Dave & Busters Launches New Digital Rewards Experience
The first-of-its-kind app uses NFC technology to replace plastic rewards cards.
Need to Know
- Dave & Busters has introduced an app designed to handle in-store transactions and customer loyalty rewards.
- Using a near-field communications (NFC) chip located in newer smartphones, users are able to tap to pay for video games and other arcade attractions as well as access loyalty rewards and promotions.
- The app is free to download and was developed in part with Stuzo.
Analysis
Dave & Busters launched a guest experience app, allowing customers to make in-store purchases and manage loyalty rewards right from their phones. Available on both iOS and Android, the app features NFC technology and is North America’s first-ever mobile tap-to-play experience.
With the rise in popularity of digital wallets, the restaurant and entertainment chain hopes the reduction of traditional plastic rewards cards will simplify the process and equate to a higher visit frequency to its 135 North American locations. A 3Cinteractive survey found that the percentage of US consumers who said a mobile-enabled loyalty program makes them visit a store or buy more frequently rose to 61% this year from 52% in 2016.
In September of 2014, Apple first announced the support for NFC-powered transactions as part of Apple Pay and has since seen adopted by more and more digital wallets. Annual spending per digital wallet in the US will almost double to about $6,400 by 2024 from $3,350 currently, according to Juniper Research.
The push towards digital wallet and rewards adoption is growing every year and with the recent launch of the Apple Card and on-boarded partners such as Nike, more companies are looking to enable mobile loyalty in new ways.
Dave & Busters joins the growing list of companies taking their rewards program to the smartphone both embracing technology and growing their digital offerings.
“As a leading North American owner and operator of entertainment and dining venues, we are deeply invested in creating exceptional guest experiences through engaging and relevant technology,” stated JP Hurtado, CIO at Dave & Buster’s Entertainment, Inc. in a press release.
Dave & Buster’s mobile app is free to download and is currently only available to US customers.
