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Coupons

Overview​

Coupons are a powerful way to award users with tangible and intangible rewards in your gamification system. They provide a bridge between digital engagement and real-world benefits.

Coupons serve two main purposes:

  • Providing tangible benefits (discounts, free shipping, special access)
  • Creating collectible digital items users can earn or purchase

When designing your coupon strategy, remember the S.A.P.S. principle (Status, Access, Power, Stuff) - users typically value status and access more than physical goods, which can be more cost-effective for your programme.

Types of coupons​

Tangible benefits​

Coupons can represent concrete benefits such as:

  • Percentage or fixed amount discounts
  • Free shipping
  • Special access (premium content, training courses)
  • Experiences (day off work, lunch with CEO)

Users redeem these coupons to claim the associated benefit.

Collectible items​

Coupons can also function as digital collectibles that users gather throughout their journey. Since coupons can have associated images, they can represent themed sets of collectible items that enhance user engagement through collection mechanics.

How users can earn coupons​

Users can obtain coupons through several methods:

Coupon implementation​

Code types​

Coupons can use one of two code structures:

Single code

  • All users who earn the coupon receive the same code
  • Works with both OneStep and TwoStep redemption modes
  • Can use Limited Series functionality

Multiple codes

  • Each user receives a unique code from a predefined list
  • Codes are assigned sequentially until exhausted
  • Limited Series is automatically set to the number of available codes

Important considerations:

  • Coupon codes must be unique across your entire site
  • Once created, you cannot change from single to multiple codes (or vice versa)

Acquisition methods​

Coupons can be either:

Bought with points

  • Configure which point type and how many points are required
  • Only redeemable points can be used for coupon purchases

Earned through activities

  • Awarded through behaviours, rewards and KPIs
  • Cannot be bought with points

Important considerations:

  • Once created, you cannot change from bought to earned (or vice versa)
  • Coupons associated with behaviours, rewards or KPIs cannot be deleted until dissociated

Redemption modes​

The Buy Redemption Mode determines how users acquire and use coupons:

OneStep

  • Buying and redeeming happen simultaneously
  • Users see the coupon code before redemption
  • Validation is important to ensure proper usage
  • Only available for single code coupons

TwoStep

  • Separate buying and redeeming activities
  • User first exchanges points for the coupon
  • User can then see the coupon code
  • User can then redeem the coupon in a separate step
  • Available for both single and multiple code coupons

Important considerations:

  • Once created, you cannot change from OneStep to TwoStep (or vice versa)

Refunding Coupons​

A Coupon Refund communicates to the Mambo platform the intention to undo a coupon purchase or redemption when the promised benefit cannot be delivered (for example, a canceled order or failed fulfillment). The goal is to restore the user’s state correctly, either by returning the coupon to their inventory or by returning the points used to buy it.

The effect of refunding a Coupon depends on whether the coupon can be bought with points. If the Coupon is not configured to be bought with points, refunding it simply results in the Coupon being considered as if it was never redeemed. The coupon will still be visible in the list of the user's awarded coupons and the user will be able to redeem it once again.

If the Coupon is configured to be bought with points, refunding it causes the points used to buy the Coupon to be returned to the user. The Coupon will also be removed from the list of the user's awarded coupons. This applies both in the case of Coupons configured with One-Step redemption as well as Two-Step redemption. The effects of refunding a Coupon that has been bought are the same whether it has been redeemed or not.

In case a Coupon is configured with multiple codes, refunding it causes the redeemed code to be returned to the pool of available codes.

Key configuration fields​

When setting up coupons, pay attention to these important fields:

  • Code: The unique identifier used for buying, redeeming or refunding the coupon
  • Usage: Determines if a coupon can be used once or multiple times per user
  • Type: The benefit category (percentage discount, fixed amount, free shipping, custom)
  • Amount/Custom: The specific value or description of the benefit
  • Limited Series: The total number of this coupon that can be distributed (single code coupons only)
  • Buy with points: Specifies whether users can purchase the coupon with redeemable points
  • Buy Redemption Mode: Configures the OneStep or TwoStep process for purchasing coupons

Users interact with coupons through coupon activities.