Digital Loyalty Cards:

How to Turn One-Time Customers into Loyal Clients

What Exactly Are We Talking About?

Imagine you have a café. Every day, 50 people come in for coffee. Some come regularly, others once in a while, and some come once and you never see them again. What if you had a way to motivate these people to return more often? And what if you could know exactly who they are, when they come, and what they order?

Digital loyalty cards are exactly that. Instead of paper cards that customers lose, or plastic cards that take up space in their wallets, you give them a card directly in their mobile. In Apple Wallet or Google Pay—where they already have their payment cards.

• The customer scans a QR code—it takes 30 seconds

• The card is saved to the mobile—no extra application

• You see everything in a clear dashboard

• Customers receive automatic reminders

• It works with your cash register automatically

Updated: November 2025

• New prepaid cards—customers pay in advance

• Multi-cloud integration for chains through Dotykačka

• Gift vouchers for Christmas

Why Should You Care?

You might be thinking: "I have paper cards, and they work." Yes, they work somehow. But let's look at the numbers. The average Slovak carries 5-8 plastic cards in their wallet. How many times has a customer told you: "I forgot my card at home"? How many cards have you printed, never to see them used again?

A café spends around 1000 paper cards a month. At 10 cents per card, that's 100 euros a month just on paper, which mostly ends up in the trash. And that's not mentioning the time your staff spends stamping and finding lost cards.

With digital cards, this problem disappears. The customer always has the card in their mobile—the same mobile they pay you with via Apple Pay or Google Pay. They can't forget it, they can't lose it. And you? You gain something much more valuable than saved printing costs. You gain data.

Know that Mr. Novak comes every Monday and Wednesday for a cappuccino? That Mrs. Kováčová spends an average of 8 euros per visit? That the young Horváth family always visits on Saturday afternoons? This information is a goldmine for your business.

Simply put:

• Customers don't forget their card—it's always on mobile

• You save hundreds of euros monthly on printing

• You gain valuable information about your customers

How Does It Work?

Let me show you with an example. You own a restaurant and you want people to visit more often.

Step 1: Register on a platform like VEXiON cards. It takes 5 minutes—fill out your company name, upload your logo, choose colors.

Step 2: Set up your loyalty program. For example: "After 10 lunches, you get one free." Or: "For every euro, you earn 10 points, 1000 points = 10 euro discount."

Step 3: Print an automatically generated poster with a QR code and place it in a visible spot. At the register, on tables, on doors. Anywhere your customers will see it.

Step 4: The customer comes, scans the QR code with their mobile, fills in their name and email (20 seconds), and the card is automatically added to their Apple or Google wallet.

Step 5: At every subsequent visit, the customer shows the card from their mobile. Your staff scans it (with a scanner or mobile) and credits points or stamps. If you have a modern cash register like Dotykačka, Storyous, Papaya, or OBERON, everything happens automatically.

That's it. No complications, no training, no extra work.

6 Types of Cards – Which One Is for You?

1. Stamp Cards – A Classic That Works

You know it from cafés: "Buy 9 coffees, get the tenth free." Simple, understandable, proven. It works in cafés, hair salons, car washes—anywhere people repeat visits for the same product or service.

The digital version has one super thing—a subscription option. The customer buys 10 coffees in advance at the price of 8. You get money right away, the customer gets a discount and is guaranteed to return. Win-win.

2. Point Cards – For Those Who Want Flexibility

In a clothing store, you can't offer "buy 9 shirts, get the tenth free." Everyone buys something different. Here, points work. For every euro spent, the customer gets, for example, 10 points. When they accumulate 1000 points, they get a 10 euro discount.

Or you can exchange points for products—500 points for a special dessert, 1000 points for a free shirt. Customers like being able to choose their reward.

3. Tiered Cards – For VIP Customers

The more a customer spends with you, the better benefits they receive. Start as Bronze (5% discount), after spending 500 euros become Silver (10% discount), after 1000 euros become Gold (15% discount + VIP benefits).

This works great in boutiques, wellness centers, premium services. People want to be VIP, they want to feel special. And you reward them for loyalty.

4. One-Time Coupons

"20% off your first visit" or "Birthday coffee free." Digital coupons can't be forged, are used only once, and you know exactly how many people used them.

5. Membership Cards

Monthly, semi-annual, or annual membership (it's up to you) with benefits. Fitness cards with unlimited access, club cards with exclusive offers. Regular income for you, advantages for customers.

