Francisco Belo, Author at PASSWORKS

Why Mobile Wallet Passes

Mobile is taking an ever greater role in customers lives! All Mobile tools are key assets of a mobile strategy, but Mobile Wallet Passes have been gaining their momentum.

Apple Wallet Pass

“Mobile is one of the key assets that helps drive store growth. It allows to better understand and help our clients. It’s only going to strengthen the store experience, especially if you focus it and have the right mobile experiences to supplement the in-store experience.”

Mobile Wallet Passes are a great solution for companies to implement as part of their mobile strategy, being highly cost-effective and time-effective, while improving customer experience across all touchpoints and driving engagement.

Here are 10 reasons why every company needs to implement Mobile Wallet Passes as part of their mobile strategy.

⇒ Take advantage of native Apps

Reach prospects that don’t have your App installed through Mobile Wallet Passes in native Apps, such as Apple Wallet and Google Wallet. Build programs that “live” inside your customers smartphone.

⇒ Don’t depend on the App stores approval process

Approval processes mandated by App stores are long process on the launch and an ongoing to maintain an App. Mobile Wallet Passes enables to be inside your customer smartphone in seconds in an easy process.

⇒ Easy to install a Mobile Wallet Pass

A Mobile Wallet Pass can be easily distributed by sending and email or an SMS with a url link, by printing or embedding a QR code on a paper or website, or even sending the .pkpass file as an attachment.

Passworks Platform_Add Pass copy

⇒ Build a single Wallet Pass compatible with both iOS and Android

Passworks mobile wallet platform enables companies to design and built a single Wallet Pass that is compatible with both Apple Wallet and Google Wallet, and can be install in a unique link.

⇒ Mobile Wallet Pass content can be updated in real-time

With real-time multiple content, value and look & feel updates, you have the opportunity to establish an on-going conversation with your consumers, in order to keep them always up-to-date.

⇒ Send Push notification with automatic lock screen access

Mobile Wallet Passes make it easier to reach with your customers directly on their mobile lock screen. Engage in a convenient and relevant way: send messages to promote offers, make reminders and inform updates directly to your consumers’ smartphone, giving you the chance to be on your consumers’ top-of-mind.

⇒ Trigger location-based notifications

Take the advantage of the location-based technology by defining geo-based and beacons-based messages which will be triggered when passing by your store or a specific and strategic location.

⇒ Cut down on development time

With Passworks “do-it-yourself” platforms, companies can design and build a Mobile Wallet pass in minutes. Even for more complex functionalities, Passworks team is available to provide all support need to launch a Mobile Wallet campaign easily. Compare this go-to-market speed to the 3 to 12 months that can take to build an App.

⇒ Reduce development costs

Developing an App can cost your business anywhere from 20k€ to unlimited. On top of the initial development cost, there is an annual maintenance cost of around 25% of the initial cost. On the other side, Mobile Wallet passes cost a fraction of the App development cost and has a high level of engagement and retention rates.

⇒ Free up mobile storage space

Smartphone users constantly find themselves looking to free up space, and think of which App to delete. Each App takes up an average of 34 MBs on your phone, while Wallet passes is less than 10 KB. Users are much less likely to delete a Wallet Pass than an App.

Additionally, Mobile Wallet Passes are also a driver to companies digital transformation, eliminating paper coupons, replacing plastic loyalty or membership cards, and reducing their carbon footprints. On top of being highly cost and time effective, Mobile Wallets Passes provide an amazing customer engagement experience and delivery value to the brands.

Want to know more about Mobile Wallets Passes and Passworks? Contact us today and let’s talk!

Passworks Resources and Documentation

To help you get the most out of Passworks Mobile Wallet platform, we have created Passworks Resources to provide information on specific relevant topics.

Passworks REST API

Passworks REST API for Mobile Wallet projects is a simple and intuitive solution to create, manage and distribute Apple Wallet and Google Pay passes.

Passworks provides a complete set of tools, documentation and other resources that enable you to create passes and manage them via our API with ease. Passworks latest version of the REST API documentation (https://api.passworks.io) can be found in GitHub.

