Rakuten France Launches New Integrated Payment and Cashback Solution, Club R Pay

By AIT News Desk On Dec 16, 2022

Rakuten France partners with Mastercard and Marqeta with the launch of Club R Pay, becoming the first e-commerce player to offer an integrated digital payment method linked to a cash-back system

Rakuten France has announced the launch of a brand-new integrated payment solution, Club R Pay, becoming the first e-commerce player to offer such a system in marketplaces. A universal integrated payment solution, Club R Pay facilitates purchases for the 12 million members of the Club R loyalty program on over 2,000 sites while they enjoy their Rakuten rewards.

“Our work with Rakuten in France represents an exciting evolution for Marqeta in Europe. By tapping into the power of modern card issuing, we are helping one of the world’s most innovative e-commerce platforms build loyalty and engagement with their marketplace users”

This new initiative allows Rakuten to streamline the purchasing process and support its partners in their digitalisation and development.

Simplifying and securing purchases on over 2,000 sites

As people spend an increasing amount online, security and ease of use are essential in the buying process. According to FEVAD, Ecommerce Europe’s French national association, the French spent 129 billion euros on internet purchases in 2021 and online shopping now represents 14.1% of retail trade. It is in this context that Rakuten is launching Club R Pay, a new payment solution within its partner ecosystem.

With Club R Pay, Rakuten offers its members a simplified and seamless payment process within a large ecosystem of more than 2,000 partners (Nike, Lego, Marionnaud, Hotels.com, etc.).

“At Rakuten France, tomorrow’s e-commerce is a shopping platform that provides an optimised, simplified, secure customer journey that builds loyalty by rewarding purchases within an ecosystem of partners in complete freedom. Tomorrow’s business meets real, concrete needs. It is a business that allows you to have fun while controlling your budget,” says Fabien Versavau, CEO of Rakuten France.

Thanks to strategic partnerships with Mastercard, the global payments network operating across 210 countries and territories, and Marqeta, the global modern card issuing platform who will power single-use virtual cards, Club R Pay provides an additional security guarantee and reduces payment risks.

“Our work with Rakuten in France represents an exciting evolution for Marqeta in Europe. By tapping into the power of modern card issuing, we are helping one of the world’s most innovative e-commerce platforms build loyalty and engagement with their marketplace users,” said Jeff Parker, SVP and Managing Director, International at Marqeta. “Club R Pay allows members to shop and make a purchase on any of the 2,000 partner sites using their Club R Pay membership card. The membership card allows simple payment at checkout without entering their card details as it is part of the ecosystem, and the card collects Rakuten reward points that can be redeemed in cash or spent on Rakuten site. Our partnership with Rakuten will not only result in less cart abandonment, it also will increase revenue as shoppers are more likely to shop with partner brands as they can collect and pool the rewards and receive real discounts.”

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Supporting people’s purchasing power

As 2022 draws to a close, purchasing power remains one of the main concerns for French citizens. Launched four years ago, Rakuten’s Club R loyalty program is now the most generous online shopping platform in France. Its 12 million members can recover between 5% and 35% of their purchases from the marketplace or one of Rakuten France’s 2,000 partners.

Club R Pay simplifies the process for Club R members who automatically recover Rakuten Points from their purchases with partner brands. With the launch of Club R Pay they will enjoy an additional 5% discount on their purchases.

Offering brands traffic acquisition at a lower cost

Club R gives partner brands the right resources to increase their digital revenue on their own site, with less shopping cart abandonment, and traffic acquisition at a competitive price. A true marketing acquisition partner, Club R helps brands reach its 12 million loyal and committed buyers in France, providing an important channel for generating growth.

Club R Pay has also been designed to help partners optimise their marketing expenses. By offering a performance-based pricing model, partners only pay when the user makes a purchase. This plug and play payment solution does not require complex development on the partners’ side. Universal and ubiquitous, it can be easily integrated into the purchasing journey.

The solution is part of a strategy centred on the purchasing journey to create value for both buyers and brands. Aware of how society is changing and driven by the digitalisation of buying and selling processes, Rakuten France is once again affirming its mission to put its innovation expertise at the service of its millions of consumers and valued retail partners.

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