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General

Will retailer-specific requirements or limitations be considered or addressed?

With each retailer integration, all requirements and limitations will be taken into consideration. Our retailer APIs are designed to work in most retailer environments. That said, our job is to make this process work for everyone.



How does a retailer begin integration?

The fastest way is to fill out the Connection Request form at https://www.thecouponbureau.org/register for the most direct support.



What is the general process for a retailer to get connected?

Retailers integrate with The Coupon Bureau through a series of APIs. Integration is meant to be clean and simple.



Do retailers have the ability to amend what GTINs are eligible for the offer or the number of allowed redemption?

This function is controlled by the manufacturer. 8112 coupon offers will have the same controls that national, manufacturer offers have today. All offer parameters are controlled by the manufacturer in the POF.



How will we know what retailers are connected?

The Coupon bureau will keep an up-to-date list available on our site as well an API feed for provider use.



Barcode information and standards

How will TCB positive offer file impact paper and digital stacking?

Initially, there will be no additional security around stacking, but as more mediums are shifted to the new AI (8112) offering, the stacking issue will be mitigated if not resolved completely. Keep in mind that virtually all retailers have point-of-sale controls in place to prevent the stacking of a digital coupon with a paper coupon, in line with JICC Guidelines for digital coupons.



Once, redeemed, is the coupon "De-activated"?

Positive Offer File coupons are deactivated after use, creating a true "kill at the till" solution.



If a coupon is used on a mobile device at one retailer, can it be used again? How would you limit more than one scan at POS?

Once an AI (8112) barcode is redeemed, the TCB Positive Offer File is updated and that barcode will not be validated again because it will be marked as redeemed within the Master Offer File. Serialization is the key to this capability.



Is there a working solution for blended coupons? (For both paper and paperless)

Blended offers will still be available, just in a different mechanism. Today blended offers means trade (retailer specific loyalty) or paper (nationally distributed offer). In the future "blended" could mean a national offer that has both mobile and paper distribution / redemption options.



Are there any fraud risks associated with universal coupons?

No fraud risks have been identified to date, nor are any expected as this solution scales across the industry. AI (8112) coupons deposited into the Positive Offer File are serialized and single use. Upon its first redemption, a coupon will be dead and no longer available for redemption.



What keeps people from taking a picture of an 8110 coupon and trying to use it from their phone?

Unfortunately, nothing keeps consumer from fraudulently taking a picture of an 8110 paper coupon and attempting to redeem it from their phone. However, the TCB advisory council has done great work in identifying best practices for mobile presentment that will allow cashiers to clearly identify a true 8112 offer from an image of an 8110 coupon.



 

Fraud prevention

How will TCB positive offer file impact paper and digital stacking?

Initially, there will be no additional security around stacking, but as more mediums are shifted to the new AI (8112) offering, the stacking issue will be mitigated if not resolved completely. Keep in mind that virtually all retailers have point-of-sale controls in place to prevent the stacking of a digital coupon with a paper coupon, in line with JICC Guidelines for digital coupons.



Once, redeemed, is the coupon "De-activated"?

Positive Offer File coupons are deactivated after use, creating a true "kill at the till" solution.



If a coupon is used on a mobile device at one retailer, can it be used again? How would you limit more than one scan at POS?

Once an AI (8112) barcode is redeemed, the TCB Positive Offer File is updated and that barcode will not be validated again because it will be marked as redeemed within the Master Offer File. Serialization is the key to this capability.



Is there a working solution for blended coupons? (For both paper and paperless)

Blended offers will still be available, just in a different mechanism. Today blended offers means trade (retailer specific loyalty) or paper (nationally distributed offer). In the future "blended" could mean a national offer that has both mobile and paper distribution / redemption options.



Are there any fraud risks associated with universal coupons?

No fraud risks have been identified to date, nor are any expected as this solution scales across the industry. AI (8112) coupons deposited into the Positive Offer File are serialized and single use. Upon its first redemption, a coupon will be dead and no longer available for redemption.



What keeps people from taking a picture of an 8110 coupon and trying to use it from their phone?

