How to buy a customer incentives platform?
- Tim Schikora
- Aug 7
- 3 min read
Updated: Aug 25
You've never selected a fully-serviced Customer Incentive Platform?
Navigating the world of customer incentive platforms for the first time can be daunting. At Aklamio, we aim to simplify this journey. Here’s a streamlined guide to help you make the best choice for your business, and why Aklamio might be a great fit for you business.
1. Start with your goals, not features
Before you look at any platform, define what success looks like for your business. A customer incentive program is a growth engine, not just a feature. What do you need it to do?
Focus on the key performance indicators (KPIs) you want to impact:
Reduce Customer Acquisition Costs (CAC): Leverage your existing customers to acquire new ones cost-effectively.
Increase Sales & Revenue: Drive direct purchases through strategic promotions and referrals.
Improve Customer Lifetime Value (LTV): Encourage loyalty and repeat business, as referred customers often spend more and stay longer.
Enhance Conversion Rates: Use targeted incentives to motivate specific customer actions.
Boost Brand Advocacy: Turn your happy customers into a powerful, proactive marketing force.
Your takeaway: Define your primary goal first. This will dictate the kind of platform and partner you need.
2. The critical choice: a DIY platform vs. a fully-serviced solution
This is the most important decision you'll make. It determines how much work falls on your team versus your provider.
A "Do-It-Yourself" Platform gives you the software, and your team does the rest. This includes campaign strategy, reward fulfillment, managing compliance, handling global currencies, and providing customer support for every user with a reward query. This approach often carries significant hidden operational overhead.
A "Fully-Serviced" Solution is a partnership. It combines a powerful platform with a team of experts who manage the operational complexity for you. This approach is Aklamio's unique selling proposition. A true fully-serviced partner offloads the heavy lifting, including strategic consulting, dedicated end-user customer support, and global reward fulfillment.
Your takeaway: Don't just buy software. Decide if you are also prepared to build and staff an internal department to manage it. If not, a fully-serviced solution is the only viable path.
3. Essential capabilities to scrutinize
Once you've decided on your approach, look for a platform that is more than a one-trick pony. Your business needs will evolve, and your platform should be able to adapt.
Demand these core capabilities:
Campaign Flexibility: Your strategy will change. Ensure your platform can run multiple campaign types—from refer-a-friend and influencer programs to sales promotions and cashback offers—not just one.
Seamless Scalability: Your program needs to grow with your business. The platform must be built to handle high volumes of users and transactions without a dip in performance.
True Omni-Channel Engagement: Your customers are everywhere. Your incentive programs should be too. Demand a platform that works seamlessly across your website, mobile apps, call centers, and even in-store touchpoints. Actionable Analytics & Optimization: You must be able to prove your return on investment. The platform should offer robust analytics and the ability to A/B test different journeys and offers to maximize performance.
Hassle-Free Global Fulfillment: Rewarding customers should be simple and secure, for both you and your users. This requires a partner who can manage fulfillment across different regions, currencies, and reward types (cash, vouchers, donations, etc.).
Main takeaway: Choose a platform that is flexible and powerful enough to meet your needs today and in the future.
Why Aklamio excels: your fully-serviced growth partner
Aklamio was built from the ground up to be more than just a platform; we are a fully-serviced solution designed to transform your customer incentives into a major growth driver.
We don't just hand you software and wish you luck. We provide:
A Complete Solution: Our service includes dedicated Customer Success Managers, strategic consulting, multi-currency reward fulfillment, compliance management, and dedicated end-user customer support. This removes the operational burden from your team.
Proven Expertise: We have deep experience helping over 300 global brands in key industries like Telecom, Energy, and Insurance achieve measurable results.
A Focus on Measurable Impact: Our platform is designed to directly improve your most critical KPIs, from CAC and LTV to overall sales and revenue, ensuring a high ROI.
Ready to accelerate your growth strategy?
Book a demo with Aklamio today!
