In today’s competitive restaurant industry, a simple digital loyalty card is no longer sufficient to build meaningful customer relationships. While platforms like Cardu focus on providing businesses with digital membership cards stored in Wallet apps, solutions like Cluby go further by offering a comprehensive loyalty solution integrated seamlessly into a consumer-facing app.
Here’s why the difference matters and how it impacts your restaurant’s success.
Digital Cards: A Good Start, But Not Enough Without a Supporting System
A digital loyalty card might seem like a step forward, but without a robust system in place to back it up, it offers little more than convenience. Platforms like Cardu specialize in converting physical loyalty cards into digital versions, stored in apps like Google Wallet and Apple Wallet. While this eliminates the need for plastic cards, the lack of a supporting system severely limits its impact:
- No Interactivity: Digital cards are static and lack the tools to actively engage customers. Features such as campaigns, personalized offers, direct notifications, and even event promotion or ticket sales are entirely missing. Without these, businesses miss out on opportunities to keep customers engaged and drive recurring visits.
- Limited Communication: With Cardu, all communication relies on email, which is slower and less engaging compared to real-time push notifications or in-app messages.
- No Tools for Building Customer Relationships: Cardu does not provide tools for collecting customer data or building a customer database. Businesses using Cardu must figure out how to gather and manage customer information separately—adding complexity and limiting the impact of their loyalty efforts.
Cluby: A Comprehensive Loyalty Solution
Cluby goes far beyond a simple digital card by offering a fully integrated system that enables restaurants to build, manage, and grow customer relationships effectively. One of its greatest strengths is its ability to help you create and own your own customer database, which forms the foundation for all your marketing activities.
Here’s how Cluby stands out:
- Customer Relationship Management (CRM): Cluby provides a robust CRM tool that allows restaurants to gather and analyze customer data, segment their audience, and create targeted campaigns that drive loyalty. This ensures you’re not just running a loyalty program but building a long-term asset: your customer database.
- Interactive Consumer App: Unlike Cardu’s static cards, Cluby’s app allows for dynamic interaction between restaurants and customers. Consumers can join multiple loyalty programs within one app and enjoy consistent functionality across all participating businesses
- Push Notifications and Direct Communication: Cluby supports real-time notifications, ensuring that restaurants can instantly inform customers about campaigns, events, or offers.
- Custom Campaigns and Rewards: With Cluby, businesses can create daily, weekly, or monthly campaigns to keep customers engaged and coming back.
- Event Promotion and Ticket Sales: Restaurants can promote events and sell tickets directly through the app, creating new opportunities to engage with customers and generate revenue.
Feature | Cardu | Cluby |
Platform Type | Digital card storage (Wallet-based) | Fully interactive loyalty app |
Customer Communication | Email only | Push notifications and in-app messaging |
Customer Database | No tools for collecting or managing data | Tools to build, manage, and own your database |
Consumer Access | Wallet cards for individual businesses | One app for all participating restaurants |
Loyalty Program Features | Digital card for existing programs | Customizable loyalty programs with campaigns |
Campaign Tools | Not available | Flexible daily, weekly, and monthly campaigns |
Event Promotion | Not available | Promote events and sell tickets directly |
Data Insights | Limited | Detailed analytics for targeted marketing |
Cost for Restaurants | Based on card creation only | Free for up to 200 members, scalable pricing tiers |
Why Cluby Outshines Cardu
- Build Your Own Customer Database: Cluby provides the tools to collect customer data directly within the app, creating a valuable asset for your business. With Cardu, you need to figure out how to build your database through external methods, adding unnecessary complexity.
- Comprehensive Solution: Cluby is not just a digital card; it’s a platform that integrates CRM, communication tools, campaign management, and event promotion to create a holistic loyalty solution.
- Engagement Tools: With push notifications, personalized campaigns, and event promotion, Cluby keeps your customers actively engaged.
- Customer Acquisition and Retention: Cluby doesn’t just store loyalty cards—it helps restaurants attract new members and build long-term relationships.
- Seamless Consumer Experience: Customers can use one app for all participating businesses, enjoying a familiar and consistent experience across all loyalty programs.
Why a Digital Card Alone Isn’t Enough
Without a supporting system to manage and grow customer relationships, a digital loyalty card is just a modern version of an outdated tool. To truly unlock the potential of a loyalty program, you need a platform that integrates CRM, communication, campaigns, and event management—everything Cluby offers in one app.
Ready to Build and Own Your Customer Database?
Choose Cluby and go beyond the basics of loyalty with a fully interactive, CRM-powered solution that drives real results.