Pioneering Omnichannel with Digital Coupons
Emerging market gap, ripe for disruption.
As newspaper circulation declines, paper coupon inserts vanish, prompting CPGs to seek ways to encourage product trials. Retailers struggle with customer loyalty, as convenience often trumps loyalty card benefits. AOL's media business gained CPG ad sales but struggled with promotional budgets. This inspired the idea of digitizing coupons within AOL’s New Ventures incubator.
Omni-channel pioneer: Digital Coupons driving traffic into stores.
AOL pioneered digital coupon POS technology for white label and customer destination (AOL Shortcuts) with a national footprint including +3,000 participating stores and over two dozen brands. A key partnership with the largest coupon clearing house, Inmar, helped expand digital coupon technology to even more retailers.
AOL Driving Market Leadership & Innovation
Digital coupons tied to grocery retailer loyalty cards via a SaaS white label POS technology. Offering both white label and building a leading digital coupon brand Shortcuts.
Inmar’s Transformational growth in Shopper Marketing
With +32 brand partnerships, we increased digital coupon distribution significantly increasing shopping trip frequency and basket size with Digital Marketing and breakthrough product innovation.