Digital Transactions Authoritative, insightful and timely information for payments professionals
Starbucks Corp. has proven that consumer apps for buying coffee are becoming more popular, and now convenience stores have joined in with c-store chain Wawa Inc. launching its mobile-payments and rewards app.
To use the payment function of the Wawa app, which is available for iOS and Android smart phones, a consumer must enroll a Wawa prepaid card and load funds onto it. At checkout, the app generates a Quick Response code that the store employee scans a Wawa prepaid card and load funds onto it. At checkout, the co, which then deducts the purchase amount from the funds balance.
Wawa, which has more than 680 locations in the Mid-Atlantic region and Florida, is most excited about the rewards function of the app. Consumers can sign up for the program within the app, track their purchases, and redeem points using the app.
The app also has a store-locator function, nutrition information, and a gas-price checker.
“Part of our commitment to fulfilling customers’ lives every day includes connecting with customers at deeper levels, and we are thrilled to provide new, meaningful, and time-saving technologies that will help us create the added convenience and connection points our customers desire,” said Chris Gheysens, Wawa president and chief executive. Wawa is based in Wawa, Penn.
Starbuck is a powerhouse among retailers providing a mobile payment service. The Starbucks app accounted for 15% of transactions at its company-operated U.S. stores in fiscal 2015’s first quarter ended Dec. 28, up from 14% a year earlier. The mobile app generates 7 million U.S. transactions per week.
