Built for businesses like yours

Absolutely. As well as creating some live passes for testing, you can also create unlimited TEST passes free of charge to explore Smartix and understand how it works.
TEST passes expire automatically after 48 hours, making them ideal for experimenting before you begin issuing passes to real customers.

Every Smartix account is topped up to 200 free credits each month, allowing you to support real customers without any ongoing cost.

What those credits will cover depends on how you use Smartix, but for many small businesses they are enough to run a small loyalty scheme, issue tickets
for local events or experiment with new ideas. Our Pricing page includes real examples to help you understand what is possible.

No. Smartix has no monthly subscriptions and no annual or monthly commitments for PAYG customers.

Buy credits whenever you need them and use them at your own pace. Credit bundles never expire, so whether they last a week or six months is entirely up to you.

If you run out of credits, some Smartix features, such as issuing passes, redeeming rewards or sending updates, will no longer be available until you purchase more credits. Your customers’ existing passes remain safely on their phones.

If you have purchased a paid credit bundle then this will include a small overdraft facility to ensure your business is not interrupted by running out of credits. We will always
notify you when credits are running low. To avoid interruptions, you can enable automatic top-ups so Smartix purchases another credit bundle before your balance runs too low.

No. Smartix can issue passes using our shared Apple and Google Wallet certificates, so you do not need to set up developer accounts or provide your own certificates before you get started.

Using shared certificates does come with some limits on how often passes can be updated or notifications can be sent, but these limits should not be a problem for most small businesses.

We do encourage customers to consider their own certificates as they grow, and Smartix can also provide a private certificate option that we manage for your exclusive use. Switching later can be tricky, so if you think you may want your own certificates in future, it is worth speaking to us early.

Smartix Studio is where you design, issue and manage your passes. You start from one of our templates, add your branding and content, then issue passes directly from Studio.

You can issue a single pass, or create many at once by uploading a spreadsheet. Studio also lets you view active passes, update pass content, send notifications to everyone, selected groups or individual customers, and manage your account.

For many businesses, Studio is the main place they will use Smartix. The only other thing you may need day to day is the Smartix Scan App, if you want to scan passes, add or redeem stamps and points, or verify tickets and memberships.

Smartix has two main types of passes: Custom and Managed.

Custom passes give you the most flexibility. Smartix manages the Apple and Google Wallet technology, but you decide what the pass contains, what the barcode represents and how scanning is handled. These are usually more appropriate for larger businesses or custom integrations, and they cannot be used with the Smartix Scan App.

Managed passes are usually the best choice for small businesses. They are a little less flexible because Smartix controls the barcode and manages certain pass content, but the benefit is that Smartix handles the business logic for you. For example, a managed stamp card can add and redeem stamps through Smartix, and can be used with the Smartix Scan App.

Smartix Scan is a free app for iOS and Android devices. It is used with Managed passes, giving staff a simple way to scan a customer’s pass and perform the right action.

Depending on the pass type, Smartix Scan can add loyalty points, redeem stamp cards, verify event tickets or confirm membership access.

You can find it in the Apple App Store and Google Play Store by searching for Smartix Scan.

The Smartix Shopify App connects Smartix to your Shopify online store and Shopify POS. It lets customers request loyalty or stamp cards, view their Smartix cards online, and allows staff to use Smartix cards during checkout in Shopify POS.

The app itself is free to use. Normal Smartix pass usage fees still apply, such as issuing passes, redeeming rewards, sending notifications or updating pass content.

You do not need the Shopify App to use Smartix, but if you already use Shopify it provides a richer, more automated experience for your customers and staff.

Customers can request loyalty and stamp cards themselves by scanning a QR code. When you create a managed loyalty or stamp card in Smartix Studio, a signup QR code is automatically generated for you to download and print. Simply display it where customers can see it, and they can add their card to Apple or Google Wallet in just a few moments.

If you use the Smartix Shopify App, customers can also request their loyalty or stamp card directly from their Shopify customer account, making it easy to join whether they’re shopping online or in store.

If you have your own website or app, Smartix also provides an API so you can create a completely custom signup experience that fits seamlessly into your existing customer journey.

Passes can be updated after they have been issued, and the changes are synchronised automatically.

If something common to all passes changes, such as an event time, business contact details or information shown on the back of the pass, you can update the pass template in Smartix Studio. Smartix then pushes those changes to the passes already issued from that template.

You can also update individual passes, or selected groups of passes, from Smartix Studio or through the API. That is useful when only certain customers need different information, such as a personalised offer, membership status, balance or event detail.

Pass updates and notifications use the same underlying Wallet mechanism, but they are used for different purposes.

A pass update changes information on the pass, such as an event time, contact details, balance, membership status or information shown on the back of the pass. Updates can be silent, or they can include a lock screen message if the customer needs to notice the change.

A notification is intended to get the customer’s attention, more like a text message. It appears on the lock screen and is usually also stored on the back of the pass, so customers can re-read it later. Google may limit how many Wallet notifications are shown on the lock screen each day.

Pass content depends partly on the type of pass. Some pass types have required fields, such as the balance on a gift card, while others are more flexible. Google Wallet generally allows more layout flexibility than Apple Wallet.

Most passes have several fields on the front for short information such as a name, date, time, seat number, balance or membership level. Many passes can also include a hero image, which might be decorative or functional, such as showing stamp card progress.

The back of the pass is used for longer information, including plain text, email addresses, phone numbers and web links. There are limits to the number of separate items, but you can use basic HTML links inside text content where that makes sense.

