Ackroo releases merchant branded white labeled
mobile application for consumers
OTTAWA, Aug. 22, 2016 /CNW/ - Ackroo Inc. (TSXV: AKR)
(OTC: AKRFF) ("Ackroo" or the "Company"), a gift card, loyalty and
rewards technology and services provider, today announced
enhancements to Ackroo Anywhere, their market leading gift card,
loyalty and rewards platform. The enhancements focus on the
customer experience allowing merchants to deploy their own branded
native mobile application for their customers. Ackroo
merchants will be able to offer their customers the ability to use
their mobile application to:
- Register their information
- Fund and redeem gift card/loyalty/promotions by using the
mobile application to interface with Ackroo integrated Point of
Sale Management Systems through QR codes
- Check balances, transactions, and update profile
- Find locations by proximity, hours of operation, and other
location information
- Check program information and policies
- Make support inquiries
Consumers will also be able to go online via the merchant's
website to buy e-gift cards, reload, check and transfer balances,
which will update their accounts so that they can redeem via the
mobile app as well. All fully branded for the merchant but
powered by Ackroo.
The Company's first merchant to use the initial version of the
application has gone live across 20 locations in Ontario, Canada. In version 2 of the release,
expected in Q4 2016, there will be other key enhancements added,
including:
- Enhanced locations and profile view
- Ability to use mobile on Ackroo certified debit/credit terminal
machines, Virtual Terminal, and Integrated Management Systems
through QR code, Barcode and/or Pay Code
- Merging cards and transferring funds
- Gift reload
The product will continue to evolve in an effort to become the
markets leading white-labelled mobile gift card and loyalty
application helping to further differentiate Ackroo from its
peers.
"This product enhancement is a transformational step forward for
Ackroo", said Steve Levely, chief
executive officer at Ackroo. "Many analysts suggest that
there are now more mobile devices then people globally and so it
was just a matter of time before we would need to take this step
forward. The timing was right when we acquired D1 Mobile's Appetite
platform earlier this year to allow us to make these enhancements
as our customers are now pushing for us to deploy a mobile solution
as a complement to our physical and virtual card offerings.
We have also seen many of our competitors evolve their product with
mobile and in an effort to remain competitive, it was time to make
this critical enhancement. Mobile applications branded to the
merchant encourage brand engagement, replaces hard and virtual
cards for mobile users, and allows for merchant specific content to
be pushed to the customer, such as campaign and promotional
rewards. Mobile is really the last step in closing the merchant to
customer loop. Commercially we believe this will have a
significant impact on our business, not just in helping us win
against our competition, but we also anticipate many of our
merchants who are using our platform solely for gift cards will
want to explore adding loyalty into their business because of the
convenience and interest for consumers through mobile. For a
minimal increase of approximately 25% more than what our gift card
and loyalty customers are paying us today, they will swiftly be
able to deploy the mobile application and further grow their
business. A win for our merchants, which is a win for Ackroo
and our shareholders."
Ackroo also announces they have granted options to purchase
410,000 common shares to employees of the Company at a price of
$0.235, for a period of 3 years.
The grant is subject to the approval of the TSX Venture
Exchange.
About Ackroo
Ackroo provides gift card and loyalty processing solutions to
help small to medium sized businesses attract, retain and grow
their customers and their revenues. Through a SaaS based business
model Ackroo provides an in-store and online automated solution to
help merchants process gift card & loyalty transactions at the
point of sale, provide key administrative and marketing data, and
to allow customers to access and manage their gift card and loyalty
accounts. Ackroo also provides important marketing services to
assist their merchants with utilizing Ackroo's technology solution.
Ackroo is headquartered in Ottawa,
Canada. For more information, visit: www.ackroo.com.
The TSX Venture Exchange has neither approved nor disapproved
the contents of this press release. Neither TSX Venture Exchange
nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in
policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for
the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
Forward Looking Statements
These forecasts and forward-looking statements are not
guarantees of future performance and activities and are subject to
risks and uncertainties. The company has based these
forward-looking statements on assumptions and assessments made by
its management in light of their experience and their perception of
historical trends, current conditions, expected future developments
and other factors they believe to be appropriate. Important factors
that could cause actual results, developments and business
decisions to differ materially from those anticipated in these
forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to: the
company's ability to raise enough capital to support the company's
go forward plans; the overall global economic environment; the
impact of competition and new technologies; general market,
political and economic conditions in the countries in which the
company operates; projected capital expenditures and liquidity;
changes in the company's strategy; government regulations and
approvals; changes in customers' budgeting priorities; plus other
factors that may arise. Any forward-looking statements in this
press release are made as of the date hereof, and the company
undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any
forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information,
future events or otherwise, except as required by law.
SOURCE Ackroo Inc.
