Release Notes
Release Date: April 2019

Release Notes: Spring '19

Release highlights in this article

Program Booster

Guest Email Preferences Displayed on Account Lookup Pages

With this enhancement, your customer support team can see guests’ message frequency and preference next to the rest of their account information on the Customer Service > Account Lookup page. With more information available to them, your customer support team can quickly address messaging inquiries and provide a greater level of service.

Guest Email Pref On CSR

 
 
 

“Recent Dashboards” Added to Analytics Page

This new feature provides quick access to your favorite dashboards. The Recent Dashboards bar sits at the top of the Report Center > Analytics page (see image below), and there are dedicated links for your last four dashboards. It’s easy to switch back and forth between dashboards when reviewing data, and you can always pick up where you left off by returning to a recently used dashboard in one click.

Recent Dashboard Links

 

 
 
 

Tax Deferral Report

This report enables finance teams to extract accounting gift card data and determine deferred liability on gift cards for tax-filing purposes. It operates on a first-in, first-out basis and shows unredeemed stored-value dollars for amounts that were added during the selected date range. Any decrements are subtracted from the existing balance before being deducted from the dollars added during the selected date range. The report can be accessed by selecting “Run Reports” on the Report Center > Stored Value/Gift Card Reports > Other Reports page. If you don't currently see this option, your TC can enable it for you.    

 
 
 

Gift Card Money Movement on Fiscal Periods

In addition to being able to run money movement on a monthly or weekly cadence, franchised clients can now do so based on defined fiscal periods. This feature allows your finance and accounting teams to keep track of all gift card liabilities and settle with franchisees on the same fiscal calendar used across your organization. You must have “Fiscal Periods” defined in our system. This feature can be found under Program Administration in our left-hand navigation. Once that is set up, you can reach out to your TC to start the process of switching to money movement based on fiscal periods. 

 
 
 

Flexible Visit Tracking for Your Unique Program

Especially useful for c-stores, this feature lets you track multiple time-based visits while separately tracking gas purchases and in-store visits. For example, your brand might be running a visit-based rewards program that requires members to visit 10 times in order to earn a reward. If a member comes into the store exclusively to redeem a reward for a free Snickers, you will want to track the visit for your reporting purposes. However, since no money was spent, that visit shouldn’t count towards earning the next reward. This feature provides more flexibility in managing multiple time-based visits without having a complex rules and wallets set up. Reach out to your TC to add flexible visit tracking to your program

 
 
 

Scheduled Report Enhancements

You can now click a URL to download reports that are delivered by email. All reports were previously sent as email attachments, and file sizes would occasionally prevent delivery. This improvement ensures that you can get your reports when you need them, without interruptions due to limits on file size. You don’t need to take any action to enjoy this benefit.

 
 
 

Tech Eco Booster

New Endpoint for Third Parties: One-to-One Challenges

Paytronix-approved third parties can now obtain information on guests’ current status and progress in their individual One-to-One challenge. For example, if you work with a third party for your mobile app or website, that third party can use this new endpoint to obtain guest information like unique threshold for reward redemption and number of visits to next reward. Learn how to leverage this new endpoint here.

 
 
 

Known Guest Booster

Frictionless Enrollment with NFC Payment for Android

When using NFC payment on an Android device, guests will now receive a push message asking them to sign up for your program. All the relevant personal information is pulled from their phone, and their program account information is added to their wallet. This encourages guests to join your program via a method that is easy and convenient for them.

 
 
 

Text-to-Join Enhancements

There are two new enhancements within the Text-to-Join feature:  

  • Guests can now register via Text-to-Join without having to send a keyword. By simply texting their email address to your brand’s unique short code, they will automatically be registered. You’ll benefit from increased enrollment rates thanks to fewer steps in the process. 
  • There are more options for rewarding and tracking guests who choose this enrollment method.   
 
 
 

Visit Booster

Enhancements to BOGO Rewards

You can now configure your BOGO rewards to discount the highest- or lowest-priced item on the check. This feature lets you encourage guests to purchase more items while keeping your discount line small, and it’s available today for customers who use the check service integration.

 
 
 

Hospitality Booster

Enhancements to Auto-Redeem Functionality

You can now make each reward automatically redeemable for guests. With Auto-Redeem, your guests don’t need to take any action in line because the reward will be automatically applied to qualifying checks. This new functionality can be used by any c-store clients with a loyalty program. Contact your TC to get it set up. 

 
 
 

Branded Mobile App Updates:   

Fingerprint and Face ID

App users can now log in with Fingerprint and Face ID. In the login flow, users will have the option of using either (depending on their device) to gain access to their account. As shown in the image below, a prompt will ask whether they’re interested in enabling this functionality.

FaceIDFingerprint

Redesign of App Rating Prompt 

As part of the new user experience in the branded mobile app, the app rating prompt has been redesigned to be more intuitive. This feature allows your guests to provide meaningful feedback on their experience with your brand’s app. The app rating prompt will appear when guests visit their “My Account” page for the second time. As seen in the image below, the rating prompt offers guests the option of engaging.

Apprating

Redesign of Settings Page 

With this redesign, your guests can now enable and disable both push and geofence notifications on one screen. Users can simply opt in to relevant messaging by selecting the checkboxes shown in the image below.

Settings

Pull Messages with Accompanying Image 

This update enables marketers to send more relevant and actionable in-app messages. With this upgrade, you can send pull messages featuring an image to your guests’ in-app message center.    

Checking in with QR and Check-in Code 

The mobile app now supports QR and check-in code as simultaneous methods for checking in, as shown in the image below. This feature enables brands that are both QSR and FSR to have a single check-in method for all guests. 