Try to figure out the common objects that you can create using the API, such as assets or passes, and also how the authentication and pagination works. We recommend you reading the following additional documentations:

Passworks Frequently Asked Questions

We have been collecting the most frequently asked questions from our prospects and customers, and have decided to create a page with all informations, frequent questions and concerns related to common knowledge gaps.

The Frequently Asked Questions (https://help.passworks.io/) can be found at Passworks Documentation page and is divided by specific topics.

Apple Wallet: Information on what is Apple Wallet, how it works, type of digital passes, characteristics of the technology and much more.
Google Pay: Introduction to Google Pay, how it works, type of passes, characteristics of the technology, how it differentiates versus Apple Wallet and much more.
API: Information on how Passworks REST API works and how to use it.
Quickstart & Miscellaneous: Access to generic questions on Mobile Wallets and Passworks Mobile Wallet platform works.
Security: Provides a high level overview of the security practices that Passworks puts in place to keep our customers data protected all time.
Authentication: Passworks supports two factor authentication by using one-time password and also supports SAML for single sign-on.

Want to know more about Mobile Wallets and Passworks? Contact us today and let’s talk!

Mobile Wallets Explained

We believe that Mobile Wallets are one of the most exciting opportunity to engage with customers via mobile. Mobile Wallets explained tries to answer what mobile wallet is all about.

What is a Mobile Wallet?

A Mobile Wallet is a virtual wallet that stores payment cards information or other generic cards on a mobile device. Mobile Wallets are a convenient way for a customer to make in-store payments and interact with retailers point-of-sale systems.

What are the main Mobile Wallets platforms?

Apple Wallet and Google Pay (formerly Google Wallet / Android Pay) are the two main mobile wallets platforms. Both Apple and Google have made significant investments in building their ecosystems in the last several years.

Both Apple Wallet and Google Pay offer similar capabilities, like the ability to store credit cards to make mobile payments and also the ability to store non-payment passes, such as digital event tickets, loyalty cards, boarding passes and much more. There are some differences between the wallets, such as the type of passes that can be created in each platform and how notifications are managed.

One of the big advantage of Apple Wallet and Google Pay is leveraging the ecosystem that already lives inside iOS and Android phone, and bypassing the need to install another App.

Much more than Mobile Payments!

Mobile Wallets, such as Apple Wallet and Google Pay, are changing how we interact with our phone by implementing mobile wallet functionalities that go beyond payments. The ability to transform the physical billfold to a fully digital wallet with the ability to store coupons, loyalty cards, boarding passes or even tickets, provide business and brands an easy way to reach their customer on mobile and engage in real-time.

What is Mobile Wallet Pass?

Mobile Wallet Pass is also referred as Mobile Wallet Card, Digital Wallet Pass, Digital Wallet Card, Wallet Pass or Wallet Card, and describes the content or information in the form of the non-payment item that can be stored in the Apple Wallet or Google Pay. The best explanation is to think that a Mobile Wallet Pass as the digital equivalent of all thee everyday things included in a physical wallet like loyalty cards, coupons, business cards, tickets and more.

The 5 mobile wallet passes are Event Tickets, Coupons, Generic Cards, Store Cards and Boarding Passes, that can be applied to multiple use cases. The simplicity of the mobile wallet pass is one of its greatest appeals for a business and follows a basic layout for both Apple Wallet and Google Pay.

What are the most common Mobile Wallets use cases?

As previous mentioned, there are literally multiple use case where we can apply the benefits of having a mobile wallet pass. They can go from the classic store coupon or loyalty card, to a much more innovative way to reach and engage with consumers. The following list shows some examples of use cases.

Coupons
Membership or Club Card
Exclusive Card to access offers, promotions or content
Loyalty Card
Loyalty Reward Offer
Voucher
Giftcard
Alerts, Updates & Reminders Pass
Employee Card
Event Ticket

Wrap up!

Now you know what is a Mobile Wallet, the benefits and what it can do for your business. Mobile Wallet are great tool to surprise, engage and delight your customers.

