Systems and methods for delivering loyalty incentives

An electronic payment system for managing a loyalty incentive scheme, comprising:

• a plurality of payment terminals, each including:
• an electronic screen for displaying information to a user relating to a payment transaction;
• data input means, including at least one payment instrument interface for interfacing with a customer payment instrument, such as a credit card, and receiving payment instrument data therefrom for conducting a payment transaction;
• and
• at least one telecommunication module;
• a terminal management server for managing the operation of the payment terminals, wherein the terminal management server is configured to maintain a first retailer user account and a second retailer user account, the first retailer user account permitting secure communication with a first set of payment terminals associated with the first retailer user account so as to download a first customized version of an application to be executed on the first set of payment terminals, the first set of payment terminals belonging to an owner of the first retailer user account, the second retailer user account permitting secure communication with a second set of payment terminals associated with the second retailer user account so as to download a second customized version of the application to be executed on the second set of payment terminals, the second set of payment terminals belonging to an owner of the second retailer user account;
• and
• an incentive management server for managing incentives to be applied at the payment terminals and for allowing a first loyalty campaign and a second loyalty campaign to be established, configured and maintained, wherein the first loyalty scheme is associated with the first retailer user account and the second loyalty scheme is associated with the second retailer user account;
• wherein the payment terminals in the first set of payment terminals and the payment terminals in the second set of payment terminals are arranged to communicate, via the at least one telecommunication module, with the terminal management server to download the first customized version of the application and the second customized version of the application, respectively, for execution by the respective payment terminal, the respective one of the first and second customized version of the application configuring the respective payment terminal to:
• receive, via the data input means, a value of a first customer purchase to be made during a first customer visit to a retailer;
• determine a loyalty incentive, as a function of the respective first and second loyalty scheme, in dependence on the value of the first customer purchase;
• interface, via the at least one payment instrument interface, with the customer payment instrument to receive therefrom payment instrument data that is utilized to securely conduct a payment transaction with a payment server to conclude the first customer purchase;
• display, on the electronic screen, successful conclusion of the first customer purchase;
• and
• determine a unique identifier associated with the loyalty incentive that is derived from the payment instrument data that was utilized to securely conduct the payment transaction with the payment server;
• transmit, via the at least one telecommunication module, the loyalty incentive and associated unique identifier between the incentive management server and the payment terminal, wherein the incentive management server is arranged to store the loyalty incentive and its unique identifier, the executed application further configuring the at least one of the payment terminals to:
• receive, via the data input means, the unique identifier provided during a second customer visit to the retailer;
• transmit, via the at least one telecommunication module, a redemption request to the incentive management server, the redemption request including the unique identifier provided during the second customer visit to the retailer;
• receive, via the at least one telecommunication module, a redemption response from the incentive management server, the redemption response comprising the loyalty incentive associated with the unique identifier;
• display, via the electronic screen, an initial value of a second customer purchase to be made during the second customer visit to the retailer;
• apply the loyalty incentive received as part of the redemption response against the initial value;
• display, via the electronic screen, a discounted value of the second customer purchase;
• securely conduct a payment transaction with a payment server, via the at least one payment instrument interface, to conclude the second customer purchase;
• and
• display, on the electronic screen, as a function of the respective first and second loyalty scheme, successful conclusion of the second customer purchase;
• wherein the unique identifier associated with the loyalty incentive is initially determined in response to interfacing with the customer payment instrument to receive therefrom payment instrument data that is utilized to securely conduct the payment transaction with the payment server during a first customer visit;
• wherein the payment instrument data that is utilized to securely conduct the payment transaction includes a payment instrument identifier, such as a card number, the unique identifier being generated by applying a function on the payment instrument identifier, wherein the loyalty incentive and the associated unique identifier generated from the payment instrument is first stored at the incentive management server during the first customer visit to the retailer.