Digital Gift Cards for Hospitality and Services

Digital gift cards let customers buy prepaid credit at your location and give it to someone else. With the VEXiON cards solution you don't need plastic cards or complicated systems. The customer fills in a form online, pays at your location, and the recipient gets the card delivered straight to their Apple Wallet or Google Pay via SMS within seconds.

• Zero launch costs (no plastic cards) • Activation in 15 minutes from the dashboard • Delivery via SMS straight to the phone • Automatic bonuses for higher amounts • Validity up to 24 months

What Are Gift Cards and Why Do You Need Them?

A gift card is prepaid credit that someone buys at your location and gives to someone else. The recipient then comes to you and spends the credit. It's as if someone paid today for services you'll provide weeks or months later. You get the money immediately, you get the customer later.

The gift-card market is growing at a remarkable pace. In 2024 it hit $493 billion globally, and in 2025 it's expected to reach $583 billion (18.3% growth). Digital cards grow even faster, at 17.1% per year. Customers increasingly prefer digital solutions over plastic cards.

Why do people buy gift cards?

There are five main reasons gift cards are so popular. First, convenience for last-minute gifts. Second, the freedom of choice for the recipient, who picks what they actually want. Third, giving experiences instead of things — especially relevant for restaurants, wellness, and services. Fourth, corporate use for employee and client rewards. Fifth, safety — a gift card is safer than cash.

Key takeaway

The gift-card market is growing 18.3% year over year

• Digital cards are preferred over plastic
• Main opportunities: holidays, birthdays, corporate use

VEXiON cards Gift Cards: How It Works

VEXiON cards delivers a fully digital gift-card solution that eliminates all the traditional pain points. No plastic cards, no inventory, no complicated systems. Everything runs through smartphones and the hardware you already have.

The philosophy behind the solution

The whole system is built on the principle of "online form + in-person payment". The customer enters the details online, but pays in person at your location. This works beautifully for businesses where people still prefer to pay cash or card on-site. No payment gateways, no online-transaction fees, no fraud risk.

The five phases of the process

Phase 1: Configuration (one-time setup)

In the VEXiON cards dashboard you set the basic parameters of your gift program. Pick preset amounts — for example, 25, 50, 100, and 150 euros. Decide whether to offer bonuses (e.g., on a €100 purchase the recipient gets €110). Set the card's validity (12 months by default). Enable partial usage so the customer can use the card across multiple visits. The whole setup takes 15 minutes.

Phase 2: Customer purchase

The customer scans a QR code at your location or opens a link from your website or social channels. They fill in a simple form with their name and email, the recipient's name and phone number, pick an amount, and write a personal message. The form doesn't include an online payment — just the data entry.

Phase 3: In-person confirmation

The customer comes in with the QR code on their phone. Your staff scans the code and the screen shows all the order details. After verification, the customer pays using any method you accept. The staff member clicks "Confirm payment" and the system automatically creates the gift card. The QR code is valid for 30 minutes from form submission, preventing misuse.

Phase 4: Delivery to the recipient

Once payment is confirmed, the buyer receives an email with a PDF gift card and a "Send to recipient" button. Clicking it sends an SMS directly to the recipient's phone. The message contains the giver's name, the amount, and an activation link. The SMS arrives instantly — not days later like mail. If the buyer prefers a physical form, they can print the PDF and give it in person.

Phase 5: Activation and use

The recipient clicks the link in the SMS and lands on the activation page. They see who bought them the gift, how much they received, and the personal message. One click adds the card to Apple Wallet or Google Pay. On their visit to your location, they open the wallet on their phone, staff scans the barcode, and the system displays the balance. After payment, the balance updates automatically.

Key takeaway

• The whole process from purchase to delivery takes about 10 minutes
• The customer pays in person, not online (safer, no fees)
• The recipient gets the card on their phone via SMS

Bonus System: Motivate Higher Purchases

One of the most powerful features of VEXiON cards gift cards is the flexible bonus system. You can set it up so that when the gift card is purchased at a certain amount, the recipient gets an extra bonus.

