Case studies
BTC City
Smart client
BTC City has a rich and dynamic history that began in 1954 and has evolved over several decades. In the last 30 years, the company has directed its development towards a trade and business concept. Today, BTC City is a recognized shopping center in Slovenia and one of the largest shopping, entertainment, and business centers in Europe (https://www.btc-city.com/en/ljubljana/shop). Similar but smaller centers are also located in Novo Mesto and Murska Sobota.
Smart reason
Despite its focus on innovation, in 2023, BTC City still utilized a gift voucher system. However, the company aimed to revamp this system to enhance the customer experience, better leverage the potential of digital solutions, and improve operational efficiency. The digitization of the card was one of the company’s goals for 2023.
In addition to the familiar features of traditional vouchers, such as predetermined amounts and usability in only one store, the existing system required manual tracking of vouchers using tools like Excel. This led to administrative burdens and potential accounting errors, causing delays in financial transactions or requiring a significant amount of additional manual work, which meant more time or more personnel.
With the introduction of gift cards, online sales of electronic gift cards, known as e-gift cards, were also implemented. The usability of these cards extends to smartphones, either through displaying a barcode or by using Google and iOS wallets where the card can be stored.
Smart solution
The versatile use of the voucher: SmartGifty enabled the use of vouchers in all stores within BTC City, regardless of the amount, thereby increasing flexibility for customers. Alongside the integration with the provider of various payment methods, Lab4Pay, point-of-sale (POS) terminals or API connections directly with the merchant’s cash register are used for redemption.
Automated system for efficiency: The SmartGifty platform was integrated with internal process tools, automating tracking and accounting processes. This integration helped reduce manual work and the risk of errors. It significantly simplified the accounting process, making it more accurate and time-efficient.
Results and impact: SmartGifty has played a crucial role in modernizing and automating the entire purchasing process, offering customers a modern and highly acclaimed product. Additionally, BTC City optimized its real-time management system, providing 24/7 oversight and numerous data reports to assist in future planning.
Smart result
The SmartGifty solution has transformed BTC City’s voucher system into a more flexible, efficient, and financially beneficial model. This transition has not only enhanced the shopping experience for customers but has also streamlined business processes for merchants, effectively demonstrating the advantages of the SmartGifty system over traditional voucher systems.
Mass
Smart client
Mass is a shoe company that has over the past 30 years grown into a company with over 400 employees. In total, Mass has more than 50 stores in Slovenia and Croatia, 8 in-house brands and more than 8,000 different models of footwear. They believe that their client comes first, which is only possible with satisfied employees, who represent the heart of the operation. This leads to mutual trust and long-term relationships with all their partners. We are very proud to be their service provider and partner in the area of gift cards.
Smart reason
Mass constantly follows shopping trends and wanted to exchange its gift vouchers for modern gift cards that would connect offline stores in Slovenia and Croatia and online stores in Slovenian (www.mass.si) and Croatian (www.mass-shoes.com). They wanted to offer their customers a popular gift option that would satisfy all generations and tastes.
Smart solution
They implemented the SmartGifty card system in all their physical stores in Slovenia and Croatia, and together with the Optiweb agency, we made sure that Mass gift card can be easily and quickly purchased and redeemed in both online stores. Mass connected all its physical cash registers with the SmartGifty gift card issuing (selling) and redemption system, and the gift card is fully implemented in the user experience of the existing online store that runs on a Magento platform. It is possible to buy both a classic PVC card and a digital card online, which the buyer receives in his e-mail box. It can be loaded with a credit of between 10€ and 300€, rounded up to 10€. Redemption of the Mass gift card is gradual, and visitors to the online store can quickly and easily check the balance of the card (online, in real time), regardless of where they purchased it.
Smart result
We have enabled Mass to offer its customers a quick online purchase of a modern gift while providing easy gift card redemption in both online shops and all offline stores. We made sure that all their cash registers are fully equipped for issuing and redeeming gift cards, and at the same time we take care of the timely printing and delivery of gift cards in Slovenia and Croatia.
