Loyalty Pay

What Is Loyalty Pay QR?

Loyalty Pay QR is an extension of the existing Consolidated Scanning (loyalty scan) feature. Instead of only earning points when a customer scans, the QR code they generate on their phone can also carry a payment method, a tip, and a loyalty reward, so the kiosk charges their saved card and applies everything in one scan, with no card swipe or tap at the terminal.

The customer generates the QR code in the PAR ordering app on their phone. The kiosk scans it using the same barcode scanner already used for loyalty scanning today.

How It Works

What the Customer Does on their Phone

1. The customer opens the PAR ordering app and goes to Loyalty Pay QR.
2. The customer selects the store they are ordering at. If the brand has multiple QR-enabled locations, a Change Location button is available. If only one location supports it, the store name is shown without a picker.
3. The customer links a saved payment method, or adds a new card. The selected card (for example, "Visa ••••4242") is shown on screen.
4. If the location has tipping enabled, the customer can select a tip (15, 18, 20, or 25% presets, a custom amount, or No Tip). A tip cannot be set without a linked payment method.
5. The customer can select a loyalty reward to apply to their kiosk order.
6. The app displays a QR code that encodes the payment method, tip amount, and reward.
7. The customer can cancel at any time. A cancelled QR code cannot be used at the kiosk.

What Happens at the Kiosk

1. The customer builds their cart at the kiosk as usual.
2. At the payment screen, the customer selects Loyalty Pay QR.
3. The kiosk activates the barcode scanner (the same hardware used for existing loyalty scanning).
4. The customer holds their phone's QR code up to the scanner.
5. The kiosk reads the code, then applies the payment method, tip, and reward to the order.
6. The customer's saved card is charged automatically. No card swipe or tap at the kiosk terminal is required.
7. The order is submitted and confirmed, and a receipt is produced.

QR Code Content

Data in the QR Code	Required?	Additional Information
Payment method (saved card)	Yes, the QR code will not generate without one	The card is stored securely in the customer's PAR ordering app account. The actual card number is never included in the QR code.
Tip amount	No	Available only if the selected location has tipping enabled. A tip cannot be added without a linked payment method.
Loyalty reward	No	One kiosk-eligible reward can be included.

Prerequisites and Requirements

Requirement	Where It's Controlled	Additional Information
Brand-level Loyalty Pay QR toggle enabled	Management Center > Brand > Configurations > Brand Settings > Loyalty Pay QR toggle	Off by default. Controls both the kiosk payment option and mobile QR generation.
Locations configured as QR-enabled	Venue / store configuration	Only QR-enabled locations appear in the customer's location picker in the app.
Customer is logged in to the PAR ordering app	Customer's phone	Loyalty Pay QR requires a signed-in session. Guest checkout is not supported.
Customer has a saved payment method in the app	Customer's account in the app	Cards are stored securely in the PAR ordering app. A card saved in the Punchh loyalty app is not available here.
Backend QR service provisioned for the brand	Set up by your implementation team	The service that generates the QR code is provisioned during onboarding.

Enable Loyalty Pay QR

1. Open Management Center and select the brand.
2. Go to Configurations > Brand Settings.
3. Find the Loyalty Pay QR toggle and switch it on.
4. Save the brand settings.

Editing this toggle requires manage permission on Brand Settings. If it is greyed out, your role does not allow changing it. Coordinate venue-level QR enablement with your implementation team.

Customer-Facing Error States at the Kiosk

Situation	What the Customer Sees	Resolution
QR code expired	An expiry message on the kiosk	The customer refreshes the QR code in the app and scans again.
QR code already used	An already-used message	The customer generates a new QR code in the app.
QR code not recognized	A try-again message	The customer retries or uses another payment method.
Payment fails at checkout	A payment-failure message; the cart is preserved	The customer retries or chooses another payment method. The cart is not lost.
No saved payment method in the app	A prompt to add or select a card before the QR code is generated	The customer adds a card in the app before generating a QR code.

Limitations and Expectations

• The customer must be logged in to the PAR ordering app. Guest checkout is not supported.
• The customer must have a saved payment method in the app before generating a QR code.
• Cards saved in the Punchh loyalty app are not visible in the PAR ordering app's payment method list.
• A tip cannot be added without a linked payment method.
• Existing kiosk payment methods (card terminal, NFC, and cash) continue to work — Loyalty Pay QR is additive, not a replacement.

Troubleshooting

Symptom	Likely Cause	What to Check
"Loyalty Pay QR" option not visible in the app or on the kiosk	Brand toggle off, or the venue is not QR-enabled	Confirm the Loyalty Pay QR toggle is on in Brand Settings and the venue is configured as a QR-enabled location.
Customer cannot link a payment method in the app	No saved cards in the app account	The customer adds a card in the PAR ordering app. Cards from the Punchh loyalty app are separate.
Tip option not shown	The location does not have tipping enabled	Confirm tipping is enabled for that specific venue.
Kiosk scans the QR code but payment does not complete	The saved card was declined or is no longer valid	Verify the card in the app is valid. If the problem continues, contact PAR support.
Existing loyalty or product barcode scans stop working	An issue with scan routing	Contact PAR support. Existing loyalty and product barcodes should continue to work alongside Loyalty Pay QR.

FAQ

Does the customer need a special app?

Yes, the PAR ordering app. The Punchh loyalty app is separate and has its own card storage.

Can the customer earn loyalty points and pay in one scan?

Yes. Consolidated Scanning allows the QR code to carry payment, tip, and a loyalty reward at the same time.

Who turns it on?

A brand admin with manage permission on Brand Settings switches the toggle on. Venue-level QR enablement requires implementation-team coordination.