The Asia-Pacific (APAC) region is buzzing with potential, and one of the biggest drivers behind this is its booming population of gamers. From tech-savvy Gen Z consumers in urban hubs to an increasingly affluent and aspirational middle class in emerging economies, the diversity and scale of this demographic present endless opportunities for brands looking to expand their reach.

What makes this even more exciting is the sheer pace of change. Digital adoption is soaring, lifestyles are evolving, and consumer expectations are rising across the board. From innovative e-commerce platforms to thriving social media ecosystems, APAC isn’t just growing—it’s shaping the future of how businesses connect with their audiences. 

With this objective in mind, this is exactly what Mastercard did for its ‘Mastercard Gamer Exchange’ initiative, which helps consumers convert their unspent rewards points into gaming currency across some of the world’s most popular gaming titles. More recently, Mastercard Gamer Exchange expanded its reach in Malaysia through a partnership with Ribena which rewards gamers through the platform when they purchase eligible Ribena products. 

For our latest Top Story feature, we spoke with Kauveri Khullaar, senior vice president for consumer marketing & sponsorships for Asia-Pacific at Mastercard to better understand Mastercard Gamer Exchange’s plans to expand in APAC, and how Mastercard intends to continue tapping into the growing gamer demographic for better consumer experiences.

Creating a loyalty program for APAC’s gaming demographic

Before we explore Mastercard Gamer Exchange’s objective, Kaveri points out first how gaming has become a global phenomenon, captivating over 3 billion people, nearly half of whom are women, across casual and competitive genres. Moreover, the industry, projected to generate US$282b in revenue this year and grow to US$363b by 2027, is a powerhouse of entertainment.

Speaking in the context for APAC, she says, “Asia-Pacific leads the charge, contributing nearly half of global gaming revenue, thanks to its massive base of 1.5 billion gamers. In Malaysia alone, 23 million gamers are expected to drive US$650m in revenue by 2024, highlighting the region’s significant role in the gaming boom.”

Gaming’s growth in the region is supported by growing technological advancements like smartphones and 5G connectivity, which have propelled gaming’s growth, enabling casual gaming during commutes and easy access to free-to-play games. These innovations have contributed to the industry’s impressive revenue. While gaming appeals to all demographics, the most engaged players—who also spend the most—are mass-affluent, digitally savvy individuals aged 35-44.

From this context, Kaveri highlights that it was against this backdrop, and with an ambition for marketing to directly impact revenue, that Mastercard Gamer Exchange was created at the peak of COVID-19.

“It started in 2021 when all travel ceased, decimating one of the largest reward redemption categories. Loyalty programs faced the spectre of increased liability on their financial books owing to points’ accumulation, and frustrated members who were seeing their points value dilute over time; at the same time, stay-at-home entertainment activities were getting a fillip, with video gaming being the biggest beneficiary,” she stated.

Revolutionising rewards with gamers’ passion

For Kaveri, the Mastercard Gamer Exchange solution is designed to let gamers convert reward points into gaming credits across top titles, addressing a gap in traditional loyalty programs. For her, the platform–which is built on the insight that gamers typically engage with multiple games simultaneously–prioritises diverse in-game options and allows bite-sized redemptions, eliminating the need for large point balances.

“This philosophy of engineering a solution with gamers at its heart gave birth to a conversion engine that burns reward points for gaming credits across top gaming titles, giving game-loving consumers a simple, intuitive way to use loyalty points for a form of entertainment that had been largely underserved by rewards programs,” she said.

She also added that Mastercard Gamer Exchange not only enhances the gaming experience for consumers but also creates opportunities for brands to connect with this engaged audience by offering a fresh rewards category. Additionally, it serves as a novel distribution channel for game publishers and developers.

“Not only is Mastercard Gamer Exchange uniquely positioned to reward gamers, but it also plays an important role in connecting brands to this audience. With one simple, seamless solution, any brand – regardless of their sector or industry – can offer their audiences a whole new category in rewards redemption, gaining their loyalty and engagement with this consumer segment. This value proposition is true to what we stand for at Mastercard – connecting people to their passions, and thereby building a deeper connection with our and our partners’ brands,” she added.

