Liquid Barcodes

Resources

Circle K’s Use of Beacon Technology to Activate Car Wash Subscription Program

Carolyn Schnare Chief Content Officer, Liquid Barcodes

03/30/2022

Beacon Technology and Car Wash Subscription Programs

Beacon technology used in tandem with a customer-facing car wash subscription program revolutionizes the customer experience by providing a quick, convenient experience.

Innovation is the key to continued growth and ensuring a frictionless customer experience should be top of mind for any retailer.

Circle K’s vast global network of car washes has digitally transformed operations with its revolutionary car wash subscription program. First launched in Denmark and the U.S. in 2020, the program soon expanded into Canadian stores and the rest of their global markets will soon follow.

Customers can subscribe in the app to a monthly program for unlimited washes and have several plan options from which to choose, including individual, family, or business plans. Redemption is easy. Customers simply open the app at the store, verify their car’s license plate, scan a QR code at the car wash payment terminal, and drive-in. On the backend, there is an extremely short wait while the app verifies the user before the entry instructions allow the user to pull forward into the wash bay.

 

Unlimited Wash Circle K

 

In an effort to make the process even faster and easier, Circle K’s newest technology integration involves using beacons to immediately authenticate the user upon activating the app and pulling the vehicle adjacent to the payment terminal.

The customer experience is very convenient according to Lars Hecht, Global Lead, Category Director for Circle K in a recent interview with Paula Thomas on the popular “Let’s Talk Loyalty” podcast. “The beacon will communicate and establish communication with your phone and move you to make your choices on your own personal form, in your own personal space inside your vehicle and the whole thing unfolds in front of you. It’s pretty cool stuff!”

In the episode, #200: Circle K’s Subscription Car Wash Loyalty Programme, released March 23rd, Hecht explains that the beacons were installed to simplify the user experience and remove friction from the process. As stores in the U.S. were undergoing required EMV upgrades at the car wash payment terminals, beacons were installed.

 

About Circle K’s Car Wash Subscription Program

Circle K is owned by Canadian company Alimentation Couche-Tard, Inc. which operates more than 15,000 stores in twenty countries. Specific to Circle K’s car wash program, there are approximately 2,700 car washes globally, thereby making it the largest car wash network in the world.

 

Car Wash Circle K

 

Car washing can be quite profitable. In the U.S., car wash revenues topped $15 billion annually, according to the International Car Wash Association.

In a February 2022 NACS Research report, “Leveraging Car Wash Potential in Convenience Retail,” NACS estimates that there are at least 5,000 car washes in the U.S. operated by convenience retailers and also suggests that car wash subscription programs are increasingly important to bolster sales. According to the same report, “the value of the subscription for retailers is simple: lock-in consistent revenue year-round and build customer loyalty.” Further, NACS researchers found that subscription programs are just getting started as “several mid-size retailers have a car wash subscription in place, while other retailers are testing a subscription for the first time or do not have any plans to implement a subscription.”

A clear leader in this space in the U.S. convenience channel, Circle K realized the valuable potential of a subscription program would be to generate recurring revenue for car wash operations. In 2018, Lars and his team partnered with Liquid Barcodes to develop the app-based subscription program.

According to Ed Van Etten, North American Car Wash Director and Accelerator at Circle K, “we were excited about the potential of a subscription program but we knew we needed to work with real industry experts for it to be successful. Liquid Barcodes gave us the commercial guidance we needed as well as the powerful platform capabilities to run it effortlessly.”

 

Circle K app screenshot

 

When talking in the podcast episode about the need to create such a program, Hecht says “a subscription can be many, many things, and eventually, it’s all about loyalty and making sure that people keep their business with you.” He goes on to say that “in my opinion, [subscriptions are] a very important tool in the loyalty box.”

Hecht further explains in the podcast that “it has been quite a journey and it’s been an interesting education for us, as well as for our management team.” He continues, “you can say you don’t want to have a subscription system and then customers will probably look for other suppliers of this service. It’s because the whole world is subscription. Look at books. Look at music. Look at whatever you do, it’s subscription this and a subscription offer after that, and I think that we haven’t seen the end of this in the near future, for sure, and I think it will be fascinating to see it in other categories.”