Want to learn more about how Mobile Wallet can help you connect with customers at each stage of the customer lifecycle? Contact us today and let’s talk!

Promutuel launches digital insurance certificate

Canadian Promutuel Insurance has launched its digital auto insurance certificate. The digital insurance certificate allows motorists to have, on their mobile device, the certificate proving that they have the compulsory insurance required by law.

Promutuel Auto Insurance Certificate

The Promutuel Insurance certificate adapts to the main application systems. It is available in Apple’s iOS version as well as on Android. For the Apple version, it will be automatically downloaded into the Wallet app. Also, it allows the automatic updating of information when there is a modification to an already insured vehicle and it is easily shared with any temporary driver in different ways such as text or email.

Promutuel Insurance partnered with Passworks to create the digital insurance certificate.

The growth of Mobile Wallets and the importance of having integrated loyalty programs

Mobile Wallets offer benefits to all stakeholders, both customers and merchants, by bringing to live mobile payments with enhanced security features while allowing a faster checkout, but also enhancing loyalty solutions.

Forecast US mobile in-store payment volume (Source: BI Intelligence´s 2016 Mobile Payments Report)

As expected, in-store mobile payments are growing and recent estimation finds that it will reach $75 billion this year and $503 billion by 2020.

Nevertheless, mobile payments still face some high barriers, but as loyalty programs are integrated and more consumers rely on their mobile wallets, adoption and usage will surge over the next years.

Consumers want more from their mobile wallets. The inclusive mobile wallet with features and services, on top of just debit and credit cards, is very appealing to consumers.

Top features consumers want for Mobile Wallets (Source: Urban Airship Report – UK and US Adults Q2 2016)

Loyalty or store cards and coupons are among the most desired features for mobile wallet users. 60% of users have used a loyalty card through a mobile wallet, and there is a high demand with two-thirds of users wanting to. Coupons, like the loyalty programs, are the second most desired feature with 53% claiming that have used them and 62% of customers wanting coupons on mobile wallets.

Apple Wallet mobile coupon

Integrated marketing tools such as loyalty programs and other add-on feature are key to drive mobile wallet adoption and usage. Consumers are showing interest in wallets with integrated loyalty programs.

HOW ANDROID PAY WORKS

Android Pay (previously named Google Wallet) is Google platform for payments using Android devices. It was initial launched in last quarter 2015 in the US, and currently we are seeing global roll-out with UK launch in May, Singapore and Australia in July and other countries already scheduled before the end of 2016.

The Android Pay platform consists in two main features, Payments and Passes. The first one allows you to use your device (with NFC technology enabled) for making payments by registering your bank cards into it. The second allows you to install mobile passes (Coupons, Membership Cards, etc) into your device’s wallet, as it already exists in the Apple Wallet. Currently, Passworks only allows to manage Passes.

Payments using Android Pay

Google started by launchingGoogle Wallet, with the idea that all features related with payments would be integrated into a single platform, however they probably saw a niche by separating the mobile payments (and mobile passes) into a new context which they called Android Pay.

If you happen to be in one of the places where Android Pay is already released, it should be very easy to start using the Payments solution, just need to confirm your bank support availability.

Just need to add your credit/debit card to the Android Pay App and you can start making payments in every NFC card reader available everywhere. Another great feature is that the app records all yours transactions and gives you a simple expenses manager, that, in the future, may become a great personal finances application with reports and budgets manager.

Mobile Passes for Android Pay

For Passworks the most interesting part is the possibility of creating and distributing what we call Passes or Cards. Android Pay support Loyalty Cards, Offers and Gift Cards.

You can either add them yourself, by taking any card with a barcode you have, as long as you have access for the number of the barcode, and add to your wallet or you can navigate into some merchant website and use the “Save to Android Pay” button.

The main idea behind you be allowed to add your own cards, is to allow to have a digital copy of them.

Adding Passes to the Wallet

You have two ways of adding mobile coupons to your Android Pay Wallet App.

The first is to create yourself, a digital copy of your existent cards (coupons, loyalty, membership, etc.) that holds one of the barcodes available. You just have to tap the + button inside the app and fill the details, simple like that.