Mastercard Gamer Exchange’s Ribena collaboration and the platform’s future

Mastercard Gamer Exchange first entered the Malaysian market in 2023 through a successful collaboration with Boost, achieving strong adoption rates. This was then followed by this partnership with Ribena Malaysia, showcasing the platform’s ability to deliver value across diverse industries and highlighting its appeal to like-minded brands beyond the gaming sector.

“Malaysia boasts a unique melting pot of cultures, which is reflected in its vibrant gaming community.  The campaign with Ribena is still underway, and we have already seen positive traction with the number of redemptions driven by this campaign. This is a clear sign that the approach is resonating with the audience of gamers that Ribena appeals to,” Kaveri said.

When asked about the future of Mastercard Gamer Exchange and Mastercard’s gamer-related initiatives, she stated that the company has been at the forefront of creating unique offerings for gamers in Asia-Pacific and around the world since 2018, being the first global partner for popular game ‘League of Legends’. 

She also added that Mastercard regularly partners with banks to introduce co-branded League of Legends cards that offer cardholders Riot points, discounts and cashback on in-game purchases.

“With Mastercard Gamer Exchange, we will continue to forge partnerships with issuing banks,  merchants and fintech partners who are keen to leverage this lucrative audience and commit to a long-term game of value creation for them,” she concluded.

***

The gaming demographic in APAC isn’t just growing—it’s thriving, and it’s reshaping the way people engage with entertainment. With millions of avid gamers across diverse age groups and preferences, the region is a goldmine of opportunities for brands looking to connect with a digitally-savvy, highly engaged audience.

Whether it’s through platforms like Mastercard Gamer Exchange, which seamlessly integrates rewards with gaming, or through collaborations with industry partners, the potential to build loyalty and drive engagement in APAC’s gaming ecosystem is immense. 

Philippines – Jollibee, the iconic Filipino fast-food chain, has teamed up with Landor to launch its first-ever global loyalty program, Jollibee Rewards, aiming to spread joy and strengthen connections with customers around the world.

Launching with a successful debut in North America, Jollibee Rewards represents a pivotal milestone in the brand’s international expansion, extending its signature joy to a global audience while proudly celebrating its Filipino heritage.

At the heart of the initiative is Landor’s brand idea, “Amplify the Joy,” which shapes the loyalty program’s visual identity and customer experience, fostering family, community, and authentic joy—resonating strongly with North American audiences.

Landor’s refreshed visual system aligns with Jollibee’s global vision, combining its familiar colour palette with a lively, lifestyle-focused design. Targeting Gen Z, especially in North America, the updated look features vibrant photography and playful, modern aesthetics, blending youthful energy with brand consistency.

To engage a global audience, particularly younger generations, the program adopts a distinctive verbal identity: ‘Be Joyful, Be Flavorful, Be Delightfully Different.’ This vibrant voice defines the loyalty brand, ensuring it stands out in the market.

Jollibee Rewards goes beyond a points system, connecting the brand’s global fan base and fostering community ties. By rewarding customers across cultures, it boosts engagement, loyalty, and Jollibee’s status as a joyful global brand.

David Beal, global chief marketing officer at the Jollibee Group, said, “Jollibee Rewards is an exciting step forward in connecting our global community of customers through shared experiences and joy. With ‘Amplify the Joy’ at its heart, this program deepens our connection with customers across borders, creating joyful moments that celebrate the spirit of Jollibee worldwide.”

Matthew Robinson, creative director at Landor Hong Kong, added, “It’s not every day you get tasked to help spread joy around the world with one of the Philippines’ most iconic brands. It has been a truly joyful partnership from day one, and we are very proud to help amplify Jollibee’s Joy with this refreshing new loyalty program to attract even more loyal fans into the Jollibee community! “

The Jollibee global loyalty program is more than a rewards system—it’s a celebration of the brand’s worldwide community and its unwavering commitment to spreading joy.

Singapore – Gojek has announced that it has deepened its partnership with yuu Rewards Club, as part of its ongoing efforts to bring greater loyalty rewards and benefits to its users in Singapore. The deepening of the integration between Gojek and yuu builds on the initial announcement of Gojek’s partnership with yuu and DBS Bank in August 2023.