In addition to monthly car wash subscriptions, Circle K offers a monthly “Sip & Save” beverage subscription program entitling members to one drink a day from either the fountain, tea, coffee, or frozen selections.

 

Sip & Save Circle K

 

Beacon Technology Integration with Car Wash Subscription Technology

Circle K and Liquid Barcodes partnered with Gimbal, a U.S. beacon technology company, to integrate Bluetooth Low-Energy (BLE) Beacons with the car wash payment terminals to provide an instantaneous user verification process. While the non-beacon user authentication process was already quick, the beacon communication cuts that time into milliseconds.

Prior to the beacon installation, a subscriber would need to scan a QR code, likely needing to open their vehicle window to capture the image. In the instance that a customer does not wish to scan the QR Code, they are asked to input a number listed on the terminal.

 

enter car wash Circle K

 

Paula Thomas, a global loyalty expert, and host of the podcast remarks about the use of beacons as “the first time I’ve heard of it being used in an operational context like that,” noting that beacons have traditionally been used for customer identification for promotional offers.

Hecht explained that he worked carefully with the Gimbal team to “get the beacon just to react within a few feet or meters around the outdoor payment terminal because you can get it to reach all the way out to the road, which is not really what we want with this beacon, so I think it’s a fine balance here, not to spam people.”

As the team looks to continue beacon installation across the U.S. and Canada, Van Etten says they “look forward to rolling out this technology nationwide. Preliminary feedback from users has demonstrated amazing promise.”

 

Testing and Learning. The Beacon Technology Car Wash Endeavor

Lars Hecht and his team certainly continue to push the industry to innovate and this technology integration is just one of many ground-breaking endeavors on a global scale.

Thomas closed the podcast interview asking if there was anything important to leave listeners with and Hecht encourages listeners to not be afraid to try the impossible. He says to “test, learn, fail, fail fast, move on. There is no end to this, there are versions. They are not one-size-fits-all and it is just to go out and kill it because if you don’t, someone else will.”

Circle K’s mantra to employees is “let’s make it easy so folks can take it easy.” Circle K is living the brand promise with these continual process improvements!

 

About Liquid Barcodes

Liquid Barcodes is a leading global loyalty and digital marketing technology company specializing in the convenience and foodservice industries. The proprietary, cloud-based technology platform allows retailers to create and manage their digital marketing campaigns with a process called the “customer connection cycle’ to engage, promote and reward customers’ activities in real-time across digital and media channels.

Liquid Barcodes loyalty platform is powering car wash programs for industry leaders across several global markets, by offering unique subscriptiongamificationloyalty, and personalization capabilities and has developed this app for use across all of Circle K’s car wash sites.

Learn more about Liquid Barcodes at LiquidBarcodes.com.

 

About the Author

Carolyn Schnare, Chief Content Officer, Liquid Barcodes

Carolyn Schnare has been involved with the convenience retailing industry for two decades with extensive knowledge of customer engagement and marketing, sustainability, and community outreach. Prior to Liquid Barcodes, Schnare worked at NACS (National Association of Convenience Stores) in a variety of roles from event production to membership and most recently as Director of Strategic Initiatives and host and producer of the popular industry podcast, Convenience Matters. Schnare is currently anchor of Shop Talk LIVE produced by Global Convenience Store Focus media group ad co-host of podcast Shop Talk LIVE The Podcast.

 

Logo

Circle K US

Circle K‘s vast global network of car washes has digitally transformed operations with its revolutionary car wash subscription program. First launched in Denmark and the U.S in 2020, the program soon expanded into Canadian stores and the rest of their global markets will soon follow.

Liquid Barcodes Liquid Barcodes
Liquid Barcodes

 


Blog post

Gamified Loyalty: How 7-Eleven Achieved 150% More Redemptions

Examining 7-Eleven and Narvesen data proves that gamified loyalty drives program engagement and growth and increases revenue.

