A customer reaches the counter, remembers they have a reward and starts searching their inbox. That is a useful place to start when thinking about mobile wallet loyalty.
Apple Wallet’s iOS 27 update gives Australian and New Zealand retailers more ways to make membership cards useful at checkout and between visits. Richer artwork and visible actions can bring the customer’s membership, rewards and next purchase closer together.
Our Apple Wallet loyalty guide for Australian retailers covers pass types, POS scanning, CRM integration and the technical requirements.
Apple Wallet user experiences for other pass types has also changed.
Give customers a membership card they can find
A Wallet loyalty card can hold a member number, points or reward information and a barcode. Customers can add it through a website, email or in-store sign-up journey without downloading a separate loyalty app.
The retailer still needs to make that invitation clear. Place the Add to Wallet option where members already join, check their account or receive their welcome message. Explain what they will use the pass for when they next visit.
Make the next visit easier to plan
With iOS 27, Featured Actions can give customers a direct route from the open pass to shopping, rewards or another relevant service. Poster Generic adds a larger artwork-led design for loyalty and membership experiences. Apple explains the new pass features here.
For example, a fashion retailer could display a member’s $20 reward and link to its redemption page. An optical business could prioritise appointment booking. A hospitality membership could make current benefits easier to find before a visit.
For a retailer operating across Australia and New Zealand, the destination should match the member’s market. Australian members should reach Australian pricing and offers; New Zealand members should reach the relevant NZ store or benefits page.
Test the card at the counter
A pass needs to work with the equipment staff actually use. Confirm the member identifier, barcode format and POS lookup process, then test on store scanners before rolling out across locations.
iOS 27 adds EAN-13, Code 39, Codabar and ITF barcode support. Older devices need a supported alternative, and Apple recommends displaying a credential that staff can enter manually when scanning is unavailable. See Apple’s barcode guidance.
The operating system update does not automatically make a scanner or POS integration compatible. Include manual lookup in staff training and test the experience for customers using older iPhones.
Keep membership information connected
Points and reward details are useful only when they reflect the customer’s current account. Decide which system owns each field and which events should update the Wallet pass. If a reward is redeemed, the connected experience should reflect that change.
Litecard helps brands connect Apple and Google Wallet passes with their existing CRM, loyalty and POS environments, backed by an Australian team. You can connect directly to a CRM or CDP where the use case does not require a separate loyalty platform. Explore Litecard for Australian brands.
Launch a focused pilot
Choose one membership journey and a small group of stores. Check how easily customers add the pass, whether staff can identify members and whether the linked reward or booking journey works. Track completed redemptions or bookings before expanding.
Use our Apple Wallet loyalty implementation guide to plan the setup, or talk to the Litecard team about your current systems.
