Rewe Pay: Supermarket chain adds payment function to bonus app

From July 1, users of the Rewe app will be able to redeem more than just coupons and discounts at the checkout. From now on, they will also be able to pay for their purchases with the same scan of the bonus code. With this function, the retail chain is following the lead of its competitors Lidl, Edeka and others, who have been integrating a payment function into their apps for a while now.

Rewe Pay: payment function requires a Girocard

Six months after the launch of the Rewe Bonus app, the chain is adding a payment option to its range of functions. To be able to use the service, customers must link their current account to the app. To achieve this, the purchase must first be paid for in the traditional way with a debit card and the direct debit procedure (standing mandate) must be confirmed with a signature.

The service only works with the Girocard and is incompatible with credit or debit cards from international providers, the company explains. The payment option can be used both at traditional checkouts and at self-checkout terminals (SCO).

Rewe has integrated security measures to protect against misuse of the payment function. For example, Rewe Pay only works on the device on which the user has activated it for the first time. In addition, the app requires a security check such as Face ID, fingerprint or device code for each payment. If desired, the function can be deactivated again in the app.

As Rewe explains, all activated benefits such as coupons or discounts are automatically considered during the payment process via the app. The purchase amount is debited from the linked current account within one to three days. After the purchase, a confirmation of the successful payment process is displayed in the app.

Advantages for Rewe

By expanding its Rewe app, the company can increase customer loyalty. The required direct debit mandate using a Girocard is an established payment method for many German customers. For Rewe, the procedure also means lower transaction costs than with debit or credit cards from international providers, as der Supermarktblog writes. However, customers of direct banks such as Ing or DKB would tend to be excluded, as these banks only issue current cards for a monthly fee.

For Rewe, the new offer is an important part of “the Rewe Group's broader digitalization strategy”. The strategy aims to “better serve consumers through innovative technologies and at the same time optimize internal processes,” it says.

The payment method was developed by Paymenttools, a subsidiary of the Rewe Group. It will first be introduced “at the Group's largest sales division”.

(afl)