- digital stamp card
- digital loyalty
- local business
How to switch from a paper card to a digital stamp card (step by step)
Switching from a paper card to a digital stamp card takes an afternoon. You create the card in the app, transfer the stamps your customers already had and run both side by side for a few weeks. Customers lose nothing, and you gain data, save on printing and put an end to fake stamps. Here’s how to do it, step by step.
Why switch: the 5 problems with paper
| Problem | Paper card | Digital stamp card |
|---|---|---|
| It gets lost | All the time, and the stamps with it | It’s on the phone |
| It’s left at home | “I’ll bring it next time” | Everyone always has their phone on them |
| It gets forged | An ink stamp is easy to copy | Every stamp is validated with a QR code |
| You don’t know who your customer is | No name, no visit frequency | You know who comes in and how often |
| You can’t reach them | Impossible | Notifications about rewards and news |
What paper really costs you
A paper card seems free, but it isn’t:
- Printing: every few months you have to restock cards.
- Stamps and ink: they run out and go missing.
- Fake rewards: every card completed with copied stamps is a gift you shouldn’t have given.
- Lost customers: someone who loses their card 2 stamps from the reward sometimes never starts again.
A digital stamp card with Socios Plus costs €5.99 a month. For many shops that’s less than they spend on printing, not counting fraud and the customers lost along the way.
Step by step
1. Create your digital card with the same rules
In Socios Plus, create a stamp card with the same number of stamps and the same reward as your paper card. If you change the format and the rules at the same time, customers become wary. Save the improvements for later.
2. Get the counter ready
Print the poster with your QR code and put it next to the till, where everyone can see it. That’s what will get customers asking.
3. Transfer the paper stamps
When a customer brings in their paper card, add the stamps they had in the app. In Socios Plus you can add several stamps at once. Then take the paper card back. That way nobody loses what they’ve collected.
4. Run both for 4-6 weeks
Don’t withdraw paper cards overnight. For a few weeks, accept both cards and use every visit to move customers over to digital. Set an end date and let people know.
5. Tell your customers
- At the till: every time someone pulls out their paper card.
- With a sign: “From 1 February, digital card only. Switch today and keep your stamps”.
- On social media: a post explaining the change.
6. Give a welcome stamp
Give anyone who switches to digital an extra free stamp. As well as thanking them for making the change, it takes advantage of the endowed progress effect: customers who start a card with free stamps are more likely to complete it. We explain it in how many stamps a loyalty card should have.
What to say at the till (in 10 seconds)
- “Your card’s on your phone now: you’ll never forget it, and I’ll keep the stamps you already have.”
- “Download the Socios app, it’s free, and I’ll transfer your stamps right now, plus a free one.”
- “It lets you know when you’re nearly at your free coffee.”
What if the customer says “I don’t want to download anything”? Explain that it’s free, takes less than a minute and that you’ll help them install it there and then. Socios is an app designed to make everything quick: one QR code and you’re done. If they’d still rather wait, let them finish their paper card during the transition period.
Mistakes when making the switch
- Changing the rules and the reward at the same time. Format first; improvements later.
- Withdrawing paper cards overnight. Give a few weeks’ notice and a clear date.
- Not briefing the team. Everyone who works the till needs to be able to explain the change and transfer stamps.
- Not transferring the stamps. If customers lose what they’ve collected, you lose the customer.
What you gain from the first month
- You know who your customers are and how often they come in.
- You spot inactive customers so you can give them a reason to come back.
- You can reach them about rewards, news and giveaways.
- Zero fake stamps.
- Zero printing.
Frequently asked questions
What about older customers who don’t use apps?
Most have a smartphone and the app installs in less than a minute: offer to do it with them at the till, or ask a family member to install it for them. During the transition period they can finish their paper card.
What do I do with half-filled paper cards?
Transfer their stamps to the digital card when the customer brings it in: in Socios Plus you can add several stamps at once. Then take the paper card back.
Can I keep both cards forever?
It’s not recommended: you double the work, the fraud stays and your data is incomplete. Ideally, run both for 4-6 weeks and then keep only the digital one.
Start the year without paper
Create your digital stamp card today in Socios Plus: 14-day free trial, no credit card required. Still choosing a tool? Take a look at our loyalty app comparison or read the customer loyalty guide.