Qlandia
Smart client
Qlandia is a shopping chain of 7 shopping centers across Slovenia, with a long history (first shopping center was opened in 2006) and over 300 tenants offering everything from fashion, cosmetics, tech, gastro and much more.
Smart reason
Qlandia offered their customers paper Gift vouchers since 2014 and sought an upgrade of the product in line with modern shopping and gifting options. The clients wanted to offer their customers a product with added value like convenience and personalisation, while also optimizing the management of vouchers.
Smart solution
SmartGifty has together with the client developed a customized online solution to manage the new product – Qlandia gift card. With a web-based platform the client was able to replace manual administrative work regarding sales, stocks, redemption while also offering the customer more freedom with gifting (online point of purchase, personalisation of the card, online balance check 24/7 and more). A new gift card webshop was launched to increase brand and product awareness and to offer online purchasing for legal and natural entities in Slovenia. The Qlandia gift cards had unlimited validity, were available in several different designs and were a single load, up to the value of 300 €.
Smart result
SmartGifty helped Qlandia to offer a contemporary, exceptionally well excepted product to its customers, while providing a client a time optimizing management system with a real time overview in as much detailed as needed.
Supernova
Smart client
Supernova has significantly grown over 2019/2020 and is now is a multinational shopping chain, present in Austria, Slovenia, Croatia and Romania. It is one of the largest player in shopper real-estate in Europe, combining shopping and retail centers. In the beginning of 2020 Supernova has also become an owner of Qlandia shopping centers, rebranding them from Qlandia orange to Supernova red.
Smart reason
In the past, Supernova had a gift card offline system (contact chip) that was expensive, hard to manage and user un-friendly. Because of their requirements, we have in 2016 provided them with a solution to change their system to an online platform SmartGifty. They have successfully used our web based platform for several years. With an overtake of Qlandia shopping centers in 2019/2020, Supernova wanted to merge both gift cards – Qlandia gift card and the existing Supernova gift card and offer the customers an upgrade not only in size of shopping options, but also in quality. It was important to extract the advantages of both products and combine them, as seamless as possible. Supernova is using the SmartGifty in over 25 shopping centers in Slovenia and Croatia with more locations on the way.
Smart solution
A merge of both gift card systems (Qlandia and Supernova) in back-end and a launch of a new – mobile and user first webshop for customers. A smart merge created a tailor-made solution for the clients needs while managing a product (gift card) in several countries. With a 24/7, real time, complete overview of the product in several shopping centers and markets, the client is able to plan marketing activities and optimize administration (papyrology). The product – Supernova gift card has some differences in Slovenia and Croatia (because of regulations and customers preferences) but exists in one smart, online solution which offers several admin accesses with specific log-in rights and overviews.
Smart result
A detailed overview of sales and redemption for each market in different currencies, stock monitoring and easy managing of transactions to tenants. On a customer side – a possibility of an online exchange of Qlandia gift card for a Supernova gift card with even more shopping options and an e-gift card increased the product likeability and sales.
Cubo
Smart client
A prestigious, modern golf course in Slovenia – the star of the European Golf Champions. This fine course with a view of the Alps is well known for its balanced combination of dynamic clearings, sand traps and huge green parklands.
Smart reason
A contemporary, digital way to monitor and support golf players and provide them with a simple and user friendly way to identify themselves and pay for the services – all with one product.
Smart solution
A membership card that combined an identification document with a way to pay for tokens/balls and other services (food, drinks) in the club. A prepaid card that keeps the members credit safe and always handy.
Smart result
Members have adopted the solution fast and efficiently. Their card also offers them various options from monthly payments /membership to yearly wit different benefits for each package. the size of the card is the same as the bank card so members can keep it close in their wallet at all time.
