Coupons
Overview
In iVendNext, coupons are a powerful tool for executing targeted promotions. A coupon is a code that customers enter during checkout, either online or at the point of sale, to automatically receive a discount. The system's core function is to validate the coupon against a predefined set of rules and apply the discount only if all criteria are met, ensuring accuracy and consistency in promotions.
Each coupon is governed by a flexible rule set that determines its validity period, usage limits, discount type, and specific applicability to products, customers, and store locations.
Core Components of a Coupon
Creating a coupon involves configuring four essential sections that define its behavior:
Details: This section establishes the coupon's foundational properties, including its name, unique redemption code, and the discount value (either a percentage or fixed amount). It also houses critical rules like the minimum purchase required to activate the coupon (Trigger Quantity), the maximum number of items it can discount per transaction (Applicable Quantity), and its overall active status.
Coupon Setup: Here, you define the products eligible for the discount. The coupon can be targeted at various levels, such as individual items, entire product groups, or broad categories. Multiple entries can be added to include a range of products in a single promotion.
Applicability: This section controls where and to whom the coupon can be applied. You can restrict the coupon's use to specific stores, customer groups, or individual customers. Furthermore, you can set daily schedules, limiting the coupon's validity to certain hours.
Exclusion List: To refine the promotion further, this section allows you to define explicit exclusions. Even if a store, customer, or product group seems to fit the applicability rules, adding it here will prevent the coupon from being used, allowing for precise control over the promotion's scope.
Coupon Lifecycle: From Creation to Redemption
The process of using a coupon follows a clear path from setup to point-of-sale application.
1. Creation and Configuration An administrator accesses the Coupon module within iVendNext to define a new promotion. By populating the four core sections, they build the complete rule set for the coupon. For instance, a "Festive Coupon" could be set up to offer 10% off bags, only at the Alpha Store, between 9:00 AM and 9:00 PM, while explicitly excluding the Delta Store.
2. Validation and Application at POS When a cashier or customer applies the coupon code during a transaction, the iVendNext system performs a real-time check. It validates the code against all configured rules:
Is the coupon active?
Is the current time and date within the valid period?
Is the transaction taking place at an applicable store and for an eligible customer?
Does the cart contain the required minimum quantity of the targeted products?
Has the store's redemption limit not been exceeded?
Only if all these conditions are satisfied is the discount automatically applied to the transaction total.
3. Finalizing the Sale Once applied, the coupon's discount is clearly displayed on the transaction screen. During checkout, the system calculates the final payable amount, factoring in the coupon, taxes, and any other charges. The printed or digital receipt provides an itemized breakdown, including the discount from the applied coupon, serving as a transparent record for the customer and the business.
Conclusion
Coupons in iVendNext provide a structured and automated method for managing promotions. By understanding the function of each configuration section—Details, Setup, Applicability, and Exclusion—users can create sophisticated, rule-based discounts that are automatically enforced at the point of sale. This eliminates manual calculation errors and ensures promotions are executed exactly as intended, across all designated channels.