In the latest enhancement, users can now link their Gojek accounts with their yuu accounts, which will enable them to earn yuu Points with every Gojek ride taken. This is applicable across all Gojek service types. In the near future, users will also be able to use their yuu Points to directly offset the cost of their Gojek rides, allowing them to save even more on each ride that they take with Gojek.

As part of the launch of the enhancement, Gojek and yuu are also running a limited time promotion until 14 August 2024 that will give users even more rewards when they link their accounts. 

Users will get 3 yuu points per $1 spent after completing their first Gojek ride upon linking their accounts, equivalent to an additional 1% cash rebate. To be eligible, customers have to log in to their Gojek app and link their accounts via the yuu Rewards Club tab on the menu page.

Lien Choong Luen, general manager at Gojek Singapore, said, “I’m excited to deepen our partnership with yuu, which will allow Gojek and yuu users to enjoy even better rewards. Partnerships have always been central to Gojek; with ride-hailing an essential part of many Singaporeans’ daily commute, this will allow users to get more value from every trip that they take, or every purchase they make via yuu.” 

Meanwhile, Chen Peng, CEO at minden.ai, commented, “Our partnership with Gojek and DBS exemplifies our commitment to driving rewarding interactions between consumers and brands. It is also our goal to ensure that these interactions are seamless and convenient. We are pleased to announce that all yuu Rewards Club members can now earn yuu Points with their rides simply by linking their yuu ID in the Gojek app.” 

Tokyo, Japan – Hakuhodo KEY3, the web3 business production venture under Hakuhodo Inc., has announced its partnership with PONT Inc., SmartMedia Technologies (SMT), and other global web3 technology companies to form the new loyalty program ‘Loyalty X’. 

Loyalty X’s establishment is rooted in the problem that only a few companies have managed to create programs that genuinely drive true engagement with their customers. Current loyalty programs face several challenges, such as providing only generic experiences, lacking unique value, offering primarily monetary value, and operating within the closed ecosystems of a single company.

This new corporate alliance between Hakuhodo KEY3 and other global web3 tech companies is set to provide revolutionary loyalty programs utilising web3 technology across the Asia region. It aims to address the challenges faced by loyalty programs, harnessing Web3 technology and its features, such as individual ownership of value, enhanced interoperability, and innovative customer experiences.

The web3 companies joining the alliance with Hakuhodo KEY3 are Crossmint, Privy, IYK, CheckIn Caster, beyondClub, SmartMedia Technologies, Cookie3, and Reclaim Protocol. 

By bringing together companies with exceptional and diverse technical expertise, the alliance seeks to deliver loyalty programs that truly engage customers while meeting business needs. Each member company offers specialised solutions tailored to different industries, addressing specific challenges and enriching loyalty program content. Through this collaborative effort, Loyalty X aims to forge deeper, more meaningful, and more effective connections with customers.

Hakuhodo KEY3 will also assume the role of project manager within the alliance, identifying corporate challenges, selecting appropriate solutions, and overseeing the design and progression of projects. Additionally, it will lead creative development initiatives, including customer experience planning and UX/UI design and development, as needed.

Matt Hunt, COO for APAC at SMT, shared, “The Loyalty X Alliance signifies a shift in the approach brands are taking to connect with their customers. It’s about establishing a continuous, immersive experience that goes beyond fleeting promotions. This always-on engagement strategy not only amplifies the potential for brands but also cultivates deeper customer loyalty while providing invaluable insights—in short, a new, more robust CRM channel.”

Manila, Philippines – ShopBack, an online shopping and rewards platform in the Asia-Pacific and the Philippines, is kicking off its 10th birthday with a series of activities this June, as well as deals dedicated to its over 6.5 million users and partnerships in the Philippines with more than 900 merchants.

Kicking off the birthday with a money rain 

ShopBack Philippines launched its 10th birthday celebration with a “cashback rain” activation on June 1. In partnership with Ayala Malls Manila Bay, users experienced over ₱50,000 worth of cashback literally raining down on them. Hundreds of mall-goers were rewarded with cashback, which was eventually credited to their accounts.

Month long deals and prizes 

ShopBack’s 10th Birthday campaign runs throughout the entire month, beginning with the 6.6 Mid-Year Sale and leading up to the main birthday celebration from June 14-22. During this period, each category—travel, fashion, food, and marketplaces—will feature special highlight deals.

