Mobile App Features that Drive Loyalty (with 3 Case Studies)

Why a mobile app fosters loyalty the best

A mobile app can be the ultimate tool for many brands to foster loyalty. By being readily accessible on customers' smartphones, it ensures constant opportunities for communication and immediate engagement. Mobile apps provide industry-leading brands with invaluable touchpoints in the customer journey to nurture loyalty. With the opportunity for direct and real-time communication through push notifications and in-app messaging, brands with great mobile app engagement are enabled to always deliver their message. As a result of this high-level engagement, they are in the position to build stronger customer relationships that result in overall increased engagement with their online community. It’s one of the most effective best practices of relationship marketing. Not convinced? Check out these statistics that back our statements:

• ☑️By 2025, mobile commerce is projected to exceed $728 billion - eMarketer

• ☑️Mobile app usage has increased by 34% from 2018 to 2022, surpassing mobile browser usage, which decreased by 8% - eMarketer

• ☑️In the US, annual in-app purchase spending is expected to surpass $50 billion by 2025, up from $30.4 billion in 2020 - Insider Intelligence

• ☑️Compared to mobile websites, apps have 3x higher conversion rates - Criteo

• ☑️Apps account for 70% or more of mobile sales for retailers with both apps and websites - Criteo

What app features improve brand loyalty

There are several app features to be considered when looking for the perfect ones to improve brand loyalty. By harnessing the power of mobile app features like these, brands can effectively cultivate long-lasting customer loyalty, drive business growth, and gain a competitive edge in the market. Brands can leverage the following app features:

• ☑️Personalized user profiles

• ☑️Seamless integration with existing loyalty programs

• ☑️Push notifications and communication

• ☑️Real-time analytics and reporting

• ☑️Enhanced security measures and fraud prevention

• ☑️Rewards and point systems

Personalized user profiles
Gather valuable customer data to provide tailored experiences and rewards, catering to individual preferences.

Seamless integration with existing loyalty programs
Streamline the customer experience by integrating the app with existing loyalty programs, ensuring a unified and consistent approach across platforms.

Push notifications and communication
Deliver timely updates, promotions, and personalized messages through push notifications, fostering a stronger connection and enhancing customer engagement.

Real-time analytics and reporting
Gain valuable insights through real-time data analysis, enabling data-driven decision-making to improve loyalty initiatives.

Enhanced security measures and fraud prevention
Instil trust and confidence in customers by implementing robust security measures, safeguarding their information and reinforcing loyalty.

Rewards and point systems
Incentivize customer engagement through a digital rewards system, creating a sense of loyalty and satisfaction. Crowny offers the unique interact-to-earn mechanism.

‘’59% of consumers are more likely to join a loyalty or rewards program offered by a brand if it is tied to a mobile app. Plus, 82% of consumers are more likely to shop at stores that have loyalty programs versus those that don’t. So a loyalty program in an app is a win-win’’ - Technology Advice

Industry-leading examples

Several industry-leading companies have successfully leveraged apps to drive loyalty, setting an example for brands.

Nike

Nike has effectively used its NikePlus app to drive customer loyalty in the sportswear industry. The app offers personalized training plans, exclusive product releases, and rewards for achieving fitness goals. Through features like in-app challenges and social sharing, Nike has built a community of loyal followers and engaged customers. The app's seamless integration with Nike's e-commerce platform allows for easy purchasing, further enhancing the customer experience. Nike's successful NikePlus app has resulted in increased brand loyalty, customer retention, and a stronger connection with its target audience.

Sephora

Sephora's Beauty Insider app offers a comprehensive loyalty program tailored to beauty enthusiasts. The app provides personalized product recommendations, exclusive discounts, and a virtual beauty community. By leveraging data-driven personalization and gamification elements, Sephora has successfully fostered a sense of community and loyalty among customers, driving repeat purchases and brand advocacy.

