📱 LoyaltyMatch InVenue Web App - User Guide

Welcome to the LoyaltyMatch InVenue web app! This guide will help you navigate the app and use all its features effectively.

🚀 Getting Started

First Time Setup

  1. Login - Enter your credentials provided by your administrator
  2. Allow Camera Access - Grant camera permissions when prompted (required for QR scanning)
  3. Install as App (Optional but Recommended) - For the best experience, install the app on your device:
    • iOS: Tap the Share button and select "Add to Home Screen"
    • Android: Tap the menu and select "Install App" or "Add to Home Screen"

📍 Main Features

1. Selecting a Merchant

Before you can award points, you need to select which merchant location you're working at.

Steps:

  1. Open the app and navigate to Settings (gear icon in bottom navigation)
  2. Scroll to the Merchant Selection section
  3. Tap "Load Merchants" to see available locations
  4. Select your merchant location from the list
  5. Your selection is saved and will be remembered next time

✅ Tip: You can change merchants anytime from Settings. Your selected merchant appears at the top of the Settings page.

2. Selecting an Incentive

After selecting a merchant, choose which reward or incentive to award.

Steps:

  1. Navigate to the Scan page (QR code icon in bottom navigation)
  2. If you haven't selected an incentive yet, you'll see a dropdown at the top
  3. Tap the "Select an Incentive" dropdown
  4. Browse available incentives for your selected merchant
  5. Tap an incentive to select it (shows points value and type)

✅ What You'll See: Each incentive displays:

  • Incentive name
  • Points value
  • Incentive type (e.g., Visit, Purchase, Bonus)
  • Description (if available)

3. Scanning a QR Code to Award Points

This is the main action you'll perform most often.

Steps:

  1. Make sure you've selected a Merchant and Incentive (see above)
  2. Navigate to the Scan page (QR code icon)
  3. Tap "Start Camera" or "Start Scanning"
  4. Point your camera at the customer's QR code on their phone
  5. The app will automatically detect and scan the code
  6. Once scanned, a preview shows the member information
  7. Tap "Award Points" to confirm

✅ Success: You'll see a green confirmation message and the points are awarded instantly!

Troubleshooting Scanning:

  • Camera won't start: Check that you've allowed camera permissions in your browser/device settings
  • QR code won't scan: Ensure good lighting and hold the camera steady
  • Multiple attempts to scan: Try different distances (6-12 inches usually works best)

4. Manual Entry (Alternative to Scanning)

If a customer doesn't have their QR code or scanning isn't working:

Steps:

  1. On the Scan page, tap "Manual Entry" or "Enter Loyalty Card"
  2. Type or paste the customer's loyalty card number
  3. Tap "Submit" or "Award Points"
  4. Confirm the award

✅ When to Use: Device camera issues, poor lighting, or damaged QR codes.

5. Finding a Member Account

Look up member information by email or QR code.

Steps:

  1. Navigate to Find Member (magnifying glass icon in bottom navigation)
  2. Choose your search method:
    • Email Search: Type the customer's email address and tap "Search"
    • QR Scan: Tap "Scan QR Code" and scan the customer's loyalty card

What You'll See:

  • Member name
  • Email address
  • Loyalty card number
  • Current points balance (if available)

Actions You Can Take:

  • Award Points: Tap "Award Points" to proceed to the scan/award workflow
  • View Details: Review member information
  • Copy Card Number: Use the loyalty card for manual entry

6. Offline Mode & Syncing Awards

The app works even without internet! Awards are stored locally and uploaded automatically when you're back online.

How Offline Mode Works:

When Offline:

  • ✅ You can still scan QR codes
  • ✅ You can still award points
  • ✅ Awards are saved locally on your device
  • ⚠️ A yellow banner shows "You're offline"

When Back Online:

  • 🔄 App automatically syncs pending awards to the server
  • ✅ You'll see a "Syncing..." message
  • ✅ Once complete, awards are marked as synced

Manually Upload Offline Awards:

If automatic sync doesn't happen or you want to force a sync:

Steps:

  1. Navigate to Settings page
  2. Scroll to Offline Management section
  3. You'll see the number of pending awards (e.g., "3 pending awards")
  4. Tap "Sync Pending Awards" or "Upload Now"
  5. Wait for confirmation message

✅ Best Practice: Always sync before logging out or ending your shift.

7. Viewing Award History

Track all the points you've awarded during your shift.

Steps:

  1. Navigate to History (clock icon in bottom navigation)
  2. View recent award transactions

Filter by Time Period:

  • Today - Awards from current day
  • Last 7 Days - Past week
  • Last 30 Days - Past month
  • All Time - Complete history

What You'll See:

  • Member information (hashed for privacy)
  • Merchant name
  • Incentive name and points awarded
  • Timestamp
  • Status (Success, Pending, Failed)
  • Sync status indicator

Additional Features:

  • Export CSV: Download history as a spreadsheet
  • Statistics: View total awards, points, success rate
  • Filter: Filter by merchant or time period

8. Settings & Configuration

Access important app settings and information.