Blog post

Redefining Gamified Loyalty: Meet the Next-Gen Liquid Barcodes Gamified Loyalty Platform

The new Liquid Barcodes gamification platform combines captivating graphics, sensory feedback, and customizable rewards to drive higher user engagement and boost revenue In the world of loyalty programs, keeping members engaged is key. That’s why gamification has become a powerful tool for convenience retailers looking to create loyalty experiences that are as fun as they […]

Blog post

Cheers to Rewards: Old Irish Pub’s Game-Changing Loyalty App

Old Irish Pub’s Loyalty App Revolutionizes Customer Engagement with Games, Rewards, and Exclusive Benefits In 2023, Old Irish Pub launched one of the coolest loyalty apps to hit the bar scene anywhere in the world. Customers earn rewards for hanging out, playing games, and having cocktails and beers! Cheers to that! Old Irish Pub, styled […]

Blog post

Loyalty Power Moves By Power Market

The Power Market loyalty app features a subscription car wash program with rewards, games, and more. H&S Energy, dba Power Market, is finding great success with a new car wash subscription program, powered by Liquid Barcodes. H&S Energy operates 170+ retail gasoline service stations and convenience stores under the well-recognized Extra Mile and Power Market […]

Blog post

Han-Dee Hugo’s Summer Promotion Shifts Into High Gear

Han-Dee Hugo’s Jeep giveaway attracts 20,000 new loyalty members during summer campaign. Han-Dee Hugo’s, a division of Sampson-Bladen Oil Company based in Clinton, NC, surprised themselves with a larger-than-expected following for its summer 2024 Jeep Wrangler giveaway for loyalty mobile app users. In June, Han-Dee Hugo’s debuted its new loyalty mobile app, collaborating with many […]

Blog post

Achieve Infinite Customer Loyalty

7 Key Components to Operating a Successful Loyalty Program Using proven loyalty techniques, retailers can attract customers, enhance their experiences, and encourage repeat visits. We developed a practical framework to help retailers structure their work on improving all three areas, we call it The Customer Connection Cycle” The Liquid Barcodes Customer Connection Cycle is our […]

Blog post

Car Wash Subscriptions = Guaranteed Revenue

Subscription programs offer customers a frictionless solution that guarantees recurring revenue. 

Blog post

Car Wash Subscriptions Clean Up With Guaranteed Retailer Revenue

Car wash subscription programs offer customers a frictionless and contactless solution, ensuring recurring revenue for retailers. 

Blog post

Cheers to Beers: Old Irish Pub Rewards for Frequent Customers

European restaurant chain Old Irish Pub rewards customers with digital stamps for buying drinks, offers games and more! 

Blog post

Lessons in Loyalty: Customer Connection Cycle

The Liquid Barcodes Customer Connection Cycle Explains Six Key Components to Operating a Successful Loyalty Program

Blog post

Increasing Customer Engagement With Loyalty Programs

From basic discounts, points, and perks, to more advanced strategies like subscriptions and mobile payments, loyalty programs allow retailers to compete in today’s fast-paced retail landscape.

Blog post

An Introduction to Subscription Programs

Subscription programs ensure recurring revenue by recruiting customers and enhancing the overall foodservice offer Subscription is a big buzzword referring to any recurring or prepaid program that is delivered or available on a regular basis. 

Blog post

What Is C-StorePay?

Liquid Barcodes’ proprietary C-StorePay makes paying for fuel, in-store merchandise, and subscription programs convenient for customers, reduces credit card fees for retailers, and integrates easily into existing loyalty programs Announced in October 2022, the revolutionary Liquid Barcodes C-StorePay product rose to the top of retailers’ 2022 wish lists at the NACS Show, even achieving a […]

Liquid Barcodes

Put a rocket under your loyalty program

With our loyalty platform, we help design and operate world-class, tailor-made subscription and reward programs that make sure your customers always come back.

Book a Demo →

We are trusted by global brands.

Convenience retailers all over the world have engaged and rewarded consumers with our tailor-made loyalty programs.

To our case studies →

Liquid Barcodes
Liquid Barcodes
Liquid Barcodes
Liquid Barcodes

Convenience retailers all over the world have engaged and rewarded consumers with our tailor-made loyalty programs.