Amazon

Through its Prime membership program and mobile app, Amazon has drastically improved customer loyalty. Prime members enjoy free shipping, exclusive discounts, and access to streaming services. The app offers personalized recommendations, seamless ordering, and a seamless cross-platform experience. Amazon's app-driven loyalty strategy has resulted in a large and dedicated customer base, driving customer retention and increased sales.

8 advantages for brands with a mobile loyalty program

Brands with a mobile loyalty program enjoy numerous advantages that contribute to their success. By implementing a mobile loyalty program, brands can enjoy these advantages, fostering customer loyalty, gaining valuable insights, and driving business growth in a competitive market. Here are key benefits to consider:

• ☑️Increased engagement

• ☑️Enhanced loyalty

• ☑️Valuable data

• ☑️Improved insights

• ☑️Differentiation

• ☑️Cost-effective 

• ☑️Enhanced experience

• ☑️Word-of-mouth 

Increased engagement
A mobile loyalty program enables brands to engage customers more effectively, fostering a deeper connection and encouraging repeat purchases.

Enhanced loyalty
By offering exclusive rewards, personalized experiences, and targeted promotions, brands can cultivate loyalty among their customer base, resulting in higher retention rates.

Valuable data
Mobile loyalty programs provide brands with access to valuable customer data, enabling them to understand preferences, behaviors, and trends, and make informed business decisions.

Improved insights
With comprehensive analytics and reporting tools, brands can gain actionable insights into customer behavior, allowing them to refine marketing strategies and optimize their loyalty program offerings.

Differentiation
A mobile loyalty program sets brands apart from competitors, offering a unique value proposition that can attract and retain customers, fostering a sense of brand loyalty.

Cost-effective 
Leveraging a mobile loyalty program allows brands to target their marketing efforts more precisely, reducing marketing costs and maximizing return on investment.

Enhanced experience
Mobile loyalty programs provide convenience and ease of use for customers, allowing them to easily track rewards, receive personalized offers, and enjoy a seamless mobile experience to boost their loyalty loop performance.

Word-of-mouth 
Satisfied customers participating in a mobile loyalty program are more likely to recommend the brand to others, resulting in positive word-of-mouth promotion and increased customer acquisition.

Crowny’s value-add

In today's competitive market, the need for effective mobile loyalty solutions to foster customer loyalty and drive growth is increasing. Besides being able to provide many of the features mentioned earlier, Crowny adds value to the current offering within the loyalty industry with the following mobile app features:

Multi-brand app

By offering a multi-brand app, consumers do not have to download multiple apps to join a diversity of programs. It enables brands to bundle their pulling power and lowers the barrier for consumers to join loyalty programs. This principle provides users, and therefore the brand communities, with a convenient user experience. Brands can collaborate and benefit from increased exposure, fostering a sense of community and loyalty among users with community marketing.

In-app wallet

Provide an in-app wallet that unlocks untapped loyalty mechanisms, such as earnings boosters for staking crypto and spending blockchain-based loyalty points. These features encourage active user engagement and loyalty from customers.

… customers would do better than redeem the (loyalty) points conveniently via a mobile app, rather they access multiple loyalty rewards programs on a single app like a digital wallet, reducing the lag time even further, and enhancing the customer experience - Deloitte

Omnichannel incentives

Utilize omnichannel incentives, including offline marketing channels with QR codes and geofencing, as well as social media integrations with sharing incentives and user-generated content promotions. Gather opt-in interest data to deliver personalized and relevant content, nurturing stronger connections with customers. Integration with e-commerce platforms enhances conversion incentives, driving sales and loyalty.

Opt-in and zero-party data

Prioritize privacy and trust by collecting zero-party data, respecting user preferences, and preventing intrusive experiences. Offer an in-app browser for a seamless experience with any brand, providing anonymous full-journey tracking for valuable insights into customer behavior for the best app marketing.

Sign up now

With these powerful mobile loyalty solutions, businesses can unlock the full potential of their loyalty programs, fostering customer engagement, retention, and long-term success. Crowny enables brands of any size to revolutionize their loyalty strategy and gain a competitive edge in the market.

Get early access to a demo now.