Liquid Barcodes

Resources

All You Need to Know About WowBox

Paula Thomas, Chief Content Officer, Liquid Barcodes

01/27/2019

As the largest single European foreign direct investment in PakistanTelenor Pakistan is one of the fastest growing mobile networks in the country, operating as a wholly owned subsidiary of Telenor Group. Headquartered in Norway, the company is listed on the Oslo stock exchange, with group revenues exceeding NOK112 billion (2017).

With Telenor Pakistan having over 238,000 physical touchpoints already available to consumers in the market, the company has plenty of storefront and retail presence for their customers, however they realised that they had not yet invested in creating the equivalent digital connections and the database they knew they needed to drive their business for the future. WowBox was designed as an exclusive, engaging and highly effective lifestyle application that creates that digital connection.

As WowBox uses Liquid Barcodes loyalty technology platform to power its digital deals content, we were delighted to have the chance to chat to Hasan Sandila who leads growth for digital products at Telenor about how successful this concept has been to date, his learning from the project and also his plans to evolve it to become even more useful and profitable in the future.

Sandila leads the team that designed, developed and launched Wowbox which is completely free for users to download. It is even zero-rated on the network, so does not use any of the customers data allowance while they are browsing! With this programme, he has effectively created a unique selling point that truly differentiates the Telenor Pakistan network for its customers.

WoxBox

WoxBox – the free lifestyle application from Telenor Pakistan

Business Objectives:

WowBox was developed to address a number of key business objectives – both short term and long term. With expertise in telecoms consultancy, Sandila had a highly specialized background that ensured a clear understanding of the behaviours that drive overall network profitability – from consumer pricing to partnership opportunities.

He explained that the strategy for WowBox consists of three stages – build, acquire and monetise. Two years after launch, the results are impressive. The app boasts over 1.9 million monthly active users in Pakistan alone, and most importantly, when they try it, they love it. 25% of the app users engage with it on a daily basis.

Price

While the telecoms sector is notoriously price sensitive worldwide, it seems even more pronounced in Pakistan. We were amazed to learn that Pakistani mobile customers routinely own multiple SIM cards from different networks and swap between networks immediately when even a one cent price difference occurs! So while Telenor Pakistan has successfully acquired over 43 million subscribers, it has to remain laser-focused on keeping them.

WowBox uses proprietary content and a customer store as its two key elements that satisfy customer’s needs for simpler ways to buy Telenor products. With fun and engaging content, it adds value to customer’s everyday lives.

Wowbox’s store sells data packs and products in a single-click solution that customers love – previous functionality used USSD codes and a ‘tedious process’ that was ripe for innovation. The app’s content includes articles across key customer categories such as sport, beauty and fashion, alongside movie trailers and exclusive retail deals with partner brands. This strategy requires considerable investment, however the returns are self-evident, with average revenue per user (ARPU) quoted as 2-5% higher for WowBox users than for non-WowBox users, as well as retaining customers who want to continue to benefit from the app’s deals, discounts and functionality.

WowBox data75 percent of WowBox users access the store on the app to buy bundles of data.

Partnerships

With the product now a proven digital channel that customers actively engaging with, the business is beginning to monetise the base. Digital advertisers are keen to access this active and attractive audience with pilot campaigns already driving incremental revenues and better CPA’s for advertisers than even some of the tech giants can deliver. A clear media model is emerging for 2019, delivered by Telenor’s digital capabilities and supported by the external marketing agencies who deliver the unique content on a consistent basis.

WowBox users enjoy  travel and lifestyleWowBox users enjoy  travel and lifestyle offers from partners

Key Learnings for Loyalty

The single most important learning for the WowBox team was the importance of using a specialised loyalty platform to build trust with retail partners and customers alike. Sandila’s marketing agency had successfully negotiated exciting and exclusive offers with popular brands such as Coca Cola, however the programme’s original operational process was designed to use generic promotional codes because it was the simplest option available. Sandila and his team quickly realised that because customers loved these offers so much, they started looking for ways to redeem them as many times as possible. The generic codes were easy to copy, re-use and share, which lead to an abuse of the programme through screenshots being shared with friends and family. This compromised both the programme’s exclusivity and the confidence of their partners.

