points by spending money at their stores. They’ve just updated it so that there are more ways to earn like through special offers or on other promotions.
Imagine walking to your favorite Chick-fil-A restaurant. The smell of fried chicken fills the air and you feel yourself growing hungrier with every step closer you get. You reach the front counter, order a meal of their menu board, take your tray from one of many employees working behind it, find an empty table nearby where some friends are eating breakfast or lunch together – all while earning points that will help make future visits even more affordable!
To participate in Chick-fil-A One customers need only sign up through a mobile app or their website; they can earn points by ordering through these mediums as well as at location-based establishments (Chick fila). They also have access to customize orders
Dunkin’ Donuts – DD Perks
We will not go into the pros and cons of Dunkin’ Donuts’ loyalty app. However, if you want a free donut every month for life just sign up!
This is an excellent opportunity to receive some sweet rewards while also knowing that your doughnut empire has great customer service.
DD Perks is a purchase-based program: customers receive five points for every dollar they spend. Using the Dunkin’ app, you can earn and redeem rewards to customize your order up to 24 hours in advance of placing it.
Which functionality should your restaurant’s mobile loyalty app have
Which features do these apps have in common?
- Rewards are a great way to increase customer loyalty. But you need rewards that your customers will actually want and use. Define the types of rewards, how many points they’ll get for completing activities like surveys or specials challenges, then encourage them to actively engage in order to collect more!
- A push notification may be a reminder of your next happy hour or an alert for you to take advantage of other deals. Get the latest from us and never miss out on that perfect drink again!
- KISS (Keep It Simple Stupid). You may have noticed that some coffee shops are now giving out customers’ rewards before they buy their first cup of joe. Why do you think this is the best way to reward loyal customers? It’s a great idea because people get rewarded for coming back and it can be as simple or complex as your store wants!