6. Gift Cards

Someone wants to gift a dinner at your restaurant? A massage at your salon? You sell a digital gift card, the recipient gets it on their mobile. You get the money right away, often gaining a new customer.

Tip: Start with one type. When it takes off, you can add more.

Push Notifications – Your Secret Trump Card

Imagine this: A customer walks past your establishment. A notification automatically pops up on their phone: "You're near the xy business, stop by for the autumn special 🎃" The likelihood they'll step in? Huge.

Or: You automatically send a birthday wish with a gift—a free dessert. Will they come to celebrate with you? Certainly. And they won't come alone.

These notifications aren't spam. They're relevant, timely, personalized. Push notifications average a 50% open rate compared to just 20% for email and a 10 times higher click-through rate (10% vs 1%). .

VEXiON cards sends these notifications automatically:

• Geo-location reminders (when the customer is nearby)

• Birthday greetings with a gift

• Reminders after prolonged inactivity

• Information about new offers

And you know what the best part is? You don't pay anything extra for them. Unlike SMS, where each message costs 5-7 cents.

You See Everything – The Data You Need

In the dashboard, you see everything in real time. How many new customers registered today. How many cards were used. What was the average spend. Which rewards do people use the most?

Each customer has their profile—name, email, phone, visit history, favorite products. You know exactly who your best customers are. You can send them special offers, event invitations, thanks for loyalty.

All data can be exported with one click. To Excel, to your accounting system, wherever you need.

What you see:

• Number of active cards and new registrations

• Visit frequency of individual customers

• Average spend and total revenue from the program

• Which rewards work best

It Works with Your Cash Register

Do you have Dotykačka? OBERON? Papaya POS? Storyous? Great, VEXiON cards integrates directly with them. The customer shows the card, the cash register recognizes them, points/stamps/discounts are credited automatically. Your staff doesn't have to do anything extra.

Integration with Dotykačka is the most popular in the food segment. It works for individual establishments as well as chains with multiple branches. You set which products earn stamps or points, and the system does the rest automatically.

OBERON integration is popular in hotels and restaurants. It supports more complex settings—different points for different categories, happy hour bonuses, automatic discounts for VIPs.

If you have another cash register or none, no problem. You can use a scanner (included in the price) or scan cards directly with your mobile through our app.

How Much Does It Cost and Is It Worth It

Let's get to the numbers. Traditional paper cards cost you 10-30 cents each. Plastic ones 50 cents to 2 euros. If you have 500 new customers a month, that's 50-1000 euros just for materials. Plus staff time, plus no data.

VEXiON cards cost:

• 45€ per month (monthly subscription)

• 43€ per month (semi-annual subscription)

• 41€ per month (annual subscription)

For that, you get unlimited number of cards, all features, integrations, notifications, support. With 500 customers, that's about 6 cents per customer—less than a paper card.

But that's not all. Companies with digital loyalty programs report an average 30% revenue increase from loyal customers. If you have monthly sales of 10,000€ and 40% is from loyal customers (4,000€), a 30% increase means an additional 1,200€ per month.

Investment 41€, return 1,200€. That's a 2900% return. The investment pays off in one day.

Simple math:

• Costs: 41€/month

• Average revenue increase: 1,200€/month

• Payback: first day

Common Mistakes (And How to Avoid Them)

Error #1: Too Complicated Rules

"For coffee you get 10 points, for cake 15, but only on Mondays, and 237 points equals a 3.50€ discount on selected products..."

Stop. Nobody understands that. Neither you, nor the customer, nor your staff.

Solution: One simple rule. "10 coffees = 1 free" or "1€ = 10 points, 100 points = 1€ discount". Done.

Error #2: Weak Rewards

"After 20 visits, you get a 5% discount." Really? A customer who comes once a week waits 5 months for a 5% discount? That's not motivating anyone.

Solution: Reward after 5-10 visits worth 15-20% of the average purchase. Achievable and valuable.

Error #3: No Promotion

You put a QR code on the counter and wait for customers to register themselves. It doesn't work that way.

Solution: Actively invite every customer. "We have a new loyalty program, the first 100 registered get 2 free stamps!" The staff must be enthusiastic and active.

Error #4: Ignoring Data

You have a beautiful dashboard with lots of information and you never look at it.

Solution: Look at statistics once a week. Who are the top customers? Which rewards work? When do you have the most visits? Use this info to improve.

Start Tomorrow – 48-Hour Plan

Day 1 Morning: Decision and Registration

Decide what you want to achieve. More visits? Higher spending? New customers? Choose the type of card accordingly.

