Walgreens’ new customer loyalty program, Balance Rewards, takes advantage of mobile technology to make it easy for customers to enroll, earn points, redeem awards and access their account.  

The new Balance Rewards mobile card is featured in the Walgreens mobile application. Once the program officially launches on Sept. 16, members will be able to scan the mobile card from their mobile devices at the register to earn points and savings as well as redeem awards without the need to carry around a plastic card.

“Balance Rewards was designed entirely with the consumer in mind,” said Jim Graham, senior manager of corporate media relations at Walgreens, Deerfield, IL.  “At a time when people are always on the go, ensuring Balance Rewards had the latest digital and mobile technologies was important. 

“We wanted to design a loyalty program that was easy to use and easy to understand and we feel the Balance Rewards mobile features have helped us do just that,” he said.

Mobile enrollments
Balance Rewards members will also be able to review all purchases and points activity and special member savings through the Walgreens app.

The program enables members to earn points for their in-store and online purchases as well as gain access to exclusive savings. Points can be redeemed for future purchases.

“Customers will have two major mobile benefits with Balance Rewards,” Mr. Graham said.

“The first is ease,” he said. “With Balance Rewards, customers don’t have to worry about carrying a plastic card because through the Walgreens app, members can easily scan their mobile device right at the register to earn points and savings and redeem rewards.  

“The second major benefit is access.  With the Walgreens app, customers can review all of their purchases, point activity and special savings, any time, any place.”

Walgreens is encouraging customers to enroll online or via the mobile app before the official launch on Sept. 16 for a chance to enter the Walgreens 10 Million Point Giveaway sweepstakes.

Customers can earn additional entries into the sweepstakes by referring friends and family to the program.

Ten grand prize winners will be randomly selected from the entry pool to receive 1 million points.

Prescription for mobile
Walgreens recently revamped its mobile app with new features in addition to the Balance Rewards mobile card.

The new Print from Facebook feature enables users to select photos from Facebook albums to print and pick up at any Walgreens. Users can also create and print a card using a photo from Facebook albums.

IPad users can also now take advantage of the print-to-store features in the Walgreens app.

An In Store Maps features enables in-store shoppers to map and locate items in any Walgreens store down to the section of an aisle where it can be found.

“Walgreens is always looking for ways to better serve our customers,” Mr. Graham said. “We hope the Balance Rewards program and all its mobile features build upon our efforts to give customers easy, multi-channel access to health and daily living needs.”

Final Take
Chantal Tode is associate editor on Mobile Commerce Daily, New York