UPDATE FROM THE 2011 CIC SUMMIT
The Coupon Information Corporation (CIC) is an industry organization dedicated to fighting coupon misredemption and fraud. Last week, the CIC held its annual Industry Summit which included manufacturers, retailers, and others from the coupon industry. ProLogic attended and participated in discussions about how the industry can continue to make progress in eliminating coupon misredemption and fraud.
The CIC website features a downloadable indexed database of coupon fraud alerts that retailers can use to identify suspected counterfeit coupons. In addition, many manufacturers (including 70% of CIC members) are adding holographic images to high-value coupons so that retailers can verify their authenticity. Click here for a short video clip of this holographic image.
For more information on how retailers can combat coupon fraud, download ProLogic’s free whitepaper “Reducing Misredemption and Fraud in the Coupon Industry” – updated in March 2011 with new information from the CIC conference.
Also, you can follow ProLogic on Twitter for the latest CIC Coupon Fraud Alerts: @ProLogicCoupon
PROLOGIC RECEIVES NEW SAS 70 REPORT
ProLogic recently received its 2010 SAS 70 Type II Auditor's Report from Grant Thornton LLP. This year's report includes a review of ProLogic's digital coupon processes as well as our paper coupon processes. Retailers can use this report to validate ProLogic's controls for both paper coupon processing and digital coupon processing. To obtain a copy of the report, please contact your ProLogic account manager.
WINNER OF NGA CONVENTION CONTEST
ProLogic would like to congratulate Martin Arter from Affiliated Foods Midwest for winning the iPad from our raffle at last month's National Grocers Association Annual Convention!
GS1 DATABAR INDUSTRY PROGRESS
The coupon industry has reached the midpoint in the transition period to the new GS1 DataBar barcode. According to the timeline published by the Joint Industry Coupon Committee (JICC), manufacturers should use the period from January 1, 2011 to June 30, 2011 to transition to coupons using only the new GS1 DataBar barcode. Currently, most manufacturer coupons include both the GS1 DataBar barcode and the old UPC-A barcode. By June 30, manufacturers should be printing coupons only with the new GS1 DataBar barcode.
In a Supermarket News article published earlier this month, a survey found that 62% of retailers are currently able to scan and process GS1 DataBar coupons, while 27% were unable to do so. Larger retailers with over 50 stores were significantly further along in their readiness compared to smaller retailers with less than 50 stores.
