What is a digital loyalty card and how do you set one up?

What is a digital loyalty card?

A digital loyalty card runs a reward program like “buy 10 coffees, get 1 free” on the customer’s phone instead of on paper. The idea is the same: the customer collects a stamp or points on each visit and gets the reward at the goal. What changes is where the card lives and how stamps are given.

The most practical option today is a loyalty card with no app. The customer scans the QR code on the table or counter with the phone camera, fills in a short form, and on iPhone the card goes straight into Apple Wallet. No app download, no password, no account. That’s why “QR loyalty card” and “digital stamp card” are common names for the same thing.

On your side, the card is connected to a dashboard. You see how many customers have a card, who returns, and how often each reward is redeemed. A paper card gives you none of this: it disappears into a wallet and you never know whether that customer came back.

How is it different from a paper stamp card?

The biggest difference is that a digital card doesn’t get lost and it gives you feedback. A paper stamp card is cheap and everyone understands it, but you pay for that simplicity with invisible losses.

• Loss: Paper cards get lost in wallets, pockets and the laundry. The digital card is on the phone, which the customer almost always carries.
• Fraud: Paper stamps can be copied. Digitally, only staff can add a stamp by scanning at the counter, and every action is logged.
• Reminders: A paper card reminds no one of anything. A digital card can say “One stamp to go” with an update on the lock screen.
• Data: With paper you can’t tell how many regulars you have. Digitally you see daily visits, returning customers and peak hours.
• Cost: Paper cards need printing and reprinting. A digital card runs on a monthly subscription; only the QR material is printed.

If you’re planning the switch from paper, our guide to moving from paper stamp cards to digital explains how to carry over old cards and announce the change.

How does a digital loyalty card work?

A digital loyalty card starts when the customer scans a QR code and adds the card to their phone; after that, staff scan the QR code on the card at each visit and the stamp is recorded. From the customer’s side it looks like this:

1. The customer sees the QR code on the table tent or the poster at the counter and scans it with the phone camera.
2. They fill in a short form: name optional, email required; consent and the privacy notice are confirmed here.
3. On iPhone, the card is added to Apple Wallet with one tap. On Android, it opens as a page in the browser that can be saved.
4. On the next visit the customer opens the card; staff scan the QR code on it and the stamp or points are added instantly.
5. The card updates itself in Wallet; the customer sees the new count on the lock screen.
6. When the goal is reached, the reward is given and a new card starts automatically.

For the Apple Wallet details (how the card is added, what notifications look like, what the situation is on Android), see the Apple Wallet loyalty card guide.

Which card type should you choose?

The right card type depends on how often customers come and how much their basket size varies. There are three basic options:

• Stamp card: One stamp per visit, a reward after a set number. The clearest option for frequent visits with similar baskets: cafe, barber, bakery.
• Points card: Points based on the amount spent. Fits businesses where baskets vary a lot: restaurant, grocery, boutique. A 50-lira purchase and a 500-lira purchase don’t earn the same stamp.
• Tier card: Customers move up levels, such as Silver to Gold, as they spend, and earn a lasting perk at each level. Good for businesses with steady regulars: beauty salon, gym.

If you’re unsure, start with a stamp card. Customers need no explanation and it’s the easiest for staff. Once the program is running you can always move to points or tiers. For ready-made examples by sector, see the cafe, barber and restaurant pages.

How do you set up a digital loyalty card?

Setting up a no-app digital loyalty card usually takes an afternoon and needs no technical skills. Follow these steps in order:

1. Pick the card type: stamps, points or tiers.
2. Choose the ready-made Wallet template for your sector; upload your logo, set your brand color and the reward.
3. Work out the reward threshold: after how many stamps or points is the reward given? (There’s an example calculation in the next section.)
4. Download the printed QR kit: have the table tent, A4 poster and sticker designs printed.
5. Place the QR codes where customers actually look: in front of the counter, on tables, in the window. With separate QR codes for each spot you can see which one brings in more cards.
6. Prepare your staff: show them how to scan the card’s QR code and how to explain the program in one sentence.
7. Test the whole flow on your own phone: add the card, get a stamp, redeem the reward.
8. In the first week, offer the card verbally to every customer at the counter. A printed QR code alone isn’t enough; “Shall we add your card to your phone?” is the most effective announcement.

Dokun gives you this whole flow in one dashboard: ready-made sector templates, a printed QR kit, stamping by QR scan at the counter and a per-staff log. If you want to try it yourself, you can start free for 7 days; no commitment.

After how many stamps should you give a reward?

A practical rule of thumb: the reward should be worth about 8% of the total the customer spends to fill the card, and a regular should be able to fill it in three months at most. If the reward is too far away, customers lose interest; if it’s too close, you give away margin for nothing.

Example calculation (with assumptions): A cafe has an average basket of ₺120 and the reward is a free coffee worth about ₺120. Under the 8% rule, the reward corresponds to total spending of ₺120 ÷ 0.08 = ₺1,500. That’s ₺1,500 ÷ ₺120 ≈ 12–13 visits. A customer who comes once a week fills the card in about three months, so a 12-stamp card looks balanced under these assumptions.

To run this with your own numbers, use the “how many stamps for a reward” wizard in the Dokun dashboard: you enter the basket size and the reward cost, and it suggests a threshold using the same rule. For a rough idea of what the program could bring in, try the ROI calculator on the homepage. Remember: these are estimates, not promises.

What are the most common mistakes?

Most digital loyalty programs stall not because of technology but because of simple setup mistakes. The ones we see most:

• Hiding the QR code: A small sticker behind the till catches no one’s eye. The QR code belongs where customers look while they wait.
• Leaving staff out: If no one offers the card, customers rarely add it on their own. One sentence from staff is the most important step.
• Putting the reward too far away: A 30-stamp card takes months for a weekly customer and gets forgotten.
• Making the form too long: Making phone number, address or birth date mandatory lowers sign-ups. Ask only for what you really need.
• Skipping consent: Permission to send marketing messages must be collected separately and recorded. See the KVKK- and İYS-compliant loyalty program guide (KVKK is Turkey’s data protection law; İYS is the national registry for commercial message consent); for your own case we recommend talking to a lawyer.
• Set it and forget it: If you don’t turn on automatic campaigns like a reminder for customers who haven’t come in a while or a birthday treat, you’re not using the digital card’s biggest strength.

How much does a digital loyalty card cost?

Digital loyalty cards are usually billed as a monthly subscription per location, plus the cost of printing the QR material. When comparing, look beyond the monthly fee: check customer limits, notification and campaign features, and whether there’s a commission per transaction.

With Dokun, plans per location are Starter ₺399/month, Growth ₺799/month and Pro ₺1,499/month. Starter, with one card type and up to 500 active customers, is enough for a small business; Wallet notifications, location-based reminders and Google review routing come with Growth. No commission, and 2 months free with annual billing. Current details are in the pricing section.