Introduction
If you're using a Point of Sale (POS) system as your main source of customer data and want to integrate it with PassKit to manage loyalty points and update digital passes, this guide is for you. Many people, including developers, often overcomplicate this process, thinking there’s some "magic" involved. Spoiler alert: there isn’t! Let’s break it down in simple terms so even a beginner can understand.
The Basics: How It All Works
Your POS is the Boss
Your POS system is where everything starts. It’s the system that tracks customer transactions, calculates loyalty points, and holds all the important customer data. Think of it as the brain of your operation.
PassKit is the Messenger
PassKit is the tool that takes the information from your POS and turns it into a digital pass (like a loyalty card or coupon) that customers can store on their phones. It just displays what your POS tells it to.
The Digital Pass is the Customer’s Sidekick
When a customer scans or taps their digital pass at your POS, it’s just like swiping a plastic loyalty card. The pass identifies the customer, but it doesn’t know how many points they’ve earned or what rewards they’re eligible for. That information comes from your POS.
How to Convert a Transaction into Points and Update a Pass
Here’s the step-by-step process:
Step 1: The Customer Scans or Taps Their Pass
Before or during the transaction, the customer scans or taps their digital pass at your POS. This identifies the customer, just like swiping a plastic loyalty card would. The pass itself doesn’t store any transaction history or points—it simply provides a unique identifier (like a membership number or email address) that your POS uses to look up the customer’s account.
Step 2: The Customer Makes a Purchase
The customer completes their purchase. Your POS system records the transaction and calculates how many loyalty points they’ve earned based on your rules (e.g., $1 spent = 10 points).
Note
Step 1 and Step 2 can happen in either order, depending on your POS setup. For example:
The customer might scan or tap their pass before making a purchase to apply discounts or rewards.
Alternatively, they might scan or tap their pass after making a purchase to earn points.
Regardless of the order, the customer must identify themselves using their pass before checking out and paying so your POS can link the transaction to their account.
Step 3: Your POS Decides What to Do
Your POS system is where the logic happens. It decides:
How many points the customer earns.
If they’ve unlocked a reward.
If their pass needs to be updated with new information (like points, a new offer or reward).
Step 4: Your POS Tells PassKit What to Update
Once your POS has done the math, it sends instructions to PassKit. For example:
“Update John Doe’s pass with 500 new points.”
“Add a ‘Free Coffee’ reward to Jane Smith’s pass.”
Step 5: PassKit Updates the Pass
PassKit receives the instructions from your POS and updates the customer’s digital pass. The next time the customer opens their pass, they’ll see their new points or rewards.
Step 6: The Customer Sees the Updated Pass
The customer can now view their updated pass on their phone, showing their new points balance or any rewards they’ve unlocked.
Why This Flow Works
Flexibility in Scanning or Tapping
Whether the customer scans or taps their pass before or after making a purchase depends on your POS setup. The key is that they identify themselves before the transaction is complete so your POS can link the purchase to their account.
Your POS is in Control
Your POS calculates points, unlocks rewards, and decides what needs to be updated on the pass. PassKit simply follows the instructions it receives.
No Magic Involved
The process is straightforward: scan/tap → identify → calculate → update.
Your POS drives everything, and PassKit ensures the customer sees the correct information on their pass.
Key Takeaways
The Pass is Just an Identifier
When the customer scans or taps their pass, it’s only used to identify them. It doesn’t store points, rewards, or transaction history. All of that information lives in your POS.
Your POS Does the Heavy Lifting
Your POS is responsible for calculating points, unlocking rewards, and deciding what needs to be updated on the pass. PassKit simply follows the instructions it receives.
Timing of the Scan or Tap Depends on Your POS
The customer can scan or tap their pass before or during the transaction, as long as they identify themselves before checking out.
How to Set This Up
Map Your Data
Decide what information from your POS needs to go on the pass (e.g., customer name, points balance, rewards).
Set Up Triggers
Define when your POS should send updates to PassKit. For example:
When a customer earns points.
When a reward is unlocked.
When a pass needs to be created or deleted.
Use PassKit’s API or No-Code Tools
You can connect your POS to PassKit using their API (if you’re a developer) or no-code tools like Zapier or Make (if you’re not technical).
Test Everything
Make sure your POS is correctly sending updates to PassKit and that the passes are updating as expected.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Thinking the Pass Stores Data
Remember, the pass is just a visual tool and an identifier of the customer. All the data lives in your POS.
Thinking a Pass is Linked to Apple Pay or Google Pay
A common misconception is that a digital pass is automatically linked to a credit card in Apple Wallet or Google Wallet. This is not the case.
Apple Pay and Google Pay are simply digital representations of credit cards—they are used for payments and have no connection to your loyalty pass. Your POS system is responsible for confirming the transaction and calculating points or rewards. The pass itself doesn’t know if Apple Pay or Google Pay was used; only your POS does. If you want to reward a customer for using Apple Pay or Google Pay, your POS must explicitly handle this logic and send the appropriate updates to PassKit.
Overcomplicating the Process
There’s no magic here. Your POS does the work, and PassKit displays the results.
Not Testing
Always test your integration to make sure points, rewards, and updates are working correctly.
Final Thoughts
Integrating your POS with PassKit doesn’t have to be complicated. Your POS is the brains of the operation, and PassKit is the powerful tool that brings your loyalty program to life on your customers’ phones. By understanding this clear, step-by-step process, you can create a seamless and engaging experience for your customers—one that starts with your POS and ends with a beautifully updated digital pass.
With PassKit, you’re not just building a loyalty program—you’re creating a dynamic, customer-friendly experience that keeps people coming back for more. Happy integrating!