Until now, BetterPoints app users have redeemed their points for vouchers to use in participating high street stores. It works well, but it’s limited to retailers who offer voucher schemes. We have always offered an option for retail partners to manage vouchers securely by QR code scanning in our app, and that can be off-putting because it requires a smart phone at the check-out, training of staff and added time to the check-out.
But, now, retailers of all shapes and sizes in the Italian city of Bologna are accepting BetterPoints' vouchers at the point of sale, using the EAN13 barcode standard.
This exciting development is the result of working with SRM, Bologna's transport authority, to test the value of incentives in reducing car use in the region.
People use our app to track when they walk, cycle or use public transport and are rewarded with BetterPoints. They then redeem those points for rewards in the normal way and an EAN13 barcode is displayed in the app, which is scanned by the retail partners' point-of-sale barcode readers, making it easier for both the retailer and the user.
This has helped SRM build partnerships with a fantastic range of retailers, from the major Italian supermarket chain, Conad and the international sports retailer, Decathlon, through local budget chains, bike stores and opticians to independent bookshops, restaurants and bars.
The programme is funded by the European Empower project. We’re truly excited to be working with SRM on this because it's opening up whole new possibilities for behaviour change interventions.
Image: Barcode by Conor Lawless. Licence: CC-BY-2.0.