Examples of bonus setups

Restaurant Bella tuned its gift-card values to motivate customers to pick a higher bundle. The bigger the card, the bigger the bonus. At €50, the customer gets €55 — 10% extra. At €100, they get €112 — a 12% bonus. At €150, they get €171 — 14% extra. The best value is the €200 card, where the customer pays €200 but gets €240 in credit — a 20% bonus. Thanks to this structure, it pays to reach for a higher value, because each tier adds a bigger reward.

This structure motivates customers to buy higher values. You pay the bonus out of the larger margin you already earn on bigger purchases. The customer feels like they made a great deal, the recipient feels spoiled, and you get higher revenue.

The psychology of bonuses

A bonus works as an emotional amplifier. The buyer feels like a generous giver because they gave "more". The recipient sees a higher amount on the card and feels they got a bigger gift. Both associate a positive experience with your business.

Key takeaway

• Bonuses motivate purchases of higher values
• A 10–20% bonus structure is optimal
• The bonus increases the perceived value of the gift

10 Reasons to Offer Gift Cards

1. Immediate cash flow

The customer pays €100 today, the recipient comes in two months later. You have the money right now for operations, inventory, wages, or marketing. The average time between gift-card sale and redemption is 2–3 months.

2. New customers for free

Your loyal customer Mária buys a gift card for her friend Anna. Anna comes to you for the first time. Statistics show that 72% of gift-card recipients visit the business for the first time. Of those, 40% become regular customers. Every gift card is a potential new regular.

3. Customers spend more

When someone pays with a gift card, they don't feel like they're spending their own money. It's "given", so they allow themselves more. On average, customers with a gift card spend 38% more than the card's value. A €100 card brings in €138 in revenue.

4. Predictable revenue

You know you sold €5,000 worth of gift cards in December. You know those cards will be redeemed over the next 6 months. You can plan inventory, staff, and marketing better.

5. Marketing power

Every gift card is an advertisement. The recipient sees your logo and name on their phone. They show it to friends. They share it on social. That's word-of-mouth marketing that costs you nothing.

6. Competitive advantage

Most small businesses in Slovakia don't offer gift cards. If you do, you look more professional and more modern. Customers will seek you out precisely because you have this option.

7. Unused cards are pure profit

Statistics show that 10–19% of gift cards are never fully redeemed. Those unused balances are pure profit for you with no cost attached. Selling 500 cards at €100 means potentially €5,000–9,500 in pure profit.

8. Lower transaction fees

On a card payment you pay a 2–3% fee on every transaction. A gift card means you pay the fee once on the sale, not every time it's used. If the customer uses the card across three visits, you save two fees.

9. Corporate customers

Companies buy gift cards for employees as rewards, Christmas gifts, or motivational perks. A local IT firm buys 50 cards at €50 each (€2,500 in one sale) for their people. That's a bulk sale and 50 new potential customers.

10. Valuable data

In the dashboard you see which amounts are most popular, when people buy most, how fast cards are redeemed, and what the behavioral patterns look like. You can use that information to optimize your offering and your marketing.

Key takeaway

• Gift cards generate immediate cash flow
• 72% of recipients are new customers
• Customers spend 38% more than the card's value

VEXiON cards vs. Traditional Plastic Cards

Traditional plastic cards require design, production, minimum orders of 500–1,000 units, storage, manual tracking, and regular inventory checks. With VEXiON cards all of that disappears. You activate the feature in the dashboard and you can start selling immediately.

Key takeaway

• The digital solution eliminates all costs of plastic cards
• Launch in 15 minutes vs. weeks of waiting
• Automatic management vs. manual tracking

Seasonal Opportunities: When to Sell the Most

Christmas season (November–December)

This is the golden window for gift cards. Up to 45% of annual gift-card sales happen in this period. People look for practical gifts that will actually be used and enjoyed. A gift card to a favorite restaurant, café, or salon is the perfect choice.

