Barclaycard starts IT work for new rewards scheme

Barclaycard: "Our rewards scheme will change the way people shop in the UK"

Barclaycard is setting up the IT infrastructure underpinning a new retail rewards scheme.

The software to support the product – which is expected to cover a range of businesses, from sole traders to high street retailers – will be developed in partnership with finance specialist Welcome Real-time.

Additionally, the credit card firm is reported to have set up an in-house team comprising 200 IT, marketing and operations staff to support activity around the scheme, expected to launch within the next 12 months.

"Barclaycard has close to 90,000 retailer relationships, many of which we expect to participate in the programme, and we believe this scheme will change the way people shop in the UK,” said Dan Salmons, director of payment innovations at Barclaycard.

“That is why we are partnering with a world-leading loyalty solutions provider to ensure that we develop a simple, hassle-free rewards scheme that will truly benefit our customers," he said.

Barclaycard has also been investing heavily in contactless technology for cards, as well as mobile payments via a partnership with Orange.