The way customers engage with brands is changing. Rewards are no longer just about collecting points or filling stamp cards, they’re evolving into phygital experiences that blend physical and digital interactions. Globally, some of the biggest names in retail, food, beauty, and lifestyle are experimenting with new ways to keep customers engaged.
For Philippine businesses, these examples show not only where loyalty is heading, but also how it can be adapted locally through digitized programs like the RUSH Digital Punch Card. These innovations also mirror local businesses’ customer engagement strategies that are just starting to evolve.
Customer expectations are shifting. Today’s consumers want more than discounts - they want personalization, convenience, and experiences that feel unique. This is why global brands are transforming their programs into digital ecosystems that reward both purchases and engagement.
From blockchain to augmented reality to sustainability-driven perks, global leaders are showing us the future of loyalty.
Photo from TechChrunch
Starbucks piloted Odyssey, a web3 loyalty program built on the Polygon blockchain. Instead of points, customers collected NFT “Stamps,” unique digital assets that unlocked perks like exclusive merchandise, digital collectibles, and access to curated experiences. Though short-lived, Odyssey illustrated how loyalty can evolve beyond discounts. By merging digital ownership with rewards, Starbucks tapped into community, status, and the collectible mindset.
Photo from Prestige
Sephora’s Beauty Pass sits at the heart of its loyalty system, letting members earn points from purchases, reviews, app usage, and more. To deepen engagement, Sephora built Virtual Artist, an AR tool that lets users try on makeup digitally. This augments the in-store experience and keeps customers interacting between purchases. Points then translate to rewards in the Rewards Boutique (products, samples, perks).
Takeaway: Loyalty becomes richer when technology brings experiences AR, NFTs, digital ownership into the fold. By making reward programs interactive, brands transform them from simple discount and freebie programs intoengagement engines.
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Photo from AsiaOne
Nike links its Run Club app to Nike Membership. Activities like running, challenges, and training aren’t just fitness tools, they feed into loyalty. Users unlock perks (early access, content, offers), and sometimes limited physical rewards when campaign milestones are met. The Nike app and Nike.com act as central hubs. They unify everything a member does, from tracking activities in the NRC app to accessing product launches, managing their account, and redeeming benefits. This integration connects fitness, shopping, and community into one seamless ecosystem that keeps users engaged both online and offline.
Photo from Sneaker News
Adidas’ adiClub drives app engagement through day-to-day activities. Members earn points from shopping and reviews, but also activity tracking (Adidas Running, Training), and event attendance. Points stack into tiers that unlock perks: birthday vouchers, free shipping, early access, and freebies.
Takeaway: Loyalty that rewards what people do (not just what they buy) creates deeper integration into their customers’ lives. When fitness, challenges, and daily habits tie into rewards, you blur the line between brand and lifestyle.
Photo from H&M
H&M runs a tiered loyalty system (Core → Plus) where customers earn points from purchases across channels. What’s interesting is H&M’s sustainability efforts: through its garment collecting and recycling program, customers can drop off unwanted textiles (even from other brands) at H&M stores. In some markets, that is rewarded with a voucher or points. This ties recycling (a physical action) back into their rewards system - a meaningful phygital loop.
Photo from IKEA
IKEA Family lets members earn points online and in-store, enjoy special discounts, store events, and perks such as free coffee at their café. IKEA also pushes circular economy initiatives, for example, Buy Back & Resell of pre-loved IKEA products in some markets (U.S.) as part of its sustainability agenda.
Though in the Philippines the focus is more on points, discounts, and member benefits, IKEA’s global circular drives show how loyalty can incorporate sustainability.
Takeaway (Phygital + Circular): Loyalty becomes powerful when it rewards sustainable behaviors: recycling, circular shopping, reuse. That adds stickiness, and most importantly a greater purpose for customers to engage with your business.
These examples show that loyalty no longer fits a single mold. For Philippine brands:
For Philippine businesses, these examples make the lesson clear: loyalty must evolve. It’s no longer about stamp cards or generic promos - it’s about creating digital loyalty programs Philippine customers truly engage with by incorporating unique experiences, personalization, and providing more value.
You don’t need the same level of investment to deliver equally engaging, digital-first experiences. With RUSH Loyalty, Philippine F&B and retail businesses can build stronger programs through three effective formats:
And because all RUSH Loyalty programs integrate with RUSH eStore, every transaction, whether in-store or online, automatically fuels your rewards program and creates a seamless customer journey. With solutions like white-label loyalty programs, RUSH enables Philippine brands to deliver global-level experiences under their own identity.
Are global rewards programs moving beyond discounts?
Yes. Starbucks and Nike show that rewards can be tied to digital collectibles and lifestyle engagement, not just transactions.
What does “phygital loyalty” mean?
It means programs that work across both physical and digital touchpoints — from in-store purchases to online orders and mobile apps.
Can Philippine businesses adopt these innovations?
Absolutely. With RUSH Loyalty and the Digital Punch Card, local businesses can replicate global strategies on a scale that fits their needs.
Around the world, loyalty is evolving fast. These global innovations prove that rewards today are more than transactions; they are relationships powered by technology and creativity.
Now, it is the Philippines’ turn. With the RUSH Digital Punch Card, local businesses can bring that same innovation home. This mobile-first solution helps brands create data-driven, digital rewards programs that feel simple yet powerful, giving customers a reason to return and connect. Integrated directly with RUSH eStore, every in-store or online purchase becomes part of one seamless journey toward long-term loyalty.
Book a demo today and see how the Digital Punch Card can turn everyday transactions into extraordinary growth. Early adopters even get 50% OFF the Beta plan, making this the perfect time to innovate and lead.
