Gift Cards

A gift card is a prepaid card that works like a debit card, but it is preloaded with a certain amount of money by the one who gifts it. The receiver of the gift card can spend the card amount to make purchases at a specific store.

In Microsoft Dynamics AX, you can create a gift card product with any value. When a customer purchases a gift card, it is automatically created in ERP with a generated code and selected value. The code for the gift card is automatically generated by Microsoft Dynamics AX during the purchase of the gift card. The customer can see the generated code in the sales order details. In addition, the sales manager can send it via email, messenger, or any other way.

Benefits of selling gift cards:

• Increase your revenue: selling gift cards boosts your sales and revenue when customers purchase them and when the receivers of the gift cards come to your store to redeem the gift cards as they usually spend more than the card value.

• Attract new customers: many gift card recipients may visit your store for the first time, which will add new customers to your store. One gift card, two customers - the one who bought the gift card and the one who received it.

• Build customer loyalty: many retailers offer gift cards during the holidays to increase customer loyalty. For example, customers can get a $20 gift card if they make a $200 purchase.

• Suitable for any business: gift cards can be used regardless of what you sell, physical goods or services.

• Spread brand awareness: gift cards are bought by certain people to give to others. It's a very easy way to get more people to know about your store or brand.

• A great gift: a gift card is a versatile gift for those who don't know what to get. By giving a gift card, you can let the recipient choose exactly what they want.

• Easy to sell and use: you can sell gift cards whenever you want, with any value and in any form, whether it's a virtual card, a physical card that you need to produce, or in the form of a voucher, coupon, or certificate. Depending on the card type, you can even brand or personalize them in a way.
  
  If you sell virtual gift cards or cards in the form of a voucher, coupon, or certificate, you can print them out, or simply send the generated card code to customers by mail or messengers or in any other way. In the same way, gift card buyers can send the card code to whoever they give it to.

In the next sections read about how to create and manage gift cards in Microsoft Dynamics AX.

Create a Gift Card Product

Firstly, you need to create a gift card product with a value. To do this, in Microsoft Dynamics AX click: Product information management > Common > Products > Released products. Set up the product correctly, fill in all the necessary information.

You can create the gift card products in the way which fits your business needs best. For example, you can create a product with variants, where each variant is a value of a gift card or you can create a separate gift card product with its own value. 

Make sure that the Gift card checkbox is selected for a product on the Sell FastTab.

The created gift card product will be available in the Sana webshop and can be purchased by a customer. When a gift card is purchased, the gift card code will be automatically generated by Microsoft Dynamics AX and shown in the order details.

A gift card is also automatically created in Microsoft Dynamics AX. A customer cannot use a gift card in the webshop until the payment is processed and a gift card is reviewed and activated in Microsoft Dynamics AX.

Activate a Gift Card

When a gift card is purchased in the Sana webshop, it is automatically created in Microsoft Dynamics AX with a generated code and selected value. The created gift card should be activated, so that a customer could use it in the webshop.

Step 1: In Microsoft Dynamics AX click: Webshop > Common > Discounts > Gift cards.

Step 2: Select the necessary webshop and open the created gift card. Select the Active checkbox to activate a gift card.

Step 3: Enter the maximum discount percentage that can be applied when using a gift card.

Now, when a gift card is activated, it can be applied to products in the webshop. A customer needs to enter the gift cart code in the shopping cart.

If a customer buys more than one product, the gift card value will be split between the products in the shopping cart after a gift card code is applied.

A gift card can be used several times, in case the order price is less than the gift card value. For example, the gift card value is 150$ and the order value is 80$, in this case after a customer makes a purchase, 70$ will be still left on a gift card. A customer can use this 70$ for the next purchase. The gift card balance in Microsoft Dynamics AX will be changing until it hits 0, then a gift card becomes inactive and cannot be used anymore.

In Microsoft Dynamics AX, in the gift card history, you can see by whom, when, for what amount and to pay for what sales order the gift card was used.

Check the Sales Order Purchased With a Gift Card

When a customer uses a gift card to purchase the products, the gift card code and gift card value will be saved to the sales order in Microsoft Dynamics AX.

The gift card code is saved to the Text field on the General tab in the sales order lines.

You can find the gift card value in the Discount section on the Price and discount tab in the sales order lines.