Unfortunately, nothing keeps consumer from fraudulently taking a picture of an 8110 paper coupon and attempting to redeem it from their phone. However, the TCB advisory council has done great work in identifying best practices for mobile presentment that will allow cashiers to clearly identify a true 8112 offer from an image of an 8110 coupon.



 

Consumer experience and distribution

Does the coupon bureau distribute offers?

No, The Coupon Bureau does not distribute offers. That responsibility will be left with distributors of the current coupon ecosystem.



How will the mobile coupon solution handle multiple coupon submissions at one time?

There is an API provided by TCB that can support "bundling" of multiple offers into a single scannable barcode. However, TCB expects this to be an area of innovation for the open market.



Will there be a single application that provides the consumer with these digital offers?

No, the solution will be open to the market to utilize- so that providers and distributors still hold the same roles in the coupon ecosystem.



How will distribution quantities be limited, so program costs can be controlled?

Distribution will be managed through providers in the same manner it is managed today for print@home and C2C campaigns.



Will these digital coupons be available at all retailers?

TCB will maintain an API and website of connected retailers for use by manufacturers and providers.



What will it look like on a phone?

The Coupon Bureau team and Launch Council is currently working with industry leaders to develop Best Practices for presentment on a mobile device. The goal is to utilize methods that have the highest percentage of scanning success as well as developing design element standards so that cashiers can easily identify these offer types.



How will consumers know which retailers accept this coupon type?

TCB will be managing an API connection as well as a website to support manufacturers and providers as they convey to consumers where the new 8112 offers can be redeemed. The API can be fed directly into various provider distribution channels to support consumer awareness.



How can these mobile offers be distributed?

These offers can be distributed just like current digital and P@H coupons, such as online, SMS, Social Media, E-Newsletters etc.



 
 

Retailers

Will retailer-specific requirements or limitations be considered or addressed?

With each retailer integration, all requirements and limitations will be taken into consideration. Our retailer APIs are designed to work in most retailer environments. That said, our job is to make this process work for everyone.



How does a retailer begin integration?

The fastest way is to fill out the Connection Request form at https://www.thecouponbureau.org/register for the most direct support.



What is the general process for a retailer to get connected?

Retailers integrate with The Coupon Bureau through a series of APIs. Integration is meant to be clean and simple.



Do retailers have the ability to amend what GTINs are eligible for the offer or the number of allowed redemption?

This function is controlled by the manufacturer. 8112 coupon offers will have the same controls that national, manufacturer offers have today. All offer parameters are controlled by the manufacturer in the POF.



How will we know what retailers are connected?

The Coupon bureau will keep an up-to-date list available on our site as well an API feed for provider use.



Other questions

Does the coupon bureau distribute offers?

No, The Coupon Bureau does not distribute offers. That responsibility will be left with distributors of the current coupon ecosystem.



How will the mobile coupon solution handle multiple coupon submissions at one time?

There is an API provided by TCB that can support "bundling" of multiple offers into a single scannable barcode. However, TCB expects this to be an area of innovation for the open market.



Will there be a single application that provides the consumer with these digital offers?

No, the solution will be open to the market to utilize- so that providers and distributors still hold the same roles in the coupon ecosystem.



How will distribution quantities be limited, so program costs can be controlled?

Distribution will be managed through providers in the same manner it is managed today for print@home and C2C campaigns.



Will these digital coupons be available at all retailers?

TCB will maintain an API and website of connected retailers for use by manufacturers and providers.



What will it look like on a phone?

The Coupon Bureau team and Launch Council is currently working with industry leaders to develop Best Practices for presentment on a mobile device. The goal is to utilize methods that have the highest percentage of scanning success as well as developing design element standards so that cashiers can easily identify these offer types.



How will consumers know which retailers accept this coupon type?

TCB will be managing an API connection as well as a website to support manufacturers and providers as they convey to consumers where the new 8112 offers can be redeemed. The API can be fed directly into various provider distribution channels to support consumer awareness.



How can these mobile offers be distributed?

These offers can be distributed just like current digital and P@H coupons, such as online, SMS, Social Media, E-Newsletters etc.