AppleInsider Staff
Members of the Walgreens loyalty program can now use their Balance Rewards card with Apple Pay, enabling tap-to-pay capabilities on both iPhone and Apple Watch.
Walgreens announced on Thursday that it is the first retailer to integrate its loyalty program with Apple Pay contactless payments. There are more than 85 million active Balance Rewards members.
To add your card, use the Wallet app in iOS 9. Once it's activated, users can authorize their transaction with a fingerprint scan on the iPhone 6 or iPhone 6s series. Apple Pay integration is also available with an unlocked Apple Watch by double pressing the side button.
"We're excited to be the first to provide our customers with increased ease of access to their Balance Rewards account and information when using Apple Pay," said Sona Chawla, president of digital and chief marketing officer for Walgreens. "This offering supports our commitment to removing friction and enabling a simple and convenient customer experience."
As of August of 2015, an estimated 76 percent of the population of the U.S. lives within five miles of a Walgreens. Its local pharmacies filled an estimated 894 million prescriptions in the company's fiscal year 2015.
There are a total of 8,173 Walgreens locations in the U.S. as of Aug. 31. In New York City, Walgreens stores are branded as Duane Reade, where Balance Rewards cards can also be used.
Charles Martin
Malcolm Owen
William Gallagher
Christine McKee
Wesley Hilliard
Andrew Orr
37 Comments
I'm still not sure how this works, especially in conjunction with using Apple Pay. For example, with my Starbucks card, it's available on my iPhone and Watch because of geo-location when I'm near one of my 5 main stores. If I'm not, I have to access Wallet to bring up the pass or access the Starbucks app to get the bar code. Does that work the same with a rewards card? Is there a way for the NFC-system to have a merchant ID attached so it would know to bring up the Walgreens reward card instead of a CVS rewards card, that might be across the street?
So how does it work? Do I have to do 2 taps, one for the credit card, and then a second time for the balance rewards card?
This is great news...for those that use them, the more merchant rewards programs are tied into Apple Pay, the greater the convenience factor of the service, which should continue the snowball rolling...
[quote name="SolipsismY" url="/t/189942/walgreens-balance-rewards-card-gains-apple-pay-compatibility#post_2801827"]I'm still not sure how this works, especially in conjunction with using Apple Pay[/quote] The iPhone uses location services to know where it is in Walgreens. Should easily know difference across a street in a typical environment a Starbucks would be. The customer then holds the phone to the reader and touches Touch ID to enter loyalty card data. Then, they do this again to pay. Seems redundant, but they are separate transactions. The loyalty card gets coupons, credits, etc, which can affect the price, and then the payment is processed using the preferred payment card.
[quote name="SolipsismY" url="/t/189942/walgreens-balance-rewards-card-gains-apple-pay-compatibility#post_2801827"]I'm still not sure how this works, especially in conjunction with using Apple Pay. For example, with my Starbucks card, it's available on my iPhone and Watch because of geo-location when I'm near one of my 5 main stores. If I'm not, I have to access Wallet to bring up the pass or access the Starbucks app to get the bar code. Does that work the same with a rewards card? Is there a way for the NFC-system to have a merchant ID attached so it would know to bring up the Walgreens reward card instead of a CVS rewards card, that might be across the street?[/quote] From link in more complete MR article -- it appears the rewards card encompasses the capability of a store credit card. http://www.macrumors.com DEERFIELD, Ill.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Walgreens Balance® Rewards members can now seamlessly use their account through Apple Pay - without separately scanning a Balance Rewards card or barcode. More than 85 million active Balance Rewards members will have the ability to earn and redeem loyalty points via Apple Pay, the easy, secure and private way to pay. “This offering supports our commitment to removing friction and enabling a simple and convenient customer experience.” Tweet this “We’re excited to be the first to provide our customers with increased ease of access to their Balance Rewards account and information when using Apple Pay,” said Sona Chawla, president of digital and chief marketing officer for Walgreens. “This offering supports our commitment to removing friction and enabling a simple and convenient customer experience.” [B][I][COLOR=blue]To get the most out of purchases, users can simply add the Balance Rewards digital card to the Wallet app in iOS 9 and use it at checkout with Apple Pay. Members simply hold their iPhone near the contactless reader with a finger on Touch ID and the appropriate rewards information will be sent. On Apple Watch, they just double-click the side button, select their Balance Rewards card, and hold the face of Apple Watch up to the reader.[/COLOR][/I][/B] http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20151105005216/en/Walgreens-Launch-Loyalty-Program-Integration-Apple-Pay