Barcode loyalty cards: how they work, what the till needs and when a QR code fits better

How a barcode loyalty card works

A barcode loyalty card works like a card number that a machine can read: the code holds the card’s identifier, the scanner passes it to the software, and the software finds the customer and updates the points or stamps. The balance lives in the programme, not in the code: if the till software does not recognise that number, the card on its own records nothing.

Many barcode scanners behave like a keyboard. Odoo’s documentation, for example, explains that its Barcode app expects a scanner that «works like an analogue keyboard» and only detects key events: in practice the scanner «types» the number it reads into the active field of the programme. That is why the scanner has to be set up together with the software you will use, not on its own.

Before printing cards, then, it pays to know which programme will read them: the loyalty module of your till software, a separate loyalty programme on a computer or tablet next to the till, or an online platform. The three routes, and the questions to ask the supplier, are in the guide to loyalty card POS integration.

Barcode or QR code: what the difference means for a loyalty card

The difference between a barcode and a QR code lies in how they write data. GS1, the body that issues the EAN codes found on products, describes linear (1D) barcodes as a series of variable-width lines and spaces, and two-dimensional (2D) barcodes as patterns of squares, dots and other shapes that hold more data while taking up less space.

For a loyalty card, what matters most is who has to read it. A linear barcode is fine if the till scanner reads it; a QR code can also be read by the camera of a phone or tablet, and it is the format of the Iterum card, which staff scan with the camera from the «Al banco» station. Where to display the shop’s QR code and how to print it is covered in the QR code loyalty card guide.

Which barcode should you use for loyalty cards?

The right barcode for loyalty cards is the one your software generates and your scanner reads: the format is chosen starting from the till, not from the printer. Before ordering, ask the software supplier which format and numbering it accepts, and the scanner supplier whether it also reads the code from a phone screen.

If the software suggests EAN-13, ask how it tells the card number apart from product codes, because at the till the same scanner reads both. The GS1 system also has a key designed for service relationships, the GSRN (Global Service Relation Number): GS1 says organisations can use it to identify their individual service clients, such as «the loyalty account members of a retailer». It matters mostly to businesses that already work with GS1 numbers.

A printed card should then be tested the way it will be used: at the till, with the real scanner, on a few test cards before the full print run. Printing costs and alternatives are in the guide on how much a loyalty card costs.

Can the till scanner read a barcode on a phone?

Not always: many customers keep their loyalty card on their phone, and not every scanner reads a screen. Odoo’s documentation lists a barcode shown on a screen among the reasons a code will not scan: some scanners do not support it and the barcode has to be printed, which is most common with linear barcodes.

HPRT, which makes barcode scanners, explains why in its guide: laser scanners are designed for 1D codes and read light reflected from a printed surface, whereas a screen emits its own light; image-based scanners, which capture a picture of the code, reliably read QR codes and barcodes shown on a screen. If you plan to accept cards on phones, test the scanner with two or three phones before you buy it.

Getting the card onto a phone is easy. Google explains that a card can be added to Google Wallet from a photo of the card itself or of its barcode, by tapping «Add to Wallet» and then «Everything else» or «Photo». So the plastic card you hand out today may come back to the till on a screen tomorrow.

Which barcodes do Apple Wallet and Google Wallet support?

Apple Wallet and Google Wallet support both linear and 2D codes, so a card in Wallet can show the format the shop’s scanner reads. Apple’s developer documentation lists QR, PDF 417, Aztec, Code 128, Code 39, Codabar, EAN 13 and Interleaved 2 of 5 (ITF); from iOS 27 a pass can carry more than one code as a fallback, for example an EAN 13 shown on iOS 27 and later and a QR code on earlier versions.

Google lists Aztec, Code 39, Code 128, Codabar, Data Matrix, EAN-8, EAN-13, ITF-14, PDF 417, QR code and UPC-A, plus text only; codes that change over time (rotating barcodes) are only possible with PDF 417 and QR. The format is chosen by whoever issues the card: if your loyalty programme creates Wallet passes, ask which code it puts on the card. The customer’s steps are in the Apple Wallet and Google Wallet guides.

What you need for a barcode loyalty card

A barcode loyalty card needs five things before the first card is handed out: software that manages customers and balances, a compatible scanner, cards printed with the right numbering, a written rule for staff and a privacy notice. This is the checklist, in the order it is worth doing it.

1. The software

   Choose where customers, points and rewards live: the till’s loyalty module, a separate programme or an online platform. The software decides the format and numbering of the cards.

2. The scanner

   Check that it reads the chosen format and, if you will accept cards on phones, the screen too: for screens an image-based scanner suits better than a laser one.

3. The cards

   Have a few test cards printed with numbers generated by the software and scan them at the till before ordering the full print run.

4. The rule

   Write down what earns a point or a stamp, how you handle returns and lost cards, and who can correct a mistake. The points to cover are in the guide to loyalty scheme rules in Italy.

5. Privacy

   A numbered card linked to a name, phone number or purchases processes personal data: the privacy notice and consents should be ready before launch, as the loyalty card GDPR guide explains.

Barcode card or digital card with a QR code: which suits you?

A barcode card suits a shop whose till already has a loyalty module and a scanner: the module can calculate points from the receipt total, customers do not need a smartphone and staff make no extra step. A digital card with a QR code suits a shop that does not want to touch the till or print cards: it opens on the customer’s phone and staff read it with a camera.

The two can also run side by side for a while, for example by keeping the cards already handed out and offering the digital card to new customers; the pros and cons of switching are in the guide to paper vs digital loyalty cards. In a shop with very different receipts, or at a butcher’s, the choice between stamps and points matters as much as the code; to estimate what the reward costs you, use the loyalty card reward calculator.

Iterum and barcodes: what it does and what it does not do

Iterum does not print barcode cards for the till scanner and does not connect to the POS terminal, the till or management software: it is a digital loyalty card that works next to the till. The customer’s card opens in the browser, with no app, and can be added to Apple Wallet or Google Wallet on compatible phones; it carries a QR code and a written code.

At each eligible visit, staff open the «Al banco» app on a phone, tablet or computer, scan the card’s QR code or type its code, then confirm the stamp or type the points; a connection is needed, because Iterum does not record offline. If you need a physical card, the Premium plan includes physical NFC cards: the plans are compared on the pricing page.

If, on the other hand, you want the till scanner to recognise the card and calculate points from the receipt, Iterum is not the right tool today: look at the loyalty module of your till software. If you want to start without touching the till, you set up the card in the designer and start the 7-day free trial: you pay €0 today, a payment card is required and the selected plan continues after the trial unless you cancel. The full journey is in how Iterum works.

Sources and method

Sources consulted on 21 October 2026: GS1, GS1 Barcodes and Global Service Relation Number (GSRN); Apple, Pass.Barcodes; Google, BarcodeType and Manage items in Google Wallet; Odoo, Barcode device troubleshooting; HPRT, Can Barcode Scanners Scan Screens?.

We have not tested scanners or cards: the testing advice is practical guidance, not data collected from real shops, and the table comparing the two options is general guidance. The information about Iterum describes the product as of 21 October 2026, as shown on the how it works and pricing pages and on the overview page. The brands named belong to their owners and none of them has reviewed this guide.