Coming soon after the introduction of its mobile payment system, Apple is hiring several high-profile tech executives from companies including American Express, Google, and PayPal. These new recruits are not only to help expand Apple Pay, the newly-announced method of paying for transactions both online and in retail stores, but to develop a loyalty system for Apple Pay.
This rewards program is reported as offering a free music, TV show, or app download to users after a transaction or number of transactions have been completed using Apple Pay. In this way, the merchant doesn’t have to be affected at all, and Apple can work to promote its mobile payment system with an enticing loyalty system.
In recent months, Apple has recruited talent from American Express and PayPal to work in various positions reportedly related to Apple Pay and iCloud. References to a loyalty program in a recent job listing by Apple suggest that the tech giant is still searching for experts in the field to work on its development.
You will play a key role in identifying new opportunities, shaping the future of loyalty programs and informing media strategy, creative direction, and messaging. With your Retail partners, you will help Apple reach its broader goals of deepening customer loyalty and fostering community… Innovate around Apple’s loyalty program strategy. Recommend and develop initiatives to sustain and evolve our loyalty programs, while maintaining fiscal responsibility.
Set to launch in October, Apple Pay will start off as available to US customers only, with Apple receiving a reported 0.15% of all transactions. A launch date for Apple Pay’s loyalty program remains unknown.