Digital Gift Cards for Gastro and Services

Digital gift cards allow customers to buy prepaid credit at your establishment and gift it to someone else. With VEXiON cards solution, you don’t need plastic cards or complex systems. The customer fills out an online form, pays at your location, and the recipient receives the card directly into Apple Wallet or Google Pay via SMS in a few seconds.

• Zero startup costs (no plastic cards)
• Activation in 15 minutes on the dashboard
• Delivery via SMS directly to mobile
• 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 establishment and gifts to someone else. The recipient then comes to you and spends the credit. It’s like getting paid today for services you’ll provide weeks or months later. You get the money immediately, the customer comes later.

The gift card market is growing at a phenomenal rate. In 2024, it reached a global value of 493 billion dollars, and a rise to 583 billion (growth of 18.3%) is expected for 2025. Digital cards are growing even faster, by 17.1% annually. Customers increasingly prefer digital solutions over plastic cards.

Why Do People Buy Gift Cards?

There are five main reasons why gift cards are so popular. The first is the convenience of last-minute gifting. The second is the freedom of choice for the recipient, who can choose what they want. The third is gifting experiences instead of things, which is especially true for restaurants, wellness, and services. The fourth is corporate use for rewarding employees and clients. The fifth is security, as a gift card is safer than cash.

Key takeaway

The gift card market is growing by 18.3% annually

• Digital cards are preferred over plastic

• Key occasions: holidays, birthdays, corporate use

VEXiON cards Gift Cards: How Does It Work?

VEXiON cards bring a fully digital gift card solution that eliminates all traditional problems. No plastic cards, no stock, no complex systems. Everything runs through smartphones and your existing equipment.

Solution Philosophy

The whole system is based on the principle of “online form + personal payment." The customer fills out information online but pays in person at your location. This solution is ideal for businesses where people prefer to pay in cash or by card on-site. No payment gateways, no fees for online transactions, no risk of fraud.

Five Stages of the Process

Stage 1: Configuration (one-time setup)

In the VEXiON cards dashboard, set up the basic parameters of your gift card program. Choose preset amounts, for instance, 25, 50, 100, and 150 euros. Decide if you will offer bonuses, for example, when purchasing for 100 euros, the recipient gets 110 euros. Set the validity of the cards, standardly 12 months. Allow partial use, so the customer can use the card on multiple visits. The whole setup takes 15 minutes.

Stage 2: Customer Purchase

The customer scans the QR code at your location or opens a link from your website or social media. They fill out a simple form, entering their name and email, the recipient's name and phone number, choose the amount, and write a personal message. The form does not include online payment, just data entry.

Stage 3: In-store Confirmation

The customer comes to you with the QR code on their mobile. Your staff scans the code and all purchase details are displayed on the screen. After checking, the customer pays in any way you accept. The staff clicks “Confirm Payment" and the system automatically creates a gift card. The QR code is valid for 30 minutes from form completion, preventing misuse.

Stage 4: Delivery to Recipient

After payment confirmation, the buyer receives an email with the PDF gift card and a “Send to Recipient" button. Clicking sends an SMS message directly to the recipient’s phone. The message includes the giver's name, amount, and activation link. The SMS arrives immediately, not days like by mail. If the buyer prefers a physical form, they can print the PDF and gift it personally.

Stage 5: Activation and Use

The recipient clicks the link in the SMS and accesses the activation page. They see who bought them the gift, the amount received, and the personal message. By clicking, the card is automatically added to Apple Wallet or Google Pay. When visiting your establishment, they open the wallet on mobile, staff scans the barcode, and the system displays the balance. After payment, the balance updates automatically.

Key takeaway

• The entire process from purchase to delivery takes about 10 minutes

• The customer pays in person, not online (security, no fees)

• The recipient receives the card to mobile via SMS

Bonus System: Motivate for Higher Purchases

One of the strongest features of VEXiON cards gift cards is the flexible bonus system. You can set that when purchasing a gift card for a certain amount, the recipient will receive a bonus on top.

Examples of Bonus Settings

Restaurant Bella adjusted the value of gift cards to encourage customers to choose a higher package. The greater the card value, the larger the bonus the customer receives. For a 50 € card, the customer gets 55 €, or 10% extra. For a 100 € card, they receive 112 €, representing a 12% bonus. For a 150 € card, they get up to 171 €, or 14% extra. The most advantageous is a 200 € card, where the customer pays 200 €, but gets credit worth 240 €, meaning up to a 20% bonus. Thanks to this structure, it pays to opt for a higher value, as with each step the reward increases.

This structure encourages customers to purchase higher values. You pay the bonus from the higher margin you gain from a larger purchase. The customer feels a beneficial purchase, the recipient feels special, and you have a higher turnover.

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 the greater value of the gift. Both have positive experiences associated with your establishment.