Campaign tip: "Give an experience, not a thing. Gift card with a 10% bonus."

Valentine's Day (February)

Romantic dinners, wellness treatments, shared experiences. Gift cards are ideal for couples. Promote a "Gift card for two" at a higher value.

Mother's / Father's Day (May / June)

Traditional holidays when kids look for gifts for parents. Wellness, restaurants, and cafés are popular choices.

Graduation season (June)

End of school, graduations, celebrations. Young people get gift cards from family.

Corporate season (December, end of quarters)

Companies buy gift cards for employees. Christmas bonuses, quarterly rewards, performance awards.

Key takeaway

• Christmas = 45% of annual gift-card sales
• Valentine's Day, Mother's/Father's Day are strong opportunities
• Corporate clients buy in bulk

How to Get Started: The 48-Hour Plan

Day 1: Preparation and setup

Morning (30 minutes) Log into the VEXiON cards dashboard. Go to the Gift cards section. Set the default amounts for your business. For a café: 15, 25, 40 euros. For a restaurant: 30, 50, 100 euros. For wellness: 50, 100, 150 euros.

Decide on bonuses. For a start we recommend a simple 10% bonus across all amounts. Set validity to 12 months and enable partial usage.

Afternoon (1 hour) Create marketing materials. Download the QR code from the dashboard. Print a simple poster for the counter. Prepare a social-media post. Brief the staff about the new feature.

Day 2: Launch

Morning (30 minutes) Short staff training. Show them how scanning a customer's QR code works. Explain what they see on the screen after scanning. Practice confirming the payment.

Afternoon Publish on social media. Place the QR code in a visible spot. Start actively offering gift cards to customers.

Key takeaway

• The whole setup takes 48 hours
• Staff training takes 30 minutes
• Active promotion is the key to success

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

How much do digital gift cards cost?

Gift cards are part of the standard VEXiON cards subscription (€41–45 per month). No extra fees for creating or delivering cards.

Do I pay for the gift card online?

No. You fill the form online, but pay in person at the location. This is safer and eliminates online-payment fees.

How fast does the recipient get the card?

The SMS with the activation link arrives within seconds of payment confirmation at the location.

Can I print the card and give it in person?

Yes. After payment confirmation you receive an email with a PDF gift card that you can print.

What if the recipient doesn't have a smartphone?

Print the PDF version of the card. The recipient can show the printed QR code when redeeming the credit.

Can I set different bonuses for different amounts?

Yes. In the dashboard you can set an individual bonus for each default amount.

How long is a gift card valid?

12 months by default, but you can set 6 months, 24 months, or any custom validity.

Can the customer use the card across multiple visits?

Yes, if partial usage is enabled. The balance updates automatically on the customer's phone.

Can I see how many cards have been sold in the dashboard?

Yes. The dashboard shows every sale, redemption, balance, and statistic in real time.

Does it work with my POS?

VEXiON works automatically with Dotykačka, OBERON, and Storyous POS. For other systems you use a mobile scanner or the web app.

Can I offer gift cards and loyalty cards at the same time?

Yes. Gift cards are a separate feature that runs alongside your existing loyalty program.

Is it GDPR compliant?

Yes. VEXiON meets all GDPR requirements. Data is encrypted and stored in the EU.

Conclusion: Don't Miss the Opportunity

The gift-card market is growing 18.3% per year and shifting toward digital. Customers expect modern solutions. If you don't offer them, the competition will.

With VEXiON cards you remove every traditional barrier to gift cards. Zero upfront costs. No inventory. No technical complexity. Launch in 15 minutes and start selling immediately.

Christmas season is coming. Valentine's Day, Mother's Day, and graduation season are next. Every day without gift cards is a missed opportunity for new revenue and new customers.

Reach out today: 📧 jakub@vexioncards.one 📱 +421 948 777 490

We'll gladly walk you through a demo, answer your questions, and help you launch gift cards tailored to your business.