Checkin

Reloading Stored Value from App Home Screen 

This feature makes reloading stored value more intuitive. In addition to the home screen, stored value reloads can still be initiated from the hamburger navigation. 

Enhanced Location Search in Mobile Apps 

It’s now even easier for guests to find a nearby location by using the mobile app. Users can choose from location services, ZIP code, and searching by city. This feature is especially helpful in deciding on a location when placing an online order.  

Mobile App Changes to Support Non-Loyalty Guest Engagement 

You can now enjoy the benefits of a mobile app even if you don’t have a traditional loyalty program. Customization within the application allows you to remove loyalty-specific elements like labels, progress bars, and rewards functionality. These changes enable you to launch mobile-focused guest engagement programs without committing to a published loyalty program. For example, you can have an image of a menu item on the home screen in place of a progress bar. You can also customize all six buttons on the home screen to suit your business needs. For any mobile app improvement, reach out to your TC to schedule an app update.

 
 
 

Engagement Booster

Coupon Service

Coupons can be used as an effective acquisition tool in engaging with unknown guests. You can now set up multiuse coupon codes and send offers to non-loyalty guests within the Paytronix platform. When unknown guests redeem a coupon in-store, it presents an opportunity to enroll them in your program at the POS.   

Coupon codes can be distributed via any communication channel you choose – email, text, social media, print ads, etc. Tracking the redemption of coupon codes lets you determine which communication channel drives the most engagement. For example, you can track how well a coupon code printed on the side of a bus performs.   

Two new reports are also available to assess your coupon strategy. These reports will let you see the number of redemptions associated with each coupon code, as well as more detailed information about any transactions involving a coupon.   

All loyalty customers who operate the Aloha POS system can take advantage of multiuse coupon codes and offers in our system. Reach out to your TC to discuss and set up your coupon strategy.

 
 
 

Deliverability Enhancements for Apple Push API

The latest update to the Apple API integration was made to transition from authentication certificates to authentication tokens. This upgrade will impact branded and custom apps that send messages through Paytronix. By boosting the delivery rates of push messages, communication with your guests happens in real time.

 
 
 

Increased Maximum Length for Pull Messages

The character limit for pull messages has been increased from 500 to 1000 characters. No setup is necessary to take advantage of this feature. You can simply start typing longer pull messages in your next campaign message template. 

 
 
 

Other Acknowledgements

Third-Party Library Software

  • Apache Software Foundation:  This product (Paytronix) includes software developed by the Apache Software Foundation (http://www.apache.org/), including: Apache Commons, Apache httpClient, Xerces, log4j, Jakarta Commons, Apache Jakarta-Oro, APR snprintf library, Apache FOP, and Apache Batik.
  • Exolab Project: This product (Paytronix) includes software developed by the Exolab Project (http://www.exolab.org), including: Castor.
  • Sun Microsystems, Inc.: This product (Paytronix) includes software developed by Sun Microsystems, Inc. (http://www.sun.com), including: Java Cryptography Extension (JCE), Java Communications API, and Secure Sockets Extension (JSSE) – which also includes code licensed from RSA Data Security.
  • SourceForge.net: This product (Paytronix) includes software developed by SourceForge.net and distributed under the Common Public License, including WTL and distributed through a ZLib License for tinyxml.
  • Thai Open Source Software Center Ltd, Clark Cooper, and Expat maintainers:  This product (Paytronix) includes software developed by Thai Open Source Software Center Ltd, Clark Cooper, and Expat maintainers including Expat XML Parser Library.
  • Jean-loup Gailly and Mark Adler: This product (Paytronix) includes software developed by Jean-loup Gailly and Mark Adler including ZLib Compression Library.
  • JCIFS smb client in Java.  This product (Paytronix) uses software developed by Michael B Allen, distributed by GNU Lesser General Public License as published by the Free Software Foundation, including jCIFS SMB client in Java.  Paytronix has made modifications to this software.  Pursuant to the GNU LGPL, we are posting the changes to the code made on our website.  Please see www.paytronix.com/download/jcifs/jcifs.tar.gz
  • Mort Bay Consulting: This product (Paytronix) includes Jetty Web Server developed by Jan Bartel and Greg Wilkins and other contributors.
  • Hypersonic SQL.  This product (Paytronix) includes products developed by Hypersonic SQL.  This software is provided by the copyright holders and contributors “as is” and any express or implied warranties, including, but not limited to, the implied warranties of merchantability and fitness for a particular purpose are disclaimed.  In no event shall the Hypersonic SQL Group, or contributors be liable for an direct, indirect, incidental, special, exemplary, or consequential damages (including, but not limited to, procurement of substitute goods or services; loss of use, data, or profits; or business interruption) however caused and on any theory of liability, whether in contract, strict liability, or tort (including negligence or otherwise) arising in any way out of the use of this software, even if advised of the possibility of such damage.  This software consists of voluntary contributions made by individuals on behalf of the Hypersonic SQL Group.  Copyright © 1995 – 2000, The Hypersonic SQL Group.  All rights reserved.
  • The HSQL Development Group.  This product (Paytronix) includes products developed by The HSQL Development Group.  This software is provided by the copyright holders and contributors “as is” and any express or implied warranties, including, but not limited to, the implied warranties of merchantability and fitness for a particular purpose are disclaimed.  In no event shall the HSQL Development Group, HSQLDB.org, or contributors be liable for an direct, indirect, incidental, special, exemplary, or consequential damages (including, but not limited to, procurement of substitute goods or services; loss of use, data, or profits; or business interruption) however caused and on any theory of liability, whether in contract, strict liability, or tort (including negligence or otherwise) arising in any way out of the use of this software, even if advised of the possibility of such damage. 
  • Eclipse SWT.  This product (Paytronix) contains products developed by Eclipse SWT.