The top prize for users is a chance to win 24K gold, simply by making three transactions across three different categories. Additionally, a month-long rewards page will feature exclusive vouchers and challenges, enabling users to earn instant cashback through easy actions.

Some of those top deals include exclusive voucher drops from Lazada, as well as deals from Nike, Zalora, Klook, and Puma. Moreover, several partner brands are also on board to give exciting perks to ShopBack users including KFC, Ayala Malls Manila Bay, Havaianas, SEAOIL, and INSPI.

Timothy Tuason, commercial director for Philippines at ShopBack said, “This campaign is our way of thanking our loyal users for their years of support. We’ve worked hard to secure the best deals, making this birthday celebration truly rewarding for them. We hope they are excited!”

10 years of creating a rewarding experience for users 

ShopBack’s vision is to be the most rewarding way to shop. By offering cashback on every transaction, users can enjoy significant savings, allowing them to shop even more.

Justine Victoria discovered ShopBack in 2022, initially creating an account while in Singapore and then another upon returning to the Philippines. “I was able to withdraw ₱500,000 and bought two Vespa motorcycles,” she says.

MJ Aoki, another ShopBack user, utilises the platform for travel bookings. “If you’re going to make a purchase, you might as well get some money back,” she says. MJ has accumulated over ₱58,000 in cashback from her transactions.

Founded in 2014, ShopBack is celebrating its 10th anniversary in 2024, marking a decade of success across the region. With a presence in over 12 countries, ShopBack serves more than 45 million users across three continents.

Singapore – Global hospitality company Hilton has announced it has signed a multi-year partnership with Kallang Alive Sport Management to offer guests and travellers access to world-class entertainment and hospitality experiences in Southeast Asia. 

The new partnership makes Hilton the official hotel partner of the Singapore Sports Hub. With this, members of Hilton’s hotel loyalty programme ‘Hilton Honors’ will have access to exclusive marquee entertainment and events, including a special access to the coveted Hilton Suite at the Singapore National Stadium. 

As part of the multi-year agreement, Hilton will also offer their loyalty programme members a chance to use their points to redeem exclusive Hilton Suite passes to Taylor Swift’s now-sold-out ‘The Eras Tour’ in Singapore. 

Hilton aims to connect guests, especially fans, seeking exceptional experiences and new travel memories to Singapore’s most iconic moments in music and live sports. By staying with Hilton, guests can collect and accumulate points that they can redeem through the Hilton Honors Experience platform to access unique entertainment experiences. 

This partnership underscores Hilton’s commitment to supporting the global music industry. It also highlights their passion for elevating the stay experience for their guests and creating lasting memories for them. 

Ben George, senior vice president and commercial director for Asia Pacific at Hilton, said, “We are thrilled to be partnering with Kallang Alive Sport Management to bring music and fans closer together. Our collaboration will allow travellers from across the region to experience our signature hospitality and to ‘Stay in the Music’ with Hilton.”

“The incredible synergy between world-class entertainment and the hospitality sector, as seen with concerts such as Taylor Swift’s, propels growth within tourism and the broader economy. Through our partnership, we look forward to being at the crossroads of entertainment and travel, with Hilton’s hospitality taking centre stage. We’re thrilled to bring Hilton Honors members closer than ever to their favourite artists and to the biggest and most talked-about events in both the music and sporting calendars, creating unforgettable moments and lasting memories,” he added. 

Speaking on the partnership, Daryl Yeo, chief operating officer at Kallang Alive Sport Management, also commented, “Our vision is for Singapore Sports Hub to be the preferred destination for live sports, entertainment and lifestyle choices, appealing to both Singaporeans and visitors alike. We are pleased to have a partner in Hilton, an iconic global brand and leader in hospitality, that shares our  vision, and we warmly welcome them as our official hotel partner.” 

Singapore – A recent survey conducted by IBS Software reveals that a significant number of air passengers in the Asia-Pacific (APAC) region are members of airline loyalty programs. However, the survey highlights a prevailing sense of uncertainty and underutilization of the programs among travelers.

