Google adds ‘Save to Wallet’ APIs for payments cards and offers

The new APIs will allow consumers to save offers directly from a merchant’s website into Google Wallet and then redeem them at the point-of-sale via NFC, mobile barcodes or by simply showing the offer code to the sales assistant.

Google Save to Wallet API
CLICKS AND MORTAR: Users can click to save a website offer on their phone to redeem in-store later. Click to enlarge.

Google has demonstrated a new addition to Google Wallet at its I/O conference in San Francisco.

“The Save-To-Wallet API is part of the vision for Google Wallet to be the one-stop-shop for holding everything you’d carry in a regular wallet,” says the search giant.

“The Offers component of this API allows customers to save offers directly from a merchant’s web property into Google Wallet with the click of a button. Google Wallet reminds users to visit your store before the offer expires. Customers redeem offers by showing the offer code at the point of sale or by tapping their NFC enabled phone. The point of sale recognises the offer code and applies the offer to the basket.”

Merchants, says Google, will benefit from:

  • Ease of distribution: For merchants who already employ CRM systems to distribute offers, their CRM-distributed offers can now be saved directly into Google Wallet and can be redeemed using SingleTap at the point of sale.
  • Marketing channel: Once an offer has been saved to Google Wallet, customers will be visually reminded to use the offer whenever they are browsing through Google Wallet. A thumbnail image of the offer will be displayed in the Google Wallet that visually reinforces the merchant’s brand.
  • Easy integration: A “Save to Google Wallet” button can be added to an existing website by copying and pasting a Javascript snippet provided upon offer registration.

Buyer benefits, meanwhile, will include:

  • Simplicity: No inbox is inundated with offers that are hard to find and sort.
  • Reminders: Notification to use offers before they expire.
  • Convenience: No need to carry paper printouts, and organise your offers online and on your mobile phone.

The Save-To-Wallet API is to be opened on a limited beta basis. Readers interested in participating can register interest on the Google Developers website. Google warns, however, that “we will be releasing this API to approved partners. Filling out this form will add you to a waiting list and does not guarantee access to the API.”

Access to the Payments Cards API is also only available on a restricted basis. Card issuers interested in finding out more about the API are requested to make a partnership enquiry.

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