GiftCard Partners Blog

Technology is part of all of our lives and, if you haven't already, it may be the right time to add technology to your rewards program. Technology can help integrate rewards into existing HR systems, integrate your rewards program into your employees’ consumer behaviors, and eliminate some of the cost of the program. Here are HR.BLR.com’s“ 4 C’s” for integrating technology into employee rewards.

Imagine offering merchandise or a gift card instead of a standard $10 off incentive to drive sales. Changing your discount structure in such a way may seem crazy but new research from Ifeelgoods may have you thinking differently. The research revealed that, if given a cash-based offer or a non-cash reward, consumers carried more brand equity and purchase intent than when retailers put more cash back in consumers’ pockets. The study revealed that non-cash incentives had diverse positive correlations with consumers including:

When it comes to millennials and technology e-gift cards are growing in popularity. A recent article from Loyalty360 discussed how millennials prefer e-gift cards to their plastic counterparts. 14 percent of millennials have given or received an e-gift card in the past year compared to only 7 percent of 30-49-year-olds and about 8 percent of 50-64-year-olds who have given or received an e-gift card. So why do millennials prefer e-gift cards? While not specifically asked if they preferred e-gift cards over plastic, millennials did offer a hint; millennials are twice as likely to have lost a gift card before they could spend the entire balance. About 40 percent of millennials have admitted to losing a gift card. E-gift cards are appealing to those who worry about losing cash. They are harder to lose since they exist in your email as opposed to a physical piece of plastic that may never make it into your wallet and are easier to track. E-gift cards also save time on the part of the 'gifter' as they can be purchased with just a few clicks from your computer, tablet, and mobile device from anywhere at any time. Many retailers can scan and redeem e-gift cards directly from your mobile device, some retailers even offer rewards programs for doing so. Electronic gift cards are growing more common for retailers. 59 percent of gift cards are available electronically, up from 41 percent back in 2010. It's also good to know that most retailers will also accept electronic gift cards (as well as plastic) online, great for the online shopper to complete their whole transaction seamlessly online without having to open their wallets. While for some, e-gift cards may seem like an impersonal gift, many retailers are combating that by offering personalization to electronic gift cards. Multiple designs,  personal photos, and videos can all be uploaded directly to the e-gift card to really improve the buying and giving experience. Here's what the Washington Post had to say on, "Why millennials prefer electronic gift cards."

Gift card programs have evolved from simple rewards into a core lever for driving engagement, influencing behavior, and improving program outcomes across industries. In fact, the global gift card market is projected to surpass $2.3 trillion by 2030, fueled by increasing demand for flexible, digital-first incentives.