The survey found that 58% of respondents were unsure where they could redeem their loyalty points, while 56% were unaware of the value of their accumulated points. This lack of awareness was even more prevalent in Singapore and the UAE, with 64% of respondents expressing uncertainty about the value of their points.

Amongst the 37% of respondents who had never been part of a loyalty program or had let their membership lapse, a lack of awareness regarding program benefits was cited as a major reason, closely followed by infrequent flying and difficulty in earning points as the third most prevalent reason.

Marcus Puffer, vice president and head of loyalty solutions at IBS Software, reminded all the airlines to effectively communicate the benefits of loyalty schemes to their program members.

On a positive note, the survey also shows an opportunity for airlines to attract new members, as 58% of non-members expressed their willingness to try a loyalty program in the future.

The survey findings also highlighted the need for airlines to improve communication and education regarding loyalty program benefits, ensuring that members can make the most of their earned points and enjoy the perks that come with their loyalty.

Thailand – Thailand shopping centre Megabangna has launched a new programme called, ‘Mega Smile Kids’, an extension of its Mega Smile Rewards loyalty programme which aims to raise a total membership by 20% while driving repeat traffic for tenants.

The ‘Mega Smile Kids’ programme, which is in line with Megabangna’s 2022 strategy to provide an inclusive lifestyle experience to all groups of mixed-generation customers, offers special promotions and privileges to families with children under the age of 12. The first phase of the programme will cover 40 participating shops and partners offering free workshops and classes, special menus and cash vouchers, among others. There are also numerous benefits and promotions from participating in child-centred shops, schools and specialized academies, restaurants, and lifestyle shops. 

‘Mega Smile Kids’ members can enjoy various privileges like the welcome pack, a gift pack that includes a backpack, a pin, a water bottle, and special discounts coupons at certain shops, as well as an M-Gen Card from Mega Cineplex, and an adorable set of limited collection stickers from ‘I Found Something Good’. The members can also gain kids rewards such as discount coupons, gift vouchers and premium gifts available for exchange all year round, as well as ‘E-Discount Coupons’, which enable large discounts at participating shops.

Moreover, they will also have birthday privileges, which include surprise birthday gifts with special menus from some of the kids’ favourite restaurants at Megabangna, and lastly, events and workshops to help them gain experience, learn skills, and develop creativity provided by schools and academies at Megabangna.

Sirinchat Sangsri, Megabangna’s vice president of marketing, noted that they launched the Mega Smile Rewards loyalty programme in May 2019 via their Megabangna application, to provide loyal customers with special benefits and promotions. Moreover, it also has the added benefit of staying connected through CRM with their core group of customers.

She further shared that the programme currently has over 300,000 members who can accumulate points via the Megabangna app, which can be exchanged for premium items, discounts, and other benefits, including cash vouchers of 100 baht for every 30 points that can be used at participating shops, as well as use the points to receive benefits and vouchers from participating petrol stations and the country’s leading hotels.

“In 2022, we are preparing to upgrade our Mega Smile Rewards programme to embrace all generations of customers. We believe that building good customer relations should not be limited to parents but should also extend to their children who play a key role in the purchasing decisions of their parents,” said Sangsri.

Members of Mega Smile Rewards are now eligible to apply for Mega Smile Kids membership for their children under the age of 12 for free. The programme details and conditions are available on Megabangna’s website.

Megabangna said that it is also transforming every square inch of space in its shopping centre into ‘Your Everyday Meeting Place’, where customers can enjoy a memorable experience with family and friends, while adhering to strict pandemic precautionary measures.

A powerful customer engagement strategy involves more than a loyalty offering. It needs a ‘customer-obsessed’ mindset that puts the customer experience at the heart and centre.

A customer-obsessed culture will enable better customer retention rates, plus open up opportunities to generate. Getting revenue from your existing customer base, which is often easier and probably less expensive than acquiring a new one. But you have to do both, and loyalty can help achieve this goal.

However, a loyalty program also has to be easy and valuable for both existing and new customers. An innovative loyalty program is best integrated across all consumer touch points rather than live in a silo. This means loyalty needs to permeate all channels such as email, SMS, point-of-sale, and beyond.