To our case studies →

Liquid Barcodes
Liquid Barcodes
Liquid Barcodes
Liquid Barcodes
istan

Situs Judi Togel Slot Online Terpercaya Indonesia

slot pulsa

situs judi slot online

togel slot casino online

istana slot online

istanaslot

Situs Judi Slot Deposit Pulsa

judi slot gacor terpercaya

istana slot

istana slot situs slot

ISTANASLOT

judi slot online gacor

judi slot online gacor

slot deposit pulsa

istanaimpian slot online

agen togel casino

judi live casino

agen togel casino

gangster4d

uno prediksi

prediksi togel istanaimpian

slot online gacor 2023

raja situs judi slot

slot online terbaik 2023

Daftar Slot Online Gacor 2023

Situs Judi Slot Demo Pragmatic

slot deposit dana Terbaru 2023

istanaslot

slot dana

https://blog.libero.it/wp/slotdana/2023/05/19/agen-judi-slot-deposit-dana/

https://platform.blocks.ase.ro/blog/index.php?entryid=26210

https://b.hatena.ne.jp/istanaslotgacor2022/

https://b.hatena.ne.jp/istanaslotgacor2022/bookmark?page=2

https://b.hatena.ne.jp/istanaslotgacor2022/bookmark?page=3

https://b.hatena.ne.jp/istanaslotgacor2022/bookmark?page=4

https://t.me/s/togelslot88gacor

https://t.me/s/situsslot

https://telegram.me/s/situsslot

https://medium.com/@gulaiayam8899

https://medium.com/@gulaiayam8899/about

https://medium.com/@gulaiayam8899/berita-terkini-seputar-slot-gacor-dan-togel-online-69848fa6e114

https://medium.com/@gulaiayam8899/rahasia-kesuksesan-dalam-permainan-slot-9a0664549e1b

