The better digital receipt

The electronic receipt represents a fiscal receipt in electronic format. We can define it as the modern way of providing proof of purchase to the customer. The e-receipt includes all of the same information as a paper receipt, such as the date and time of the purchase, the items purchased, the total cost, and any applicable taxes or discounts. The receipt should display legible content, enabling the buyer to verify the correctness of the sale.

The term digital receipt specifically refers to receipts that are stored and managed digitally, usually in a computerised system. Digital receipts are often part of a larger digital record-keeping system that may include other transaction data, customer information, and inventory management.

The terms electronic receipts and digital receipts are often used interchangeably.

Smart receipts, also known as smart digital receipts or intelligent digital receipts, are digital receipts that are enhanced with additional features and functionality. These features may include real-time updates to reflect changes in pricing, loyalty and rewards integration, feedback integration, special offers and promotions segment and more. Overall, smart digital receipts provide a more engaging and interactive shopping experience for customers, while also providing valuable data and insights for businesses. Try it out – open a sample receipt.

Finally, the definitions of e-receipt and digital receipt as well as the rules related to them vary from country to country and are dependent on the legal and technical legislation and the country’s type of fiscalization. For example, e-receipts are rare in hardware-based systems, because of the limited possibilities for fiscal devices, but they are more common in software-based or combined (software and hardware-based) systems.

The main benefits of offering digital receipts are:

• Environmental Sustainability: Digital receipts significantly reduce paper usage, contributing to environmental conservation and sustainability efforts.
• Convenience for Customers: Digital receipts are easily accessible and can be stored on electronic devices, providing customers with a convenient and organised way to manage their purchase records.
• Efficient Record-Keeping: Businesses benefit from streamlined record-keeping processes, with digital receipts integrated into digital systems for easy retrieval, analysis, and archiving.
• Data Insights: Digital receipts enable businesses to gather valuable customer data, offering insights into purchasing behaviour, preferences, and trends that can inform targeted marketing strategies.
• Cost Savings: Eliminating the need for paper, printing, and manual handling of receipts reduces operational costs associated with traditional receipt methods.

Assuming an average receipt length of approximately 26 cm (especially after TSE). Based on that and the following calculations: 

• Receipts: 100,000 
• Co2 (Kg): 250 
• Waste (Kg): 58 
• Water (L): 14285
• Trees: 1.786 (56000 receipts per tree) ökobons 5 rolls each 80m = 16€ 
• 80m per roll is around 400 receipts with avg. Length of 22 cm (for Environmental impact we have used 26 even) -> even above 80 m but lets calculate low to not look like we are rounding stuff up
• 5×80m=5×400 receipts -> 2000 receipts approx. 16€ -> anything from 0.6 to 1 cent seems fair for calculation 

For more details, see here.

Yes, many countries have made provisions for retailers to issue digital receipts. It is legal to offer digital receipts for customers in:

• UK
• Germany
• Austria
• Switzerland
• France
• Sweden
• Finland
• Norway
• Belgium
• Denmark
• Luxembourg
• The Netherlands
• Spain
• Portugal
• Australia
• The United States

..and other countries are updating their regulations. If you are interested in knowing more about fiscal law in a specific country, please refer to guidance issued by its government authorities.

Digital receipts are generally considered valid forms of proof of purchase or transaction, as long as they contain the necessary information to establish the details of the transaction. However, the validity of a digital receipt can depend on the context, the specific laws or regulations of your jurisdiction, and the policies of the parties involved (such as retailers, businesses, or government agencies).

If you are a retailer looking to start offering digital receipts to your customers, you can book a demo with our team to be guided through the process. After registering for refive digital receipts, we’ll connect refive with your POS. You can then choose whether to show a static QR code, a dynamic QR code displayed on a second screen or add an NFC device for customers to tap to obtain their receipts.

A digital receipt software, also known as an electronic receipt software or an e-receipt software, is a type of application or tool designed to create, manage, and distribute digital receipts for transactions conducted between businesses and customers. This software eliminates the need for paper-based receipts and offers various features to streamline the receipt process. To learn more about refive’s features for customer engagement and retention, see our website menu above or schedule a demo.

Digital receipts work by replacing traditional paper-based receipts with electronic and in refive’s case interactive versions that can be generated, sent, received, and stored digitally. Here’s a step-by-step overview of how refive’s digital receipts work:

1. Transaction Occurs: A customer makes a purchase in-store.

2. Receipt Generation: After the transaction is completed, the business’s point-of-sale (POS) system communicates with refive which generates a digital receipt. This receipt includes details such as the date of the transaction, items purchased, quantities, prices, applicable taxes, and any other relevant information.

3. Delivery to Customer: The digital receipt is then made available to the customer via:

• Static QR code displayed next to the cash register
• Dynamic QR code which appears on a second screen at the cash register
• NFC device

4. Receipt Viewing: The customer only needs to scan the QR code or tap the NFC device with their phone and their digital receipt will be displayed in their mobile browser. They can now click on various elements of the receipt such as enrolment to a loyalty program or up- and cross-selling offers unique to them.

5. Storage and Accessibility: The customer can choose to download their receipt as a PDF, email it to themselves, save it to their wallet pass (if offered by retailer), access it in Whatsapp (if option is enabled by retailer) or even receive it via SMS.

refive enables retailers to cross-sell and upsell products and services to customers through: 

• Personalised offers and recommendations: By understanding the customers purchase history, preferences, and behaviours retailers can personalise offers that are more likely to resonate with customers and drive additional sales.

• Promotions and Discounts: Including exclusive promotions or discounts on future purchases in digital receipts can incentivize customers to make additional purchases. Retailers can strategically offer discounts on related or higher-end products, encouraging customers to consider these options.
• Cross-Channel Integration: Digital receipts can be integrated with other marketing channels. For example, including links to relevant blog posts, social media content, or online tutorials related to purchased products can provide additional value and increase engagement. This, in turn, can lead to cross-selling opportunities.
• Feedback and Reviews: Digital receipts can serve as a platform for collecting customer feedback and reviews. Positive feedback and reviews can reinforce the value of the purchased product and increase the likelihood of cross-selling and upselling success.
• Loyalty Programs: If the digital receipt system is linked to a loyalty program, retailers can use this opportunity to highlight the benefits of joining or upgrading. This can be an effective way to encourage customers to become more engaged and increase their spending.

You can issue a new receipt with the changes – based on your system, it’s either automatically updated or issued as a new receipt for the customer.