In the recent Cheetah Digital Signals21 event, Richard Jones, CMO at Cheetah Digital, spoke with Brad Bissonnette, vice president for marketing & franchise recruitment at COBS Bread, the sister store to the iconic Australian bakery chain Bakers Delight. With over 100 locations across Canada, COBS Bread wanted to engage consumers with surprise and delight. They also wanted to gather critical product and sentiment data to help keep their offerings top of mind with consumers.

COBS Bread partnered with Cheetah Digital to build a unique solution that engaged customers, offered flexibility across the rewards, and fed the company with high-quality consumer data. COBS Bread wanted to optimise and personalise their offers for customers by feeding data to inform their product and menu items.

A loyalty program is more than just a point system

A loyalty program needs to go beyond points for purchase and provide more value and convenience for the customer. Bissonnette explains that by looking at loyalty in a silo, you’re really missing the larger opportunity with loyalty.

“Ensuring your loyalty program is an experience, rather than just points from purchase, will heighten a customer’s experience, leading to more sales for your business. This is because loyalty transcends far more than points and for our journey, it again is around how do we provide more utility for our customers? How do we make their lives so much easier? That’s the journey that we’ve embarked on,” said Bissonnette.

“For brands that are considering heading down the loyalty channel, it’s really asking that important question; how can I provide more convenience? How can I provide more utility for our customers?” Bissonnette adds.

Rolled out in Canada mid-2021, Bissonnette says the COBS Club loyalty program embraces loyalty as a more holistic approach.

“It’s early days into our digital loyalty program COBS Club. Our initial offering focused on points, but the ultimate vision is to deliver a digital customer experience that cannot be matched. This will transcend beyond collecting points and continue to add more utility for our customers,” Bissonnette says. 

The key to success for COBS Bread has been buy-in across the organisation – from its franchise network to the rest of the organisation, which allows them to continue to embark on the path.

“We now have COBS Club up and running with customers now collecting points on everything they purchase within the bakery. We’re looking forward to the next iterations where we get to a single source of truth and the ability to ultimately order online and everything from store value and gift cards. This is phase one in what will be a multi-year journey to continue to provide more utility and convenience for our customers,” Bissonnette explains.

Unpacking the key phases of a loyalty program

Currently, COBS Bread is in the early stages of rolling out COBS Club. Bissonnette says the bakery franchise is solely focused on acquisition.

“Our goal right now is to do whatever we can to bring customers onto the platform, so that we can then start to truly understand our customer’s needs and wants. From there we’ll start to get into the other common metrics of sales per transaction, average basket size, and average monthly value of the customer. We’ll have all these metrics starting to flow through.” Bissonnette says.

COBS Bread has started off with great results. The company originally forecasted that in their first year they would acquire between 75,000 to 80,000 customers. But six weeks into the program and they have more than 100,000 new customers.

“Our goal in the first year now is heading towards 250,000 customers. While those metrics are interesting, they can give us a sense of the health of the program,” Brad explains.

Bissonnette says within three to six months into the program, the next phase will begin. In this phase, the company will start to know the demographic information and start to understand the behaviour of their customers.

“I am keen to view customer purchase patterns, explore what’s in their basket and start to really segment using this type of purchasing behaviour. If we can get into that and truly understand those commonalities, we can then start to cater content that is going to provide incremental value and truly take that core metric of active users to 60%,” said Bissonnette.

“It is basic numbers right now but it’s all about acquisition. Our goal is to have the numbers to be able to cater customer experience moving forward,” Bissonnette explains.

A digital loyalty platform can help in so many ways; he says, “Whether that is understanding the financial implications for your finance team to unlock further growth, developing consumer insights through your customer service team or understanding the operational aspects within each one of your units.”

“If you only look at loyalty from a sales or marketing perspective, you’re missing out on all the potential opportunities a loyalty platform can bring,” he adds.

Culture is at the core of a robust loyalty program

Bissonnette says loyalty culture boils down to the culture of a customer service-centric focused organisation.

“For us, it came from day one with the vision from Roger and Leslie Gillespie, who opened the first Bakers Delight in Australia. Their key focus was on delivering high-quality products, outstanding customer service environment, and supporting the communities,” Bissonnette explains.