Available Options:

Merchant Selection

  • View current merchant
  • Change merchant location
  • Load available merchants
  • See incentive count for selected merchant

Offline Management

  • View pending award count
  • Manually sync offline awards
  • Clear local cache (use with caution)

PWA Installation

  • Instructions for installing app to home screen
  • App status information

Account

  • View logged-in username
  • Logout option
  • App version information

🎯 Common Workflows

Complete Award Workflow (Most Common)

  1. Select Merchant (Settings → Choose your location)
  2. Go to Scan Page (QR icon in bottom nav)
  3. Select Incentive (Dropdown at top)
  4. Start Camera (Tap "Start Scanning")
  5. Scan QR Code (Point at customer's code)
  6. Confirm Award (Tap "Award Points")
  7. ✅ Success! Points awarded

Quick Member Lookup Workflow

  1. Go to Find Member (Magnifying glass icon)
  2. Enter Email or Scan QR
  3. View Member Info
  4. Award Points if needed (takes you to Scan page with card loaded)

End of Shift Workflow

  1. Go to History → Review today's awards
  2. Go to Settings → Check for pending awards
  3. Sync Pending Awards (if any)
  4. Logout (Settings → Account → Logout)

⚡ Quick Tips

Best Practices

  • ✅ Select your merchant at the start of your shift - Saves time later
  • ✅ Install as a home screen app - Faster access and better experience
  • ✅ Keep incentive selected - Switch only when offering different rewards
  • ✅ Sync before logging out - Ensures all awards are uploaded
  • ✅ Check History regularly - Confirm awards are being recorded

Keyboard Shortcuts (Desktop)

  • Manual Entry: Use keyboard to type loyalty card numbers faster
  • Search: Tab between fields for quick navigation

Performance Tips

  • 📶 Use WiFi when available - Faster syncing and better performance
  • 🔋 Monitor battery - Camera scanning uses more power
  • 🌙 Adjust screen brightness - Helps with QR code scanning
  • 📱 Close other apps - Improves camera performance

🔧 Troubleshooting

Camera Issues

Problem: Camera won't start

Solutions:

  • Check browser/app permissions
  • Refresh the page
  • Try a different browser
  • Restart your device

Problem: QR code won't scan

Solutions:

  • Improve lighting
  • Clean camera lens
  • Hold device steady at 6-12 inches
  • Try manual entry as alternative

Connection Issues

Problem: "Offline" banner appears

Solutions:

  • Check WiFi/data connection
  • Move to area with better signal
  • Awards will sync automatically when reconnected

Problem: Pending awards won't sync

Solutions:

  • Check internet connection
  • Manually trigger sync in Settings
  • Wait a few minutes and try again
  • Contact support if issue persists

Login Issues

Problem: Can't login

Solutions:

  • Verify username and password
  • Check CAPS LOCK is off
  • Clear browser cache
  • Contact administrator for credentials

General Issues

Problem: App is slow or freezing

Solutions:

  • Close and reopen the app
  • Clear browser cache
  • Restart your device
  • Check available storage space

📊 Understanding Status Indicators

Award Status Badges

  • 🟢 Success (Green) - Award successfully uploaded to server
  • 🟡 Pending (Yellow) - Award saved locally, waiting to sync
  • 🔴 Failed (Red) - Award failed, requires attention

Online/Offline Indicators

  • 🟢 Green Banner - Connected to internet, all features available
  • 🟡 Yellow Banner - Offline mode, awards saved locally
  • 🔄 "Syncing..." - Uploading pending awards to server

🎓 Training Checklist

Use this checklist when training new users:

  • ☐ Login to the app
  • ☐ Allow camera permissions
  • ☐ Install app to home screen (optional)
  • ☐ Select a merchant location
  • ☐ Browse available incentives
  • ☐ Select an incentive
  • ☐ Perform a test QR scan
  • ☐ Award points successfully
  • ☐ Try manual entry
  • ☐ Search for a member by email
  • ☐ View award history
  • ☐ Export history to CSV
  • ☐ Check offline mode (turn off WiFi)
  • ☐ Award points while offline
  • ☐ Reconnect and sync awards
  • ☐ Review Settings page
  • ☐ Practice logging out and back in

📞 Support & Help

Need Help?

Administrator Contact: Contact your LoyaltyMatch administrator for:

  • Login credentials
  • Merchant setup
  • Incentive configuration
  • Technical issues

Technical Support: For app-related issues:

  • Email: support@loyaltymatch.com
  • Include: Username, merchant name, error messages, screenshots

Quick Reference: Bookmark this guide for quick access!

📱 App Information

App Name: LoyaltyMatch InVenue

Version: Check Settings page for current version

Platform: Progressive Web App (PWA)

Compatibility: iOS, Android, Desktop browsers

Requirements: Internet connection (works offline with limited features)

🔐 Privacy & Security

  • Member IDs are hashed for privacy protection
  • Awards are stored securely in browser storage
  • Login credentials are never stored locally
  • All data transmission is encrypted
  • Always logout when finished using a shared device

🎉 Success!

You're now ready to use the LoyaltyMatch InVenue web app! Start by selecting your merchant, choosing an incentive, and scanning your first QR code.

Remember: Practice makes perfect. The more you use the app, the faster and more confident you'll become.

Happy awarding! 🎊