How much does it cost to build a customer rewards app for the retail sector?

Standard price for a customer rewards app for the retail sector: $150,000

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What is a customer rewards app for the retail sector?

Customer rewards apps for the retail sector are used by brick-and-mortar retailers to reward loyalty program members. Retailer rewards apps are available in all sectors of commerce, but are particularly popular in the retail sector because so many consumers shop at multiple locations on a regular basis. A customer rewards app allows companies to track customer purchases over time and offer special discounts or other benefits to their most loyal shoppers.

Customer rewards apps are similar to other loyalty marketing apps, such as couponing apps. Cardlytics is one example of a customer reward app.

Here are some recent customer rewards app for the retail sector examples built with Xperts:

  • An app that will survey customers, create challenges, get rewards, and more. The app is free to download and will be available in the U.S. and Canada.

What is the typical cost to build a customer rewards app for the retail sector?

A customer rewards app for the retail sector usually costs $150,000 to build. However, the total cost can be as low as $150,000 or as high as $150,000. A customer rewards app for the retail sector with a low number of features (also known as a "minimum viable product", or MVP) will be more affordable than an app that includes all intended functionality.

For example, here are some recent price quotes for a customer rewards app for the retail sector from Xperts:

  • $150,000

How long does it take to build a customer rewards app for the retail sector?

A customer rewards app for the retail sector usually takes 2,000 hours to build. However, a customer rewards app for the retail sector can be built in as few as 2,000 hours, or in as many as 2,000 hours. The exact timeline mostly depends on how complicated your app is. As a general rule, it will take longer if you require highly custom designs, niche features, or non-standard release platforms.

For example, Xperts produced the following recent hourly estimates for a customer rewards app for the retail sector:

  • 2,000

How to successfully grow your customer rewards app for the retail sector

A customer rewards app can grow by providing a custom and personalized experience for its user base. A client of mine built a loyalty app that allows shoppers to collect points and rewards just by using their phone while they shop. Rewards can be redeemed on the spot, so customers can accumulate points without ever needing to leave the store. This app offers retailers the ability to tie consumer purchases back to marketing campaigns and product launches so they can promote new items or discounts in real time.

Risks and challenges of building a customer rewards app for the retail sector

A customer rewards app faces legal and reputational risks associated with the operation of a loyalty program, the storage and protection of sensitive payment data, and discrimination against customers. It is important to obtain legal counsel to determine whether your loyalty app is subject to state or federal loyalty legislation and whether you need to comply with anti-discrimination laws, such as the Americans With Disabilities Act. Your customer rewards app should take measures to protect sensitive data related to payments and should include mechanisms for reporting platform abuse.

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