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Coupons as Promotion Qualifiers for B2C Commerce
To qualify users for B2C Commerce storefront promotions, you can use coupons. You can generate coupons by using B2C Commerce, sources external to B2C Commerce, custom-defined coupons. You can also import and export coupon codes to external email marketing systems.
Coupon creation is independent of a promotion or campaign. You assign a coupon to a campaign or a promotion, and manage the coupon's lifetime and expiration date based on the promotion or campaign configuration.
If you assign a coupon to a campaign, all promotions within that campaign inherit it. You can stop coupon inheritance or extend a coupon specification at the promotion level.
In B2C Commerce there are three types of coupons:
| Coupon Type | Definition | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Merchant-defined single code | You can use one coupon code per coupon multiple times. | You maintain it in Business Manager. |
| Merchant-defined multiple codes | List of codes per coupon, typically imported from an external system. You can use each code multiple times. | You maintain it in Business Manager. |
| System-generated | B2C Commerce automatically generates the codes. | Issued through export or the scripting API. You manage the format through Business Manager. |
For one coupon, there can be many coupon codes. A shopper enters the coupon code during checkout to qualify for the promotion. B2C Commerce compares the code to its list of authorized codes, and, if appropriate, enables the promotion and the discount. A coupon can qualify a customer for one or more promotions.
Single-Code Coupons
Configure single-code coupons if you want to:
- Issue one coupon with exactly one code with a redemption limit of 1.
For example, to reward a customer for store loyalty.
- Issue a coupon with exactly one code with a fixed or unlimited redemption limit (a
blank redemption limit results in unlimited redemptions).
For example, for an email promotion, limit the time frame that the coupon is active instead of specifying the number of redemptions.
Multi-Code Coupons
Configure multi-code coupons when you want to:
- Issue one coupon with multiple codes with a redemption limit of 1.
For example, to send out one coupon code to a group of loyal customers that they (each customer) can redeem one time.
- Issue one coupon with multiple codes and a fixed or unlimited redemption limit (a
blank redemption limit represents unlimited redemptions).
For example, you send out one code to each of your employees in a "friends and family" campaign, with an unlimited redemption limit The employees can forward the code to their family and friends, and you can see which employee drove the most revenue to the site.
System-Generated Coupons
Shoppers don't necessarily redeem all available coupons, so generating all codes in advance is inefficient. You can generate codes as needed, using single or multiple-code coupons. To publish a large number of codes, use system-generated coupons to automate generation.
System-generated coupon codes follow the format, such as
AFDR-3FE3-6HUJ-45ER
Optionally, specify a prefix, such as SUMMER. For example,
SUMMER-AFDR-3FE3-6HUJ-45ER
B2C Commerce uses an algorithm to determine whether a customer-submitted code is valid. When B2C Commerce issues a system-generated code, it returns a single coupon code and removes it from the set of available codes. Issuing a code doesn't reserve the code for a specific shopper or limit code redemptions in the future.
- Coupon Considerations for B2C Commerce
Review these guidelines as you implement coupons for your B2C Commerce storefront. - Configure Single or Multiple-Code Coupons for B2C Commerce
Create a single-code coupon or multiple-code coupons, depending on your B2C storefront's promotional needs. Single-code coupons use one code for all customers, multiple-code coupons use multiple unique codes. The code is what you share with customers through marketing campaigns. - System-Generated Coupon Codes
To auto-generate many unique, one-time-use codes, use system-generated coupon codes. These codes are useful for large-scale promotions, like an email blast, and you can customize These codes are useful for large-scale promotions, like an email blast, and you can customize them for a personalized shopping experience. for the coupon campaign or pool. - Specify General Settings for B2C Commerce Coupons
Configure coupon descriptions, status, and redemption limits on the General tab. - Search, Filter, and Sort B2C Commerce Coupons
If you have catalogs with many coupons, use search and filter to find coupons easily. Search and filter reduce which coupons appear, while sort changes the order of those results. - Assign Coupons to B2C Commerce Campaigns
To track and organize your promotions, assign coupons to one or more B2C Commerce campaigns. You can report on and organize coupons, and tie the coupon’s effective window to a campaign and promotion schedule. Instead of repeating the setup on each promotion, apply a coupon to all promotions under a campaign. You can still configure exceptions per promotion. - Edit or Delete Coupon Codes for B2C Commerce
Edit or delete coupon codes on the Coupon Codes page. With the correct permissions, you can view all coupon codes. Otherwise, they're masked. If you delete a coupon from a promotion, the coupon is labeled "missing". - Configure Multiple Promotion Qualifiers for B2C Commerce
Create promotions that require the shopper to meet multiple qualifying conditions. For these qualifiers to apply, create a campaign and configure the promotion qualifier settings for that campaign. - Coupon Redemption for B2C Commerce
Set redemption limits to control discount offers and keep promotional campaigns within budgets. Manage coupon usage by customer or time limits. - Coupon Analytics and Reporting for B2C Commerce
Track the effectiveness of specific promotions and campaigns by the number of coupon redemptions. By analyzing this information, you can adjust your promotional strategies to increase repeat business and revenue.