Adding a new Pass

The other way is when a specific merchant uses the Android Pay API, directly or through a gateway (like us), generates their passes and make it available on their website, or distribute (by SMS, Email or other) using url linked to the Save to Pay button.

Save to Android Pay

After the passes are installed, you can (if locations were added) receive notifications when the device is nearby the specific location.

Using the Passes

In most cases, the action of redeeming or using some pass is basicaly to read the barcode using some reader (app or scanning device) and for the cases of mobile coupons generated by the merchant, it can also update the pass information after redeeming it.

How to Use Apple Pay

Tim Cook named 2015 “the year of Apple Pay”! Apple´s mobile payment platform is a huge success and it´s getting even bigger, with an impressive number of banking partners and retail stores accepting that are growing every day.

Nevertheless, there are still two questions that are raised. How Apple Pay works and how to get the iPhone ready for it.

Get your iPhone ready

Before you start, you must have a compatible device and the correct iOS version.

For in-store purchase, Apple Pay is only supported by iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus, and now by the new iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus, due to the fact that those iPhones are equipped with NFC and also have the touch ID sensor. For in-App purchase, and additionally to the iPhones listed previously, Apple Pay also works with iPad Air 2, iPad Mini 3, iPad Mini 4 and iPad Pro.

You will also need to update the iOS version of your iPhone to 8.1 or a newest version to activate Apple Pay functionality.

Once your iPhone is setup, you will need to link a credit or debit card to use for payments. If you already have a card associated to your Apple ID account to make App Store or iTunes payments, you can choose to associate that card with Apple Pay.

Otherwise, you can also add additional cards to Passbook Wallet. Just open Passbook and tap the plus sign on the the top right corner. Tap “Add Another Card” and then follow the entry fields with the card information or speed the process by taking a picture of your card with your iPhone.

Once a card is added to Passbook, your iPhone will guide you through the entire setup process, validating your card, granting access to Apple Pay and finally to store it in Passbook. The card linked to your Apple ID will be your default card in Apple Pay but you can always change it in the future by going to Passbook settings.

Apple Pay on Apple Watch

Even if you are already using Apple Pay on your iPhone, you need to add your payment cards to your Apple Watch using the Apple Watch App on your iPhone.

Go to the Apple Watch App on your iPhone and tap on Passbook & Apple Pay. Then tap “Add Credit or Debit Card” and follow the instructions to add the card details and to associate it to Apple Pay. After your card is verified, you will receive a notification on your Apple Watch saying your card is ready for Apple Pay.

How Apple Pay works

When buying something at a physical store, you hold your iPhone close to the wireless payment terminal and then use the touch IP to finish and validate your purchase. The beauty of Apple Pay is that you don´t even need to unlock your iPhone or launch Passbook, since the phone will automatically wake up when it gets in the range of the terminal and initiates the payment process.

You can also use your Apple Watch to pay on a brick and mortar store. In those situations, you have to double press the button underneath the digital crown which will bring up your default Apple Pay card. Then, hold your Watch close to the contactless payment terminal until you hear a beep and/or feel a vibration.

If you decide to by something on online partner store using any of the Apple Pay supported devices, you will just use Touch ID to complete and validate the purchase.

Currently Apple Pay is already available in the US and in the UK. And what makes Apple Pay a success, is the growing retail acceptance and the easiness to use.

It’s the Apple season time!

Yesterday was the Apple event in San Francisco and it was massive, presenting its new lineup of products and updates. From Apple Watch bands to the new iPad Pro, passing by the new Apple TV and finishing with the announcement of the new iPhone 6S and iPhone 6S Plus.

Apple Watch

Apple announced that the Watch was gaining new bands, with the special mention of stylish new designs from Hermes and others, and that the Apple Watch Sport had some new finishes.

Additionally, the company showcased watchOS2 that will be official released on 16^th of September.

iPad Pro

Apple unveiled their ultimate and the most powerful iPad ever, the iPad Pro. This beautiful new iPad has a high definition 12.9” screen with enough screen real estate to allow split, “full-screen” multitasking.

