[Asia Economy Reporter Oh Su-yeon] SK Telecom announced on the 17th that it has newly added a payment function to the T Membership barcode to enhance customer convenience in using membership services.
The ‘Payment Barcode’ combines the existing T Membership barcode for discounts and points accumulation with the ‘SK Pay’ payment function. Unlike before, when membership use and payment were conducted separately, customers can now enjoy membership benefits and make payments at once by presenting the ‘Payment Barcode’ just once.
SKT expects that the introduction of the ‘Payment Barcode’ will make it much easier for customers to use membership services.
The ‘Payment Barcode’ can be accessed through the T Membership app update on the 17th. Unlike the existing T Membership barcode, an ‘ON/OFF’ button is added at the top of the barcode. Customers can freely choose whether to use the ‘Payment Barcode’ by toggling the newly added ‘ON/OFF’ button.
After the T Membership app update, SKT will set the default state of the barcode to ‘Payment OFF’. Customers will go through the SK Pay linkage process only when they turn the ‘Payment Barcode’ button ‘ON’ for the first time. Thereafter, they can easily decide whether to use the payment function by toggling the ‘ON/OFF’ button.
Customers can freely select their preferred payment method, such as card, bank account, or mobile payment.
SKT anticipates that the launch of the ‘Payment Barcode’ will not only improve customer convenience but also help affiliated store owners and staff by reducing the process to a single barcode scan.
Expansion of Payment Barcode Adoption... Launch Promotion Underway
The ‘Payment Barcode’ will first be available at bakery chains frequently used by customers, such as Paris Baguette and Tous Les Jours, as well as the dining chain VIPS. Starting November 7, Dunkin’ and Baskin-Robbins will be added as available stores, and by the end of the year, the list of affiliated stores accepting the ‘Payment Barcode’ will be expanded to convenience stores such as CU and Seven Eleven, continuously broadening the places where it can be used.
SKT will conduct a six-week launch promotion for the ‘Payment Barcode’ starting from the 17th with five initial partner companies, beginning with Paris Baguette.
Paris Baguette, the first participant, will offer customers using the ‘Payment Barcode’ a discount (or points accumulation) of 500 KRW per 1,000 KRW spent until the 30th.
Additionally, VIPS, Tous Les Jours, Dunkin’, and Baskin-Robbins will each provide customers with up to 50% discount (or points accumulation) benefits for one week in sequence starting from the 31st.
Enhancing Customer Benefits from ‘Unlimited Membership’ Introduction to Continuous Partner Discovery
SKT continues efforts to improve convenience and benefits for T Membership customers, including the introduction of the ‘Payment Barcode’.
Notably, in 2018, SKT became the first in the industry to remove the membership discount limit, allowing customers to enjoy unlimited membership benefits at various affiliated stores regardless of limits.
SKT is also actively discovering new affiliated stores that provide T Membership benefits. This year alone, 26 new partners such as Baskin-Robbins, Dunkin’, SK Store, and Eggslut have been added, bringing the total number of affiliated stores to over 120, where customers can enjoy T Membership benefits.
The representative benefit program of T Membership, ‘T Day,’ offers customers exceptional discounts and points accumulation with various partners on days shaped like the letter T on the calendar (the first week of every month and every Wednesday). SKT has expanded the ‘Week’ period of T Day (the first week of every month) from one week to two weeks.
In particular, SKT provides outstanding T Day benefits focusing on highly preferred partners such as IKEA, No Brand, H&M, Yogiyo, Kyochon, and Ton28, receiving high praise from customers.
Yoon Jae-woong, head of SKT’s Subscription Marketing, said, “We have introduced the ‘Payment Barcode,’ which adds a payment function to the existing barcode for discounts and points accumulation, to make it easier for customers to use T Membership. Going forward, SKT will continue to expand T Membership’s partners and benefits to maximize customer value.”
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