Push notifications for retention: how do they work?

Updated 2026-06-28

Quick answer

DimaCard notifications let you message customers who added the card and accepted notifications. Sends are included in the subscription with no per-SMS charge. Display depends on the device, Wallet compatibility and customer settings.

Push vs SMS vs email

Each channel differs in effectiveness and cost:

SMS: paid on every send, often ignored.
Email: free but low open rate, ends up in promotions/spam.
Push (Wallet): sends included, display subject to compatibility and permissions.

What you can send

Daily promo, happy hour, new product, reminder to an inactive customer, birthday message with an offer: push notifications reach the customer where they always look — their phone.

Automate follow-ups

The real gain comes from automation: you set up scenarios once (inactive for 7 days, birthday, points threshold reached) and messages go out on their own at the right moment. The owner does nothing, the tool works.

Send push notifications to your customers in 4 steps

1
Digitize the card
Offer a loyalty card in Apple/Google Wallet: it enables notifications.
2
Get the customer to opt in
The customer adds the card to their Wallet and accepts notifications in 1 click.
3
Write the message
Write a short, clear promo or reminder, with an emoji if relevant.
4
Schedule the send
Automate scenarios (inactivity, birthday) so messages go out at the right time.

Frequently asked questions

Are push notifications really free?

Yes. With a Wallet loyalty card like DimaCard, push notifications are unlimited and included in the subscription, unlike SMS.

Does the customer need to install an app?

No. The card is added to Apple Wallet or Google Wallet, already on the phone. No app to download.

What's the read rate of a push notification?

DimaCard does not yet publish a verified aggregate read rate. Measure recorded visits or reward redemptions after each campaign instead of assuming an open rate.

Put it in place with DimaCard

Loyalty card in Apple & Google Wallet, included notifications, and an independent loyalty prize wheel. Plans from €39/month. 30-day commercial money-back guarantee under the Terms.

View plans