Smartix passes can be used for any customer journey where it helps for the customer to keep something useful on their phone.

Common examples include loyalty cards, stamp cards, membership cards, event tickets, gift cards, discount cards and collection receipts. But you are not limited to those ideas.

A pass might show a balance, track stamps, confirm entry, prove membership, list upcoming events, provide contact details or link customers back to your website. The important question is not really “what type of pass is this?” but “what useful reason does the customer have to keep it?”

Yes. Customers are always in control of the passes stored in their Apple or Google Wallet and can remove them whenever they choose.

If a customer removes a pass, you can no longer update it or send notifications to it. If they later request a new pass, it becomes a new customer relationship
from that point onwards. Although if you recorded their original pass ID, you can give them a link to reinstall theor original pass with any associated
balance stil intact.

A market stall can use Smartix to stay connected with customers after they walk away. Customers can scan a QR code to get their loyalty or stamp card, then you can use the free Smartix Scan App to add or redeem points whenever they visit your stall.

You can also keep the pass useful between visits by adding upcoming market dates, locations, new products or seasonal offers. For some stalls, that could even become the first step towards simple postal orders, without needing a full online shop straight away.

A coffee shop is ideal territory for a digital stamp card. Customers can collect stamps each time they visit, redeem rewards when they have earned them, and keep the card in Apple or Google Wallet instead of carrying another paper card.

You could also try something different, such as a coffee lovers membership card. Customers pay a monthly or annual membership fee and receive a discount on every coffee, helping create regular visits while improving cashflow for the business.

If you use Shopify POS, the Smartix Shopify App can provide a richer, integrated experience. If not, the Smartix Scan App can sit alongside whichever payment system you already use.

Paper stamp cards are a great first step towards encouraging customers to come back, but they have limits. They get lost, left at home and they sit in a wallet doing nothing between visits.

A Smartix stamp card gives customers the same familiar experience, but keeps it on their phone where it won't be lost. You can also see how many stamps have been issued, how many rewards have been redeemed, and how many rewards are still outstanding.

Most importantly, the card becomes active rather than passive. You can send reminders, share new products or promote events, giving customers a reason to come back instead of simply hoping they remember you.

If you use Shopify, Smartix can connect with both your online store and Shopify POS. Customers can request loyalty or stamp cards themselves online or in store, while membership discount cards can be used to reward selected customers.

In Shopify POS, staff can work with loyalty cards, stamp cards and membership discounts directly at the checkout. Online, customers can view and manage their Smartix cards through your store.

The Smartix Shopify App is free to use, with normal Smartix pass usage fees applying. You can also use pass updates and notifications to keep customers informed after they leave your shop.

Absolutely. Smartix has an API for custom integrations, and this was one of the first integration routes we supported.

If someone knows your website code and is comfortable working with APIs, a realistic expectation is that they could integrate a loyalty card flow in a few days. That could include customer self-signup, automatic points collection at checkout, redeeming points for a purchase discount, and admin tools for points adjustments or sending pass notifications.

We won't know the details of your website and couldn't reasonably write the integration code for you, but we're happy to help you think through what needs to be connected and how to get started.

Absolutely. Smartix can issue digital event tickets that customers keep on their phone, while the free Smartix Scan App on any iOS or Android device can quickly verify tickets at the entrance to your event.

You'll still need to sell tickets through your existing booking system and manage seat selection if required. However, if your performance is postponed or details change, you can update every ticket from Smartix Studio and notify customers in just a few clicks.

The relationship doesn't have to end when the curtain comes down. You can use Smartix to promote your next performance, offer early access to tickets, encourage pre-booking of interval drinks or programmes, and keep your audience engaged long after they leave the theatre.

Smartix supports both general and tiered memberships, making it easy to identify which services, facilities or benefits each member is entitled to.

Use the back of the pass to keep useful information at your members' fingertips, such as club contact details, a calendar of events, upgrade options and other important information.

You can also notify members when their renewal is due and provide personalised links to your payment platform, making it simple for them to renew their membership. If they do not renew, you can still keep in touch and perhaps encourage them back later with a relevant offer.

A salon or beauty business can use Smartix in whatever way best suits the experience you want to create. A loyalty card or stamp card encourages repeat visits, while a treatment package or membership can reward your regular clients and help build long-term relationships.

Once customers have your pass on their phone, it becomes much more than a loyalty card. It could always display their next appointment, and because the appointment date is stored in the pass, Apple and Google Wallet can automatically remind them on the day. You can also use updates and notifications to remind customers when it's time to book again, promote seasonal treatments, share last-minute availability or offer something special to regular clients.

Yes. Smartix does not need to treat each shop as a separate location, so you can use the same passes across multiple shops if that suits your business.

If you use the Smartix Scan App, we record which user was logged in and the device location when points are added or redeemed. That gives you a useful way to see where activity is taking place.

For shared devices, Smartix also supports fast login using an NFC tag. Staff can tap the tag to log in quickly, much like they might use a shared till.

Collection receipts are a great example of using Smartix in a different way. When a customer drops off an item, simply issue them a digital collection pass and associate the pass with the repair. When they return, scan the pass to verify both the customer and the item being collected. No more lost paper collection receipts.

You can update the pass as the repair progresses and send a notification as soon as it's ready for collection, saving customers unnecessary journeys or phone calls.

The relationship doesn't have to end once the item has been collected. You can occasionally remind customers about servicing, maintenance or special offers, giving them a reason to come back the next time they need your help.