When your DNA has ‘service’ running all the way through, it has to have loyalty running all the way through it as well, he notes. This is because you ultimately have to take that next step to deliver on a loyalty platform that allows you to elevate your service.

“Loyalty is the next phase of ensuring we can deliver a customer experience that cannot be matched. Having a loyalty platform, it’s giving us the data that we have missed for years. This data provides us with a true sense of what our customers want, what they are purchasing, and how we can ensure that we can meet their needs,” Bissonnette concludes.

Cheetah_Sydney_Feb2019-Billy-Loizou-5467-2

This article is written by Billy Loizou, VP for Go To Market for APAC at Cheetah Digital.

Cheetah Digital is a cross-channel customer engagement solution provider that enables marketers to create personalized experiences, cross-channel messaging, and loyalty strategies.

It’s a stressful time for marketers. Many believe that their lives will be disrupted to the nth degree without cookies. Meanwhile, consumers are more protective of their personal data than ever. In the Australian Community Attitudes to Privacy Survey 2020, 7 in 10 respondents nominated privacy as a major concern for them, while 87% wanted more control and choice over the collection and use of their personal information.

Experts like Lauren Solomon, CEO of Consumer Policy Research Centre, further notes how data processes are clunky and outdated.

According to research from the Consumer Policy Research Centre, 70 percent of consumers accept consent terms, even if they are not comfortable with them. When asked why, three quarters of consumers said it’s because it’s the only way to access the product.

Meanwhile, the research further revealed more than 90 percent of Australian consumers are uncomfortable with how their data is collected and shared – and they’re disempowered to do anything about it.

“They want the government to intervene and protect them,” Lauren says.

“There also isn’t actually any way for consumers to express the preferences that they have and to acquire products that meet those preferences – because it’s a take it or leave it proposition,” added Lauren.

What is the solution?

Companies need to stop ‘renting data’ and build their own database through direct-to-consumer relationships. The key to future success is building a loyalty initiative that offers mutual value exchange. Customers can willingly offer their personal details, in exchange for a better customer experience.

With the death of the cookies, the ‘value exchange’ between businesses and their customers’ willingness to share personal data has never been so important. Activating cookie-less data, using it to enhance customer experience and derive insights is a craft and skill that marketers need to invest in and develop.

Unlocking the value of loyalty in a cookieless future

The importance of loyalty programs should not be overlooked as a critical part of a marketer’s toolkit. Loyalty programs are the perfect replacement for connecting customers with brands in new and innovative ways now and beyond a cookie-less world. They give organizations a clear, zero-party data approach to unlock deeper insights into their customers, unlock fresh CX opportunities, and open powerful new ways to forge more long-lasting and meaningful customer relationships.

But what makes a great loyalty program? Adam Posner, CEO and Founder of The Point of Loyalty, shares the seven zones that make up the ‘wheel of loyalty fortune’. Organizations need to implement each one of these points to ensure they have a strong, steadfast loyalty program that will benefit both customers and brands.

1. Business: First and foremost a business must be profitable and sustainable.

2. Members: Organizations should understand their loyalty member’s behaviors, beliefs, and belongings.

3. Program: The loyalty program needs to be meaningful and desirable to consumers.

4. Team: The organization’s employees need to buy-in for the loyalty program and be willing to endorse it.

5. Technology: The technology should be fit-for-future rather than fit-for-now.

6. Data: Ensuring the loyalty program captures the data necessary for analysis and for relevant action.

7. Dialogue: Any company dialogue to the customer needs to be dynamic and personal at all times.

It’s time for a new marketing recipe

There is life after the death of the cookie. Zero-party data can help marketers connect with their customers. This preference data comes directly from the consumer. There are no intermediaries and no guesswork — it’s psychographic data that includes the customers’ values, attitudes, interests, and personality traits.

Marketers will need to survive, lead and stay relevant in a cookie-less society – a reality that is right around the corner. Leading with loyalty and adopting a Zero Party Data strategy will help marketers survive by creating long-lasting customer relationships with a clear and concise value exchange.

This article is written by Billy Loizou, VP for Go To Market for APAC at Cheetah Digital.

Cheetah Digital is a cross-channel customer engagement solution provider that enables marketers to create personalized experiences, cross-channel messaging, and loyalty strategies.