In today's world, where environmental concerns are gaining more attention than ever before, sustainability has become a top priority for businesses and individuals alike, and one way to encourage sustainable consumption is through the use of digital gift cards.
Not only do digital gift cards offer a convenient and flexible way for consumers to shop, but they are also a powerful tool that can help businesses increase participation and engagement in their eco-friendly initiatives.
The rise of digital technology has transformed the way we live, work, and shop. As a result, many B2B businesses are reconsidering their traditional plastic gift card programs in favor of digital gift cards. Here are some reasons why we think it’s time to say goodbye to plastic gift cards and hello to more sustainable alternatives.
Plastic gift cards are, more often than not, single-use items that end up in landfills. By switching to digital gift cards, businesses can reduce their environmental impact and demonstrate their commitment to sustainability.
tons of plastic cards are dumped into landfills in the UK each year
While biodegradable gift card alternatives are available, they can be more costly than plastic to produce and still take many years to decompose fully.
The time it takes a plastic gift card to break down into microplastics
Digital gift cards are easier to purchase, store, and redeem than physical ones. They can be purchased online or in-app and sent instantly to the recipient via email or even a text message.
Predicted value of the digital gift card market by 2026
Not only is the digital distribution of gift cards easier for gift card sellers, but the digital gift cards themselves are also more convenient for the recipient using them, opening up a host of new use cases for businesses.
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Physical gift cards are easy to lose and can also be easily stolen. The codes of physical gift cards are visible prior to activation. Thieves are known to steal these codes, monitor their activity status online and then use the balance before innocent customers ever get a chance to use their balance.
Digital gift cards, on the other hand, can be protected by passwords or encryption. Digital codes can also be easily deactivated or replaced by the issuer if lost or stolen.
With physical gift cards, personalization is limited. Digital gift cards, however, can be personalized with custom messages, images, and videos, making them more meaningful and memorable for the recipient.
But the personalization options don’t stop there. While you can buy multi-store physical gift cards, these only provide the user with the option to redeem their card at a fixed catalog of brands. With Tillo's digital Choice Link product, the issuer can take this a step further, customizing the available catalog of brands to suit their recipient, ensuring that they not only get a gift card that reflects them personally but also gives them the power to choose where they spend it.
Data is a powerful tool. While physical gift cards offer some data to the retailer and gift card issuer, what they offer is limited.
“Creative use of big data can lead to substantial benefits, including better customer acquisition and retention, improved campaign focus, and targeting, as well as a better understanding of potential risks along the way.” - Forbes
Digital gift cards, however, can provide businesses with much more detailed data, which can then be utilized in machine learning to provide personalized offers and incentives to customers, improve customer experience, and inform marketing decisions.
It’s no secret that gift cards are a powerful tool that can be used to drive acquisition, engagement, and loyalty. For businesses looking to increase participation and engagement in sustainability-focused programs or initiatives, digital gift cards make the perfect eco-friendly incentive or reward.
At Tillo, we make it easy for businesses to balance acquisition and loyalty by helping them connect to the fastest-growing digital gift card network, featuring more than 2000+ brands that consumers love.
To find out more, contact us today, and let us show you the potential of digital gift cards for your business.
