The Tesco Clubcard App includes a bar code which you can scan at the check out in place of your clubcard
The Tesco Clubcard App was released in early 2010, so it’s been around for a couple of years now. This should have Tesco a decent amount of time to fix any bugs and roll out improvements. But after almost two and a half years, is it any good?
Features
First things first, the features found on the Tesco Clubcard App are somewhat limited. But in a way I like this. It’s not cluttered with overzealous marketing messages. It’s also simple enough for even the most techno-phobic folk to use.
It allows you to check your points balance, which must be the most fundamental function of any loyalty program app, plus there is a bar code which corresponds to your Tesco Clubcard, meaning you can scan the screen of your smartphone at the check out in place of using your Clubcard. Could this spell the end of the plastic cards? I doubt it – there is still a huge proportion of people without smartphones – but it’s a nifty feature nonetheless – although it doesn’t always work! There is also a function to scan a QR codes using your phone, which takes you to the Tesco website where you can purchase the corresponding product online.
The Tesco Clubcard App allows you to scan their products' QR Codes
Limitations
Other than the features mentioned above there isn’t much else that the Tesco Clubcard App provides. There are a number of links to the Tesco Mobile site, although how useful these are is questionable. Having these links may be useful, but they are just links to the Tesco Mobile site, which anyone can access without the need to download an App. There’s also an option to sign up to the Clubcard newsletter, which I would recommend to anyone looking to boost their stash of points, although this could be seen as the ‘overzealous marketing’ I mentioned earlier by some people.
Opportunities for Improvement
Two functions I would really like to see incorporated into the Tesco Clubcard App are a list of all the latest in-store offers for additional Clubcard points. I think this could be useful to check when shopping. I also think there would be a benefit if there was slightly more functionality, such as the facility to check for unclaimed Tesco Clubcard Vouchers via the App. If I had a third suggestion, it would be that Tesco should offer consumers a few free points for installing the app (like Nectar does with the Nectar Toolbar). Having said that, this App is completely free so it’s more of a ‘nice to have’ than a functional improvement.
All in all it’s ok but nothing special. There are a couple of useful features such as the Bar Code and the ability to scan QR Codes, however apart from these there isn’t much else. It would be nice to see Tesco develop this App further.
Further Notes
This is based on the Tesco Clubcard App v 3.2. Updates are coming out all the time, keep an eye out for these. At the time of writing, the Tesco Clubcard App is available on Nokia, Blackberry and iPhone. You can find more information on the Tesco Website about the Tesco Clubcard App. There are also a wealth of reviews on the iPhone app store about this app.