Key takeaway

• Bonuses motivate higher-value purchases

• The 10-20% bonus structure is optimal

• Bonus increases perceived value of the gift

10 Reasons to Offer Gift Cards

1. Immediate Cash Flow

The customer pays 100 euros today, the recipient comes in two months. You have the money immediately for operations, inventory, salaries, or marketing. The average time from sale to gift card use is 2-3 months.

2. New Customers for Free

Your regular customer Maria 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 a place for the first time. Of those, 40% become regular customers. Every gift card is potentially a new regular customer.

3. Customers Spend More

When someone pays with a gift card, they don’t feel they’re spending their own money. It’s “gifted,” so they allow themselves more. On average, customers with a gift card spend 38% more than the card’s value. A card worth 100 euros brings a revenue of 138 euros.

4. Predictable Income

You know you sold gift cards worth 5,000 euros in December. You know these cards will be used in the next 6 months. You can better plan inventory, staff, and marketing.

5. Marketing Power

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

6. Competitive Edge

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

7. Unused Cards Are Pure Profit

Statistics show that 10-19% of gift cards are never fully utilized. These unused balances are pure profit with no cost to you. Selling 500 cards at 100 euros each could potentially mean 5,000-9,500 euros of pure profit.

8. Lower Transaction Fees

Paying by card incurs a 2-3% fee on each transaction. A gift card means you pay the fee once at the sale, not for each use. If a customer uses the card on three visits, you save two fees.

9. Corporate Customers

Companies buy gift cards for employees as rewards, Christmas gifts, or motivational benefits. A local IT company buys 50 cards at 50 euros (2,500 euros at once) for their people. That’s bulk sales and 50 new potential customers.

10. Valuable Data

In the dashboard, you see which amounts are most popular, when people buy most, how quickly cards are used, and what behavior patterns exist. You use this information to optimize your offering and 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 pieces, storage, manual tracking, and regular inventory checks. With VEXiON cards, all this disappears. You activate the feature in the dashboard and can start selling immediately.

Key takeaway

• 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 period for gift cards. Up to 45% of annual gift card sales happen during this time. People are looking for practical gifts that delight. A gift card to a favorite restaurant, cafe, 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 dinner, wellness treatment, shared experience. Gift cards are perfect for couples. Promote a “Gift Card for Two” with a higher value.

Mother’s/Father’s Day (May/June)

Traditional holidays when children look for gifts for parents. Wellness, restaurants, cafes are popular choices.

Graduation Season (June)

School completion, graduation, celebrations. Young people receive gift cards from family.

Corporate Season (December, end of quarters)

Companies purchase gift cards for employees. Christmas rewards, quarterly bonuses, 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 Start: 48-Hour Plan

Day 1: Preparation and Setup

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

Decide on bonuses. For starters, we recommend a simple 10% bonus on all amounts. Set validity to 12 months and allow partial use.

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

Day 2: Launch

Morning (30 minutes) Short staff training. Show them how to scan the customer’s QR code. Explain what they see on the screen after scanning. Practice payment confirmation.

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

Key takeaway

• You can complete the entire setup in 48 hours

• Staff training takes 30 minutes

• Active promotion is key to success

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

How much do digital gift cards cost?

Gift cards are part of the standard subscription of VEXiON cards (41-45 euros monthly). No additional fees for creating or delivering cards.

Do I pay for a gift card online?

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

How quickly does the recipient get the card?

The SMS with the activation link arrives within a few seconds after payment confirmation at the location.

Can I print the card and give it personally?

Yes. After payment confirmation, you receive an email with the PDF gift card, which you can print.

What if the recipient doesn’t have a smartphone?

Print the PDF version of the card. The recipient can present the printed QR code when using the credit.

Can I set different bonuses for different amounts?

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

How long is a gift card valid?

Standardly 12 months, but you can set it to 6 months, 24 months, or your own custom validity period.

Can a customer use the card over multiple visits?

Yes, if you allow partial use. The balance automatically updates in the customer’s mobile.

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

Yes. The dashboard shows all sales, uses, balances, and statistics in real-time.

Does it work with my cash register?

VEXiON works with Dotykačka, OBERON, and Storyous POS automatically. For other registers, use a mobile scanner or web application.

Can I offer gift cards alongside loyalty cards?

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

Is it GDPR compliant?

Yes. VEXiON complies with all GDPR requirements. Data is encrypted and stored within the EU.

Conclusion: Don’t Miss the Opportunity

The gift card market is growing by 18.3% annually and shifting towards digital. Customers expect modern solutions. If you don’t offer them, your competition will.

With VEXiON cards, you remove all traditional barriers to gift cards. No initial costs. No stock on hand. No technical complexity. You launch it in 15 minutes and start selling immediately.

Christmas season is approaching. Valentine’s Day, Mother’s Day, graduation season follow. Every day without gift cards is a lost opportunity for new revenue and new customers.

Contact us today: 📧 jakub@vexioncards.one 📱 +421 948 777 490

We’ll gladly show you a demo, answer questions, and help launch gift cards precisely for your business.