Digital Stamp Card vs. Paper: Costs, Fraud Protection & Conversion (2025)

Comparison at a Glance

Paper cards are cheap, but they get lost, are forgotten, and can be easily tampered with. Digital cards via QR are a bit more complex in setup, but offer fraud protection, reminders, and analytics.

Costs & Effort

Paper: printing + time for distribution + loss. Digital: fixed monthly costs, but no printing costs, less explanation effort after introduction.

Fraud & Abuse

Paper can be stamped, even without purchase. Digital stamps can be linked to purchase transactions or device logic, avoiding double stamping.

Conversion & Participation

The less friction, the higher the participation. QR scanning (without an app) is the lowest barrier for walk-in customers and significantly increases return visits.

Conclusion

If you don’t have any measures yet, start with paper if necessary, but plan to switch to digital as soon as the team is settled in. The added value of measurability quickly outweighs.