BIRMINGHAM, Ala.—Card-linking, which allows consumers to link their debit or credit cards to loyalty programs, digital coupons or mobile wallets, is on the rise.
“When consumers pay with their registered card or mobile wallet, discounts and loyalty benefits are automatically applied, which eliminates the need for paper or digital coupons, QR codes or promotions codes,” explained Bill Hardekopf, CEO at LowCards.com.
Card-linking transactions have increased by 50% in the last 12 months, according to the 2016 Annual Card-Linking Industry Survey of merchants, payment companies, publishers and card-linked technology companies.
Other key findings from the survey include:
- A majority (60%) of the respondents said card-linking could grow to a $10-billion revenue industry.
- Restaurants, department stores and clothing companies have been the earliest adopters of card-linking.
“Card-linking has a network effect and it is accelerating,” Silvio Tavares, CardLinx president and CEO, told LowCards.com. “Merchants and brands have poured more money into marketing and social media campaigns for card-linking, attracting more consumers. This in turn is bringing more payments and fintech companies into the industry that are developing new, innovative platforms to widen card-linking’s appeal to even more consumers.”