Excoupon

Excoupon is a term used to describe electronic coupons distributed to consumers by retailers, manufacturers, or coupon publishers. It refers to digital promotional offers that can be redeemed online or in physical stores. Excoupons are delivered through email, mobile apps, SMS messages, or retailer websites and contain a unique code, barcode or QR code, an expiry date, and terms of use.

Redeeming an excoupon typically involves presenting the code or scanning the barcode at checkout, or entering the code during online checkout. Some excoupons are auto-applied if certain conditions are met.

Types and scope: Manufacturer excoupons issued by brands and store excoupons issued by retailers. They can be single-use or multi-use, targeted or generic, time-limited or evergreen, and mobile or printed.

Impact and usage: For shoppers, excoupons provide savings and convenience; for retailers, they help drive traffic, increase basket size, and enable data collection on shopper behavior. For brands, they support product trials and awareness.

Limitations and considerations: Fraud risk through code sharing or cloning; privacy concerns arising from data collection; coupon fatigue if offers are too frequent. Platforms implement controls such as unique codes, geotargeting, expiration rules, and ecosystem auditing.

History and market: Electronic coupons gained traction with e-commerce and mobile commerce and expanded with loyalty programs and coupon apps in the 2010s and 2020s. Many retailers use excoupons via in-house systems or third-party networks. Related concepts include digital coupons, coupon codes, and loyalty programs.