For this post, we're assuming you're already decided that Wisely is the best loyalty program for you. If you're not there yet, read how Wisely's better than POS loyalty programs and credit card-linked loyalty programs.

Change is tough, especially when it comes to restaurant technology. Wisely understands this challenge and has created systems that allow for a stress-free transition over from a prior loyalty program. During the switch, Wisely not only allows you to retain all of your preexisting customer data but also converts existing members into the new program with ease. How you may ask? Lets break it down. 

• Retention of Preexisting Customer Data: Whatever data you have already accumulated through your prior loyalty program such as emails, guest names, visit history and phone numbers will automatically transfer over to Wisely. 

• Customizable Guest Communication Options: Tell us how (via e-mail, Facebook, custom audiences, and / or text campaigns) and when you want to communicate the new program to guests, and Wisely will create a unique set of marketing materials specifically for your business. 

• Transition Progress Reports: Over the course of the transition, Wisely will send reports tracking how many of your prior members have completed the upgrade. 

• Automatic Upgrade of Preferred Loyalty Members: As a way of further honoring your business's loyal customers, Wisely will automatically elevate them to Gold Tier status. This allows you to position the change as an upgraded loyalty program that will make everyone happy.

Delightful! And just to appease any lingering concerns you may still have, let us play devil's advocate for a second. 

• What if some people don't want to download an app? Great question and one that comes up often. To sidestep the issue of guest's not wanting to download an app, Wisely allows restaurant staff to document those guests' visits themselves through our app for managers. This way, the guest still reaps all of the loyalty benefits without having to sacrifice their wants. That said, in our experience, the number of people who refuse to download an app is quite small. 

• Do I need to offer both programs for a period of time during the transition? This is totally up to you. To make things easier on yourself and your staff though, we only recommend supporting both if you are having difficulty exporting your existing data (which slows down conversion from the old program into the new). 

As daunting a process as it may seem, we hope that this has helped dispel any concerns about switching over to Wisely from another loyalty program. Above all else, our aim is to make this process easy and stress-free so that you can get back to the food, service and people that make your restaurant special. 

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Wisely empowers restaurant groups to grow and sustain profitability by acquiring valuable new guests, converting them into regulars, and keeping them happy for life. Our software is easy-to-use and enhances productivity, so staff can focus on what really matters. For more information or media inquiries, please contact us at hello@getwisely.com.