Register at VEXiON cards. Fill out the information, upload the logo, choose colors. 15 minutes.

Day 1 Afternoon: Setup

Set up the program. For a café: 10 stamps = free coffee. For a store: 1€ = 10 points. For wellness: tier system with 3 levels.

Print QR code poster. Prepare Instagram/Facebook post. Inform the staff.

Day 2 Morning: Training and Launch

15-minute meeting with staff. Show them how it works. Give them the task: invite every customer to register.

Place QR codes. Publish on social networks. Offer a bonus for the first registered.

Day 2 Afternoon: Monitoring

Monitor the first registrations. Address questions. Motivate staff. Celebrate every 10 new cards.

In 48 hours, you have a functioning digital loyalty program!

GDPR and Legal Matters (Don't Worry, It's Sorted)

You might be worried about GDPR and data protection. Don't be. VEXiON cards is designed in compliance with all regulations.

The customer agrees to data processing upon registration. They can request deletion anytime. Data is encrypted, stored in the EU, under your control. The system automatically generates all necessary consents and documents.

Your only obligation? Use the data responsibly and only for the purposes of the loyalty program. No selling, no spam, no misuse.

Adding an FAQ section optimized for voice search and AI responses:

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

How much does a digital loyalty program cost?

Digital loyalty cards from VEXiON cards cost 41-45€ per month depending on the length of the subscription. For this price, you get unlimited cards, all functions, and integrations.

Do digital cards work without the internet?

Yes, digital cards in Apple and Google Wallet work completely offline. The customer only needs the internet when first adding the card to their mobile.

How long does it take to launch digital loyalty cards?

The basic launch can be done in 48 hours. Registration and setup take 30 minutes, cash register integration 1-2 days.

What if a customer doesn't have a smartphone?

Approximately 95% of Slovaks have a smartphone with Apple or Google Wallet. For others, you can have backup paper cards or record them manually.

Can I use digital cards with my cash register?

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

Can older customers use digital cards?

Yes, after the initial scan and card storage, it works the same as a payment card. Just show the mobile, the staff scans it.

Is it GDPR compliant?

Yes, VEXiON cards fully complies with GDPR. The customer consents to data processing, data is encrypted, and you can delete it anytime.

What's the difference between a digital card and an app?

A digital card saves directly to Apple/Google Wallet without downloading an app. The customer doesn't have to create an account or remember a password.

How many customers actually use digital cards?

Companies with digital cards have twice the activity compared to paper ones. On average, 60-70% of customers actively use a digital card.

Can I have multiple types of cards at once?

Yes, you can combine stamp cards for coffee, a point system for food, and gift vouchers. All in one system.

How does a customer add a card to their mobile?

They scan a QR code, fill in their name and email (30 seconds), click "Add to Wallet." The card automatically appears on their mobile.

Does it work for chains with multiple locations?

Yes, VEXiON supports multi-locations. The customer has one card that works at all of your branches.

Can I send notifications to customers?

Yes, automatic geo-notifications, birthday congratulations and custom campaigns. All without additional fees.

What if I want to change the program settings?

You can change the rules online anytime—edit the number of stamps, the value of points, add new rewards. Changes take effect immediately.

Will I get support in Slovak?

Yes, VEXiON Cards is a Slovak company with Slovak support. We'll help with everything—from setup to marketing.

Can I try it first?

Yes, VEXiON cards offers a demo and a free consultation. They will show you exactly how it will work for your business.

What do I need to get started?

The company logo, an idea of the reward (e.g., 10th coffee free) and 30 minutes for setup. The scanner is included in the price.

Why is it better than paper cards?

Customers don't leave the card at home, you save on printing, gain a contact database, and see exact statistics. Plus, automatic notifications for free.

Do I have to change my current system?

No, digital cards work alongside your current system. You can gradually transition from paper to digital at your own pace.

It's Time to Act

Digital loyalty cards aren't the future. They're the present. Your customers already have smartphones, use Apple Pay and Google Pay, and expect modern services. If you don't provide them, the competition will.

With VEXiON cards, you have everything you need:

• Simple setup in 48 hours

• Slovak support to help you

• Integrations with your cash register

• Transparent prices with no hidden fees

• Ecological approach – 0.5% of sales go to green projects

Don't hesitate. Every day without a loyalty program is a missed opportunity. Your customers also go to the competition. Give them a reason to come only to you.

Contact us today:

📧 jakub@vexioncards.one
📱 +421 948 777 490

We're happy to show you a demo, answer your questions, and help set up the program for your business. The first consultation is free.