What happens when a customer reaches their reward?
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The card on their phone changes to show the reward is ready. At the counter, staff scan it and tap Redeem; Rewardtree confirms it once with a one-time code (never a screenshot), and the reward is handed over. Extra stamps carry over to the next card. It takes about ten seconds and ends with "this one's on us."
The moment the whole program was for
Every stamp was building to this. The card on their phone changes to show the reward is ready (for example, "Free coffee unlocked"), and the customer walks in already smiling. What happens next decides whether your program feels like a bank statement or like hospitality.
The mechanical part should be boring and quick. On Rewardtree, staff tap Redeem, Rewardtree issues a 6-digit one-time code that lasts 60 seconds, the screen shows the customer's first name so staff can check it's them, and confirming takes exactly the reward's stamps off the card, with any extra stamps kept. The card on the customer's phone updates on its own. No screenshots, no arguments, no "the app said I had ten".
Why the code matters more than it looks
A reward that can be shown again and again (a barcode that always works, a screen anyone can screenshot) is where loyalty programs quietly lose money. A one-time code makes each reward count once: issued for this card, this minute, confirmed by this staff member. Your generosity goes to the customer who earned it, and your staff never have to play police.
Use the moment while it's warm
A customer holding a free coffee they earned is in a good mood to leave you a review. If you want more Google reviews, this is the moment to ask: once, kindly, and never every visit. Say "this one's on us", hand it over, and let the moment do the marketing.
We make Rewardtree, so weigh our advice with that in mind.
More questions, answered#
How does digital redemption prevent fraud?#
Each reward is confirmed with a 6-digit code that works once and lasts 60 seconds, tied to that customer's card, and staff see the customer's first name before confirming. A screenshot of last week's reward screen is useless: an old code simply fails.
Does the card reset after the reward?#
Yes. The reward's stamps are taken off and any extra stamps carry over, so a customer who reached 11 of 10 starts their next card at 1. Nobody loses progress, and their lifetime total keeps counting.
What if I change my reward or threshold later?#
Balances always carry over, and if a lower threshold puts someone over the line, their reward unlocks straight away. Changes go out to every card already on customers' phones, so there are no out-of-date cards.
Should staff make a thing of the reward moment?#
Ten seconds of it, yes: say "this one's on us" and mean it. It's what the whole card was building towards, and it's a good moment to ask for a Google review, while they're happy.