Food Engineering
Digital Coupons

New Digital Coupon Guidelines to Combat Fraud, Increase Efficiency and Improve Customer Satisfaction

The Food Marketing Institute, Grocery Manufacturers Association and National Grocers Association Release Voluntary Guidelines for Digital Coupons.

November 15, 2012

The Food Marketing Institute (FMI), Grocery Manufacturers Association (GMA) and National Grocers Association (NGA) have released new guidelines for model “end-to-end” practices for digital coupons. The Voluntary Guidelines for Digital Coupons include an overview of the digital coupon lifecycle, standardized file layouts for setup and redemption as well as design recommendations, recommendations for validation of digital coupons without bar codes, key control points, a discussion of stacking prevention and audits and the process components needed to prevent fraud.

Shane O’Halloran joined Food Engineering in November of 2012 as Digital/Online Editor. He graduated from Oberlin College in 2010, and worked as a copy editor and contributor to BleacherReport.com and ShesGameSports.com. He has also written feature articles on a freelance basis for publications in the western suburbs of Philadelphia. His areas of expertise include social media campaigns and website management. Shane produces daily news updates for www.foodengineeringmag.com and Food Engineering’s social media sites. In addition, Shane writes news articles for FE’s TechFlash e-newsletter and Food Engineering’s People and Industry section.