https://medium.com/@gulaiayam8899/rtp-slot-gacor-auto-sultan-7e23ec9e7afb

https://medium.com/@gulaiayam8899/misteri-slot-gacor-bb02b74acd18

https://social.msdn.microsoft.com/Profile/istana-slot-777
https://www.behance.net/helmipaten
https://telegra.ph/IstanaSlot-Tempat-Terbaik-untuk-Pengalaman-Perjudian-Online-yang-Seru-10-20
https://gab.com/istanaslotgacor
https://onlinegamblingworld.my-free.website/s/cdn/?https://livechat-istanaslot.xyz/
https://www.provenexpert.com/istanaslots/
https://link.space/@istanaslot777
https://t.me/s/situsslot
http://forum.blockmango.com/topic/53367/link-alternatif-login-istanaslot-daftar-dan-gabung-segera
https://istanaslots.contently.com/
https://500px.com/p/istanaslots
https://myspace.com/istanaslots
https://medium.com/@erlinapaten777/istanaslot-situs-judi-slot-online-terbaik-dan-terpercaya-di-tahun-2023-ae10feac6088
https://medium.com/@erlinapaten777
http://istanaslots.idea.informer.com/
https://replit.com/@erlinapaten777
https://replit.com/@istanaslot777
https://istanaslotgacor.hashnode.dev/link-alternatif-login-istanaslot
http://193.140.229.56:3000/istanaslots/istanaslot/issues/1
https://dribbble.com/istanaslots/shots
http://193.140.229.56:3000/istanaslots
https://dribbble.com/istanaslots/about
https://ko-fi.com/istanaslots
https://ko-fi.com/istanaslots/gallery
https://disqus.com/by/istanaslots/about/
https://bbs.now.qq.com/?5951916
https://potofu.me/istanaslots
https://lit.link/en/istanaslots
https://www.blogger.com/profile/13732575843288704588
https://fae.disability.illinois.edu/summary/18b7ac547f835b20/rc/
https://nowewyrazy.uw.edu.pl/profil/istanaslots
https://hub.docker.com/r/istanaslots/link-resmi-istanaslot
https://app.simplenote.com/p/7qTCNx
https://www.tripadvisor.com.vn/Profile/Traveler55768473195
https://www.scoop.it/topic/istanaslots
https://withkoji.com/@istanaslot
https://www.bahamaslocal.com/userprofile/1/258137/istanaslots.html
https://justpaste.it/u/istanagacor
https://justpaste.it/6trpi
https://www.pinterest.com/erlinapaten777/
https://git.disroot.org/istanaslots
https://speakerdeck.com/erlinapaten
https://www.walkscore.com/people/114255253064/istanaslots
https://letterboxd.com/istanaslots/
https://beacons.ai/istanaslots
https://www.maliweb.net/author/istanaslot
https://artmight.com/user/profile/2986114
https://myopportunity.com/en/profile/istana-slots/nw
https://www.empowher.com/users/istanaslot7777
https://www.insanelymac.com/forum/profile/2676453-istanaslots/?tab=field_core_pfield_13
https://trello.com/u/erlinaaja/activity
https://about.me/istana-slots
https://cs.astronomy.com/members/istanaslots/default.aspx
https://istanaslotgacor.zohosites.com/
https://issuu.com/istanaslots
https://issuu.com/istanaslots/docs/link_alternatif_login_istanaslot.docx
https://profile.hatena.ne.jp/erlinapaten777/
https://www.linkcentre.com/profile/istanaslos/
https://www.producthunt.com/@istanaslots
https://medium.com/@helmipaten777
https://medium.com/@helmipaten777/istanaslot-terobosan-terbaru-dalam-dunia-slot-online-di-2023-70bd6f25465f
https://heylink.me/ISTANASLOT.COM/
https://joy.bio/istana-gacor
https://solo.to/istana-gacor
https://mylink.la/istanaslots
https://s.id/1WhHE
https://s.id/1WhHO
https://s.id/1WhHX
https://s.id/1WhI3
https://www.wattpad.com/user/istanaslots
https://gratis-4156611.jouwweb.nl/
http://uid.me/istanaslots
https://linkfly.to/51107uVV4AW
https://www.divephotoguide.com/user/istanaslots
https://mez.ink/istanaslots
https://desty.page/istanaslot
https://magic.ly/istanaslots
https://bit.ly/4667NBw
https://bit.ly/47oiujP
https://bit.ly/3Sv5PaG
https://bit.ly/472wu33
https://bit.ly/3sqCjrY
https://bit.ly/49F2fB5
https://gab.com/istanagacorslot
https://social.msdn.microsoft.com/Profile/istanagacorslot
https://profile.ameba.jp/ameba/helmipaten
https://ameblo.jp/helmipaten/entry-12828152988.html
https://giphy.com/channel/istanagacorslot
https://tinyurl.com/istanaslots
https://tinyurl.com/mr2zhnxe
https://tinyurl.com/2ft2dwae
https://tinyurl.com/ms7ujhbe
https://tinyurl.com/2w5ndtb4
https://tinyurl.com/46d5czk2
https://tinyurl.com/td6fkahm
https://www.twitch.tv/istanagacorslot
https://telegra.ph/Link-Alternatif-Situs-Resmi-Pragmatic-Play-11-11
https://glitch.com/@erlinapaten777
https://istanagacor777.weebly.com/
https://6548934d557e4.site123.me/
https://band.us/band/93104459/intro
https://istanagacor.onepage.website/
https://plaza.rakuten.co.jp/istanagacor88/diary/202311240000/
https://profile.ameba.jp/ameba/istanagacor
https://social.msdn.microsoft.com/Profile/istanaslot888
https://istanagacor.vercel.app/
https://istanaslotgacor.wixsite.com/istana-slot
https://social.msdn.microsoft.com/Profile/istanagacorslot
istana slot
istanaslot
https://istanagacor.bloggersdelight.dk/
https://www.zillow.com/profile/istana3com
https://www.zillow.com/profile/helmipaten777
https://telegram.me/s/situsslot
https://istana-slot-gacor.pages.dev/
https://gangsterslot.pages.dev/
Situs Togel Toto 4D https://istana-slots.blogspot.com/ https://sohibslot.makeweb.co/ http://3.107.67.170/ https://istanaslot.vzy.io/ https://medium.com/@helmipaten777/about https://medium.com/@sohibslot777/about https://sites.google.com/view/sohibslot/ https://sites.google.com/view/istanaslots/ https://sohib3.odoo.com/ https://istanaxplay.medium.com/about https://www.tumblr.com/cabehijau https://istanaslot.vzy.io/ https://www.anobii.com/en/015dc2515fd5aec6ad/profile/activity https://visual.ly/users/sohibslot777/portfolio https://rentry.co/mnes7s5t https://rentry.co/slot-online-2024 https://istanaslotofficial.medium.com/about https://cutt.ly/meozcUaw https://cutt.ly/Ieozc9W8 https://cutt.ly/Teozc688 https://cutt.ly/GeozvyZf https://cutt.ly/FeozvpGX https://event.i3l.ac.id/ https://event.i3l.ac.id/summercamp/slot777/