Coupon codes are getting really popular amongst brands, and brands are trying to look up and execute different ways to make coupons more intuitive and interesting for the consumers. Having said that, it is important to know what type of coupons exist today, and which ones are relevant in today's fast-pacing and dynamic time.
The long awaited debate of Click vs Print or Digital vs Paper coupons may seem as vague one, because people believe that the answer is pretty obvious. Well, it's not exactly that. Even though Digital Coupons are leading the way, post-pandemic, print coupons still exists, and brands are still using them.
But before we jump onto the actual debate, it's important to know both types of coupon codes to their exact nature, and what you can expect from either of them.
What are Click or Digital Coupon Codes?
Click or more popularly and recently known as digital coupon codes, are discount-embedded codes leveraged solely on online platforms. As the word itself implies, the nature of the coupon is completely digital, meaning that the discount or coupon code can only be availed on online stores of different brands. Digital coupons were brought on by the onset and amplification of E-commerce platforms and are extremely popular in today's time. The best part about digital coupons is that they are not something that will get lost. Since it is digital, it can be saved for later usage or access.
What are Print or Paper Coupons?
Print or Paper coupons are discount-based coupons that, as the name suggests, are in the form of printable paper. They have physical and tangible existence, in a sense that, in order to avail the print coupon, you must print it on paper, and physically take it to the retail store of the brand, in order to avail the discount. Print or paper coupons can only be availed in-store and not online, meaning that you have to take the print coupon to the respective store, in order to redeem the discount.
Click (Digital) vs Print (Paper) Coupons - Which One Prevails?
Click vs print coupon debate isn't something that is quite formally discussed. People always look to resound to extreme decisions, by ruling out one over the other. While Digital Coupons may seem the obvious choice for consumers today, but we shouldn't forget the fact that it all started from print coupons.
Before the onset of technology and E-commerce platforms, brands had widespread physical existence, also known as brick and mortar stores. There weren't many ways to advertise discounts, instead of putting up in-store sales, that too, through paper. This is when print coupons became popular, when brands started to give away paper-based coupons that were to be redeemed in-store. During the early adoption of technology, when printing was quite popular and in-demand, print coupons made their way into the mainstream marketing strategy and the bigger picture. Customers would print the coupon codes on paper and cash it ok counters at the respective stores of different brands.
Digital coupons, on the other hand are an extension of print coupons, leveraged solely through the advancements in technology, and specifically E-commerce stores. When E-commerce first came into the picture, people were quite resistant, but fast forward to today's time, E-commerce stores are everywhere and people prefer nothing but digital coupons, given how convenient it is to use them. Instead of going directly to the physical store to redeem print coupons, customers can get straight and flat discounts at the click of one button online.
Digital coupons are preferred over print coupons because of the following reasons:
- They are easier and snappier to redeem requiring no physical effort
- They are immediately available
- They don't have the tendency to get lost and can be saved for later use
- They don't require customers to spend on printing costs or any cost at all
- They can be used in conjunction with new technologies such as QR scanning
It is no hidden fact that Digital coupons are dethroning and, in fact, have dethroned print coupons, especially after the pandemic, when online shopping has substantially boomed, and E-commerce is at its very peak, intensifying at an unparalleled pace.
Needless to say, brands, specifically grocery chains are still using print coupons, to be redeemed at their physical stores, but we believe that, if brands plan on using print coupons, it should be in conjunction with digital coupons. Solely relying on print coupons is not advisable at all, as a matter of fact, technologies like QR scanning have replaced print coupons, and customers just have to scan a certain code to get discount. Even physical stores are implementing on this today, pointing to the demise of the ever-so popular print coupons.
