Digital Gift Cards
For Employees & Businesses
How businesses reward employees has changed. From small businesses to big corporates, all are moving towards a digital-first solution. This shift extends to employee rewards, too. Businesses are choosing digital gift cards for their flexibility and ease
What Are Digital Gift Cards?
Digital gift cards are prepaid cards. They are an electronic version of traditional physical gift cards. Instead of handing out physical gift cards, employers can now send digital cards to their employees via email instantly.
Businesses in Ireland benefit from embracing digital gift cards in multiple ways. They not only offer a simple way to recognise employees, but is also tax-free under the Small Benefit Exemption Scheme, provided certain conditions are met.
Types Of Digital Gift Cards
Open-loop gift cards
Open-loop gift cards are a flexible gift option, as they can be used at multiple stores. These cards are powered by payment networks like Mastercard or Visa, which allows them to be spent across the world where these cards are accepted.
Closed-loop gift cards
Closed-loop gift cards are more for niche gifting. These cards are tied to a specific retailer or retail chain and can only be spent there. Examples of these cards are wellness and spa gift cards or a particular brand&aposs restaurant gift card.
How Do Digital Mastercard Gift Cards Work?
For businesses that want to offer employees maximum flexibility, digital Mastercard gift cards are an excellent choice.
Preload
Employers can buy digital Mastercards online and pre-load them with money. Employees can only spend up to the preloaded value.
Delivery
Once loaded, these cards are delivered to employees instantly via email without any physical shipping. This means it requires no shipping costs.
Activation
Employees can use the card directly on online merchantsstores or add the card to Apple Pay or Google Pay for use in-store, if the card provider allows this.
Spend
Digital Mastercard gift cards can be spent just like any other Mastercard. It can be used worldwide at multiple stores.
Importance Of Digital Gift Cards For Employees
Flexibility
Digital gift cards allow employees to choose their own rewards, offering flexibility and personalisation. Around 76% of consumers use a gift card within one month, showing quick adoption and engagement.
Secure
Digital delivery ensures cards cannot be lost or stolen. Employees can access and track their rewards safely from their devices.
Tax-Free
Cash bonuses are considered part of salary and require employees to pay tax on them. In Ireland, digital gift cards can be issued under the Small Benefit Exemption Scheme, making them tax-free up to €1,500 per year.
Benefits Of Digital Gift Cards For Businesses
Cost-Effective
Digital gift cards are ordered and issued online, which means no physical delivery of cards is required. This saves businesses printing, shipping and postage costs that come with a physical card.
Employee Engagement
81.9% of employees agree that recognition for their contributions improves engagement. Providing instant, personalised rewards not only acknowledges achievements but also strengthens workplace culture and boosts retention rates.
Easy To Manage
Managing digital rewards is straightforward for businesses. They can be ordered, issued and tracked all through an online portal. This reduces manual reporting and follow-ups that occur with physical gifts.
Tax-Efficient
Revenue encourages businesses to reward employees tax-free through its Small Benefit Exemption Scheme. This makes digital cards a smart and compliant solution and minimises additional tax costs for businesses.
Scalable
Digital gift cards can be issued to any number of employees, whether it is a small team of 10 or 10,000. Ordering gift cards in bulk and distributing them is a whole lot simpler for businesses.
When To Give Digital Gift Cards To Corporate Teams?
When you reward your employees, it is as important as the reward itself.Digital gift cards for employees can have the most impact when given at the right moment.
1. Performance Achievement
Employees work really hard to exceed targets and achieve exceptional results, giving them a digital reward at this moment ensures they feel instantly gratified and reinforces their motivation to work.
2. Work Milestones
Employees often form a strong connection to their workplace. Recognising milestones like work anniversaries, promotions, or project completions with employee incentive gift cards strengthens loyalty and shows that their contributions matter.
3. Seasonal Holidays
During Christmas, Easter or other holidays, digital gift cards are an ideal way to reward teams. They are delivered instantly and make seasonal greetings feel special for both in-office and remote employees.
4. Onboarding Employees
New hires take a while to adapt to their work environment. Offering them a digital gift card at this moment ensures they feel comfortable and sets a positive tone for their engagemen
Best Digital Gift Card For Employees In Ireland
Rewarding employees effectively is about more than just giving a gift. It is about timely recognition and the flexibility it offers. CleverCards offers the best digital gift cards for employees in Ireland, designed to make employee rewards effortless.
Instant Delivery: CleverCards gift cards can be sent immediately via email.
Flexible Spending: They are Mastercard digital cards