The main details of the new iPad Pro are:

9” screen rocking a 2,732 x 2,048 display,
9 mm thin and 712 grams’ weights,
Powerful new A9X chip that is 1.8x than the A8,
10 hour battery life,
8MP iSight camera,
Touch ID, and
Powerful four speaker audio.

Combining with the iPAd Pro, Apple also introduced the iPad Keyboard and the Precise Apple Pencil.

The iPad Pro is really aiming to be a content creation machine, and to do so, Apple wanted it to have a physical keyboard to handle. The presented keyboard, is very similar to Microsoft Surface keyboard.

Apple also announced a stylus for iPad, which they dubbed as Apple Precise Pencil since is accurate “to the pixel”.

iPad Mini 4

Apple did a brief mention to the new iPad Mini 4, referring that the mini´s internals have been update and that now it had the same power as the iPad Air 2.

Apple TV

Apple revisited the Apple TV device, with a new App store (a clear believe of Tim Cook that the future of TV is apps), OS (tvOS) and a multitouch remote with a powerful Siri support. There is also a more emphasis on casual gaming with the new Apple TV.

But the star of the new Apple TV is definitely its remote with the new Siri powered touch versatile remote. The new Apple TV Remote is a Bluetooth 4.0 powered that allows user a much more advanced control due to its variety of inputs.

iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus

Tim Cook unveiled the two new iPhones, the iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus. The updated new devices bring to life several new features, from which the new 3D touch is the most interesting because it can be a major evolution in how user interact with their iPhones. These new devices have a new and improved 12MP camera that shoots 4K video.

The main details of the new iPhone 6s and iPhones 6s Plus are:

3D Touch,
64-bit A9 chip,
12MO back camera with 4K video recording.
5MP FaceTime HD and Retina Flash,
Extra-quick new Touch ID.
Better WiFi support.

The 3D Touch for iPhone revealed, empowers the devices to sense pressure and give tactile feedback to user. Ultimately, 3D Touch is about saving users taps and getting them to what they want more quickly.

Both new iPhones, are bringing a more quality photography experience with a new and improved 12MP iSight Cameras that can shoot 4K video. There is also a new front facing camera with 5MP HD.

During the new iPhones presentation, it was also announced the official release date of Apple´s new mobile operating system, the iOS9, which will happen on the 16^th of September.

To summarise in brief words, it was a great event with very exciting new hardware presented and that finished with the sound of One Direction.

*The images here used are property of Apple.com

The Benefits of Digital Event Tickets

In a world where we can download and add into our smartphone all sort of things, such as music, books, etc., doesn’t it makes sense to have that same with event tickets?

The waiting for a post delivery of the paper ticket, having to print a ticket beforehand or to go somewhere to pick them up can be a hindrance in an age where time is increasingly important.

The promise of digital wallets can change all that, and with Passworks you can create a pass for an event, turning a paper ticket in to a digital ticket, allowing the user to safely and easily keep it on his smartphone.

Once a pass is created it’s easy to distribute it to customers via email or SMS, with a straightforward link to open and add the digital ticket into their phone in Passbook, to be kept until it’s needed on the day of the event, be it a movie, concert, museum, sporting event etc.

The convenience of not having to carry around a physical ticket makes the whole process of buying and attending an event that much easier for the customer. There’s no longer the worry of losing the ticket or the hassle of having to find it in your wallet, not to mention the printing costs saved by all the new process.

The most impressive aspect of a digital pass over a paper ticket is that fact that it’s dynamic, meaning it can be updated with new information in the lead up to the event or to send a reminder the day before. That pass is also fraud-protected being each digitally signed.

The fumble around in your pocket in the queue is also eliminated via location-based technology implemented in the pass to appear on the users’ lock screen when they are in the proximity, further aiding an easy, stress-free way to store event tickets.

Digital event tickets make it even easier for event organisers to manage their customers as you can easily track their demographics as information is sent back to them from the pass, increasing understanding of their actions and behaviour.