As soon as the problem was identified, Liquid Barcodes was recommended as a unique solution that could provide single use codes in convenience stores nationwide which simply couldn’t be used more than once. They are invalidated immediately when they are claimed.

Unique codes are used by loyalty programme managers whenever they need a way to prevent fraud and eliminate risk – so they are extremely important when generous giveaways and offers need to be managed. Once the Liquid Barcodes technology was implemented, the improved solution delighted both retailers and also Telenor’s marketing team as it ensured a completely secure process at the point of sale that also ensures the exclusivity of the programme.

As a uniquely specialised platform within the convenience retail industry, Liquid Barcodes platform provided the essential operational enhancement that now ensures the offers are available only to the audience segment they were designed for. This helps the team budget for the rewards they want to allocate, as well as ensuring a closed loop of data and reporting.

WowBox exclusive offers

WowBox negotiated exclusive offers including some FREE coca-cola giveaways and discounts in Bangladesh.

With this enhanced reporting capability, Sandila is able to identify exactly who is using the offers, which ones are proving to be the most popular, the demographics of the redeemers (by gender and age), the top performing regions and stores, the exact details of the barcodes issued and also what percentage of them actually convert. With generic codes, these reports simply weren’t available as a learning tool.

From an operational perspective, this security, tracking and reporting functionality is made possible by the merchant app which was designed to allow easy set up of retailers (whether independent merchants or convenience chains). It ensures the secure redemption that also tracks the conversion from the consumer app to the physical store with all of the details and analytics that expert loyalty programme operators like Telenor expect, as well as improving overall the accuracy of the tracking and reporting for each individual offer.

merchant app

Retail merchants use this merchant app to securely redeem WowBox offers in their stores.

Future Trends – Video and Games

In its two years so far, WowBox content has been pre-dominantly driven by written news and stories, but customers are becoming much more interested in videos. Sandila knows now that video-based content such as movie trailers achieve three times more clicks than any text content, so this a clear mandate for his content agencies to focus on for the future.

A second insight that Sandila and his team discovered about their users is how much they enjoy playing games. Digital customers on any lifestyle app really expect to be entertained, so tools that can engage are an essential ingredient for a platform of this scale. Using the Liquid Barcodes gamification platform, WowBox has a huge portfolio of probability and performance games to choose from to ensure their programme remains fresh and fun, as well as accessing product rating and survey functionality which allows them to capture customer feedback easily. These elements ensure the programme is future-proof and stays new and exciting for customers no matter what part of the programme they engage with.

Gamification

Gamification is now an essential element of most loyalty programmes. 

Now boasting over 7 million members using the application across Pakistan, Myanmar and Bangladesh, the Wowbox team is looking for new markets to launch next, leveraging the learnings to create another compelling digital database that drive these multiple benefits.

The technology itself will also be continually improved, with plans for both dynamic pricing and contextual marketing in Pakistan. We’re excited to continually update you on loyalty insights and learnings from Telenor in Pakistan and throughout their ambitious Asian operations.

telenor digital

About Us:

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

How we do it:

We have developed the most advanced loyalty and digital marketing technology platform specifically for convenience store and foodservice retailers globally.

Retailers use our self-service dashboard to create and manage loyalty driven marketing campaigns that increase purchases with their existing customers, as well as effectively target and acquire new customers through partners or paid media channels.

One core component of live loyalty is gamification. We have gamified branding, loyalty and promotions. We believe this approach is essential in order to get customers’ attention and ultimately truly engage them with repeatable actions thereby winning their loyalty.

Check out some of our exciting/proven results here:

www.LiquidBarcodes.com

About Me:

Paula Thomas

Chief Content Officer, Liquid Barcodes and Independent Loyalty Consultant

With over twenty-five years marketing experience, I specialise in loyalty marketing consulting, managing consumer loyalty propositions, strategy and operations. In addition to working with Liquid Barcodes, my clients have included Telefonica O2, Three Mobile, Electric Ireland, Allied Irish Bank and The Entertainer, as well as Avios – the global points currency for some of the world’s top airlines. I am also a judge for the Loyalty Magazine Awards. 

—————————————————————————————–


Blog post

Everyone Wins With App Games

Games reward customers for visiting an app and encourage them to visit the store. Customers love to feel appreciated, they love a good deal and they especially love winning.  Customers are excited when they get a good discount or coupon. And, they truly feel like winners after playing and winning a game. It is easy […]

Blog post

Liquid Barcodes Connects With Convenience Industry Leaders in Texas

The Liquid Barcodes team networks and learns at 2023 NAG Conference in Austin, Texas. Last week, Liquid Barcodes attended and exhibited at the US convenience industry conference held by the National Advisory Group (NAG). Among those present from the Liquid Barcodes team were Saurabh Swarup, General Manager of North America and Jose Santiago, Head of […]

Blog post

5 Cs of Summer: Cold Coffee, Clean Cars & Convenience

Subscription programs are a great way to secure long-term customer loyalty and revenue. Whether you are providing a subscription for beverages or car washes, securing recurring monthly revenue is imperative to stay competitive.   Summer is around the corner and retail marketers are crafting sunny campaigns to increase customer traffic to the store. Help those […]

Blog post

Circle K Makes a Splash With Car Wash Subscription Program in Europe

Circle K has extended its highly successful car wash subscription program to Norway after successful implementations in the United States, Canada, Denmark, Sweden and Estonia. 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 […]

Blog post

Newly Redesigned Brezelkönig App Accepts Payments and Rewards Loyalty

Swiss foodservice chain Brezelkönig releases app update which offers customers the convenience of earning rewards and paying for products with the app in stores.  The recently-updated Brezelkönig app allows pretzel-loving customers to enjoy recognition and rewards for their loyalty. Additionally, the Brezelkönig app accepts payments to make the customer experience even more convenient.  Brezelkönig is […]

Blog post

Sunshine Gasoline Introduces ACH-Only Mobile Payment for Fuel

Florida convenience retailer releases fuel payment app accepting only ACH payment, saving thousands in payment processing fees for the retailer. Sunshine Gasoline upgraded its Max Carwash App to Sunshine Brand featuring a special fuel pay program, powered by C-StorePay by Liquid Barcodes, which allows consumers to conveniently pay for fuel using the app. Customers simply […]

Blog post

2022: An Outstanding Year for Liquid Barcodes and Our Customers

In 2022, Liquid Barcodes witnessed a year of unprecedented growth with customers, products and team members. Every great business has an inspiring founding story and Liquid Barcodes’ 10-year journey is inspiring the future of loyalty. Beginning as a startup in Norway, the company opened its second office in the United States in early 2022 and […]

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 […]

Blog post

Polish Retail Leader Żabka Launches Coffee Subscription Program

Polish retail giant, Żabka introduces a monthly coffee subscription program across its vast store network. With its new coffee subscription program, Żabka Polska will certainly dominate the beverage category in Poland’s unique convenience market. In July 2022, Dr. Adam Manikowski, Managing Director of Żabka Polska, was featured on the popular Global Convenience Store Focus video […]

Blog post

Loyalty Apps Engage Customers

98% of loyalty app users love using a loyalty app and want more features from it. In September 2022, NACS published a report examining customer engagement with convenience loyalty programs. Unsurprisingly, customers feel most engaged, appreciated and valued by the stores to which they belong in a loyalty or membership program – nearly ¾ of […]

Blog post

Save Thousands in Credit Card Fees With ACH

Visa and Mastercard announced an increase in interchange fees earlier in the year and retailers are taking action and sending a message by migrating their customers to new solutions, including mobile app-based ACH payments, and in the process increasing profits by not only reducing credit card fees but also boosting loyalty via innovative app-based incentive […]

Blog post

Maxol Launches First-of-Its-Kind Loyalty App

Maxol, Ireland’s largest family-owned forecourt and convenience retailer, announced it has launched a new customer loyalty app with never-before-seen features in the Irish market. After more than a century serving Irish customers, Maxol’s 240+ stores and service stations are located throughout Ireland and have enjoyed global recognition for their best-in-class operations, store design and offers. […]

Blog post

Delivering Personalized Content With Machine Learning and Image Recognition

Build personalized customer connections, improve efficiency, and make intelligent, data-driven decisions using machine learning and image recognition.   It’s 7:15 in the morning and a customer – Amy – is on her way to work. She is on the hunt for coffee and breakfast and stops at a convenience store. She opens her store app […]

Blog post

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

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 […]

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