Introduction
Punch card programs reward customers after they place a set number of qualifying orders. They are useful for purchase milestones like “Make 3 purchases” or “Place 5 orders over $50” because customers can earn an extra reward after building repeat purchase behavior.
Punch cards are set up as a Way to Earn in your points program. When a customer reaches the configured order count, Rivo awards the points or store credit amount you set for that punch card.
How punch cards work
A punch card checks a customer’s order history against the rules you configure:
Order count - The number of orders the customer must place before they earn the punch card reward.
Minimum spend per order - Optional. If set, each counted order must meet or exceed this amount.
Count orders from - Choose whether Rivo counts all eligible orders or only orders from the last 12 months.
Only count orders placed on or after - Optional. Use this to start counting from a specific date.
Punch cards are completed when the customer reaches the target order count. For example, if the punch card requires 3 orders, the customer earns the reward when their 3rd qualifying order is processed.
If a customer is already past the target count before the punch card starts counting, they may not receive the completion reward for that card. Use the start date setting when you want a clean launch date for a new campaign.
Setting up a punch card
From the Rivo Dashboard, go to Loyalty > Points.
In Earning Points, click Add Another Way to Earn.
Select Punch Card Checkpoint.
Enter the number of orders required to complete the punch card.
Optional: Enter a Minimum spend per order.
Choose Count orders from:
All time - Counts eligible orders across the customer’s full order history, unless you add a start date.
Last 12 months (rolling) - Counts eligible orders from the last 12 months. Customers can earn again in a future 12-month window after qualifying again.
Optional: Set Only count orders placed on or after.
Set the points or store credit amount customers earn when they complete the punch card.
Make sure the Way to Earn status is ON.
Click Save.
Using the order date window
The Only count orders placed on or after field controls how far back Rivo looks when checking whether a customer has completed the punch card.
Use this setting when:
You are launching a new punch card campaign and only want orders from the launch date forward to count.
You do not want older historical orders to complete the card immediately.
You are testing a new purchase milestone and want a predictable start date.
If this field is blank, Rivo counts all eligible orders for the selected time window.
When Count orders from is set to Last 12 months (rolling) and a start date is also set, Rivo uses the later of the two dates. For example, if the rolling 12-month window starts on January 1 but your start date is March 1, only orders from March 1 onward count.
What counts as a qualifying order
An order can count toward a punch card when it meets the punch card settings and your normal order-earning rules.
For punch card settings:
The order total must be greater than zero.
If you set a minimum spend, the order must meet or exceed that amount.
If you set a start date, the order must be placed on or after that date.
If you use the rolling 12-month window, the order must be inside that window.
Your store’s order-earning settings can also affect whether an order is eligible, such as which order channels are included and when order earnings are triggered.
Customer experience
When active, the punch card appears as a Way to Earn in your on-site loyalty experience. Customers see the title and the amount they can earn for completing it.
You can customize the customer-facing title, description, icon, and display behavior from the Way to Earn settings. If you do not want the punch card shown on-site, use the advanced setting to hide it from on-site displays.
Best practices
Use a clear campaign title - Names like “Make 3 Purchases” or “Place 5 Orders Over $50” are easier for customers to understand.
Set a launch date for new campaigns - Use Only count orders placed on or after when you do not want older orders to count.
Use minimum spend carefully - Minimum spend helps protect the campaign from very low-value orders, but every counted order must meet the threshold.
Choose the right time window - Use All time for a one-time milestone. Use Last 12 months (rolling) for an annual or recurring purchase challenge.
FAQ
Can a customer earn the same punch card more than once?
If the punch card uses All time, it is best for a one-time milestone. If it uses Last 12 months (rolling), customers can qualify again in a future rolling 12-month window.
Why did a customer not receive the punch card reward?
Check whether the customer reached the exact order count, whether each counted order met the minimum spend, and whether the order dates are inside the selected date window. Also check your order-earning settings to confirm the order was eligible for loyalty earnings.
Will past orders count when I create a punch card?
Yes, if they are eligible and inside the selected date window. To prevent older orders from counting, set Only count orders placed on or after to your campaign launch date.
Can I run more than one punch card at the same time?
Yes. If a customer’s order qualifies for more than one active punch card, each matching punch card can award its configured points or store credit.