Electronic coupons can be used for special offers, attractive joint promotions, discounts or anything else that traditional printed coupons provide. Electronic coupons are distributed via Internet, email or SMS and then either printed on paper at home or simply saved on the mobile phone. Coupons may contain an expiration date allowing time-limited advertising programs or offers.
Overview
Based on demographics or shopping patterns, individualized Data Matrix codes - the mobile coupon - are sent to the registered members of a database. These coded coupons contain the coupon value, validity date, promotion and store name. An example might be giving customers the opportunity to receive a 10% discount off their next purchase. Gavitec's hardware scanners placed at the cash register are used to decode the mobile discount coupon from the phone's screen. The validity of the mobile coupon is verified against the store's central database. This ensures that the voucher is redeemed only once and - in case of a valid coupon - can either be printed out as an individual paper voucher or immediately deducted from the total purchase price.
