Starbucks has set a standard for a successful mobile-based loyalty program that many brands would love to follow, and now they may soon have the chance. A new company called Dealyze is offering an app that will allow businesses to quickly and efficiently implement a loyalty program that will offer consumers a comparable customer experience.
It is no secret that Starbucks has enjoyed massive success with its groundbreaking mobile loyalty program. Many businesses, however, can’t hope to match the expansive resources that Starbucks wields. Therefore, Dealyze hopes that its new web-based service will be an ideal solution for small businesses seeking to reward customer loyally without having to build an entirely new program from the ground up.
Easy to install and simple to use, the web-based loyalty program uses an in store mounted Android tablet
that invites customers to sign up by providing some basic information. After that, customers are sent a link that installs an app, which becomes accessible on any mobile device. SMS sales and email discounts are then digitally sent to customers to be redeemed as they choose.
For in-store purchases, members can also choose to use a physical loyalty card that includes the QR code originally associated with their app.
The type of deals and points will vary from business to business as they can be customized to fit a particular establishment and tweaked to cater to the desires of their individual customers. Similar services have already been made available by other mobile app developers, but Dealyze is making advancements in this space through a proprietary “theming engine,” which allows business to make further customizations with regards to logos and colors.
Dealyze co-founder and CEO William Baron said the idea came to him after establishing a relationship with the owner of a local pita eatery near the campus of his alma mater. Once the two became friends, Baron asked if he could design a loyalty program for the restaurant.
“He didn’t want to have [his loyalty program] seem like a third-party,” Baron said.
Other services existed but they were “one-size-fits-all” in nature.
“They were feature complete, but [the owner] didn’t really want to compete with other stores on another marketplace. He was afraid he was joining another Groupon . . . all his deals were shared with everyone in the city. He wanted something that seemed more official – that was just his program,” Baron continued.
Baron was willing to bet that other small businesses felt the same way. And so far he seems to be right.
The loyalty program app is currently being tested in 30 businesses including various bars, coffee shops, hair salons, and across 10 Cold Stone Creamery stores in Florida and Puerto Rico. In the near future, Dealyze also plans to offer reloadable cards similar to those that Starbucks also uses.