The Remarkable Power of Gifting: A Journey from Ancient Egypt to QUODOS

My first visit to the UAE was nothing short of an adventure. It was a pivotal business trip, one I'd been eagerly anticipating for months. This was the moment I'd meet a potential client who could change the game for our new payments product. After countless emails, proposals, product trials, and negotiations, it all came down to this face-to-face meeting with the CEO. And I wasn't alone on this exciting journey; by my side was a local sales manager, a friendly face in unfamiliar territory.

We were both buzzing with nervous energy, unsure of what awaited us in that boardroom. Little did we know that our visit would gift us an experience we'd cherish for the rest of our lives. As we walked in to meet the Commercial Director, we were handed gift boxes. Yes, you read that right, gift boxes! It was a moment that still warms my heart, even 16 years later. It was a gesture so unexpected, so disarming, that it instantly broke the ice. My colleague and I may have taken different career paths since then, but whenever we catch up, we never fail to recall that delightful surprise and share a knowing smile. A simple gift, given spontaneously, yet etched in our memories forever.

The act of gifting is nothing short of magical. It's an intimate and personal exchange, a language of emotions spoken through tokens of appreciation. It's a tradition that spans millennia, connecting humanity across cultures, nations, and epochs. Did you know that the Egyptians were pioneers in gifting on birthdays? They also believed in burying gifts with the departed to aid their journey to the afterlife. Meanwhile, ancient Rome's emperors received gifts during the extravagant Saturnalia celebrations held every December. The Middle Ages saw the emergence of gifts as symbols of power, with knights serenading their loved ones with love songs and presenting personalized garments.

The tradition continues to weave its way through history, yet its core essence remains unchanged. Gifting is a celebration of connection, a testament to our shared humanity. In today's fast-paced and often disconnected world, preserving these human connections is more vital than ever. Gifting isn't just an age-old tradition; it's a lifeline that helps us nurture relationships, build trust, bridge gaps, and express our love and affection. Gifts are more than material items; they're emissaries of joy, love, and gratitude. But in this digital era, where we live through screens and navigate a sea of information, how can brands make meaningful connections? How can they stand out amid the noise of social media, news, products, and platforms? Who can we trust, what products should we choose, and how can we contribute to a sustainable future?

It's no surprise that brands struggle to break through the digital cacophony. However, as much as the world has evolved, the power of gifting remains unchanged. Gifting still holds the key to trust, loyalty, and lasting relationships. Consider this:

• What if you could engage directly with every customer who holds your gift card, but in a way that resonates uniquely with each of them?
• What if you could communicate with your customers on their terms, building content tailored to their preferences?
• What if you could establish a true value exchange, a two-way street that fosters trust, intimacy, and customer demand? Imagine a world where marketing strategies can be adapted, enhanced, or modified in realtime, based on how your audience responds. Imagine establishing value channels that foster engagement, loyalty, and the belief that each customer is unique, that your brand is tailored just for them.

This is where QUODOS steps in, ready to transform the way you engage with your customers in a novel and innovative way.

QUODOS isn't just another digital gift card app; it's a bridge connecting brands with their customers like never before. It's a digital ecosystem that lives on your customers' devices, storing all their gift cards in one convenient place. It establishes a direct link between your brand and your customer via a gift card, effortlessly connected to a prepaid debit card in their digital wallets.

But here's where QUODOS truly shines: it enables you to communicate directly with individual customers, specific groups, your entire gift card/customer portfolio, or even the entire QUODOS user community. It's a platform that allows you to send brand messages, share news, updates, campaigns, and offers that resonate personally with each recipient. You can encourage users to use their gift cards or top them up to avail of special offers and incentives. The beauty is in the data – QUODOS empowers you to measure, track, and analyse engagement in real-time, helping you refine your messaging and understand your customers better. You can acquire new customers through friends and family who can easily gift to each other on the app.

For users, it's a game-changer. All their gift cards are now at their fingertips, and they'll never lose or forget a gift card again. Real-time balances are accessible whenever they wish. They can purchase gift cards through the app, complete with personalized messages and cards, making gifting an intimate and personal experience. In a world brimming with digital devices and platforms, QUODOS harnesses the timeless art of gifting, to forge exceptional relationships between brands and customers.

Features and Benefits for Brands:

• Boost sales and ROI without hefty infrastructure investments.
• Transform gift card holders into loyal, engaged, and repeat customers with lightning speed.
• Create a seamless, immersive brand experience.
• Enable gift card holders to pay with ease.
• Engage directly with your gift card holders and the QUODOS community.
• Tailor offers, specials, and discounts to align with your brand and sales objectives.
• Track the success of your campaigns in real-time.
• Eliminate the guesswork from your marketing budget.
• Empower your marketing with cutting-edge digital technology.

Features:

• Seamlessly redeem gift cards online and in-store.
• No need for extensive staff training.
• Rapid integration with no point-of-sale or IT infrastructure impact.
• Real-time analytics and reporting across your gift card portfolio.
• Flexible redemption options.
• Deliver digital content effortlessly.
• Keep your brand right in your customer's pocket.
• Gift card reloading capabilities.
• Designed for any digital device - watches, phones, iPads.

For Users:

• All your gift cards, now in one place.
• Never lose or forget a gift card again.
• View all your gift card balances in real-time, whenever you want.
• Get the latest news and offers from your favourite brands.
• Personalize your gift cards with heartfelt messages.
• Top up your gift cards to make that special purchase.
• Use it on your watch, phone, or iPad - however you prefer.
• Embrace the latest digital technology, right at your fingertips.

In a world awash with data and digital noise, QUODOS brings the timeless art of gifting into the digital age. It's more than just a gift card app; it's a conduit for building genuine, lasting connections between brands and their customers. So, embrace the power of QUODOS, and let your brand's unique story unfold in the hands of your cherished customers. To learn more visit us at www.quodos.com. Book a demo at info@quodos.com. Download the App on the App Store and Google Playstore.

About QUODOS:

QUODOS is an intuitive digital app which stores a user’s Gift Cards connected to a prepaid debit card in their digital wallet. We establish a direct connection between merchant and user - the app enables segmented, real-time, media-rich conversations that matter. Our platform sparks engagement, fuels upselling and nurtures loyalty thru' enticing "calls to action" that are both financially rewarding and effortless with contactless payment technology. Giftcard balances are uniquely “locked down” to the merchant selling the giftcard. No integration required for existing POS, no staff training and setup is immediate. For users - no more lost/stolen, all gift balances in real-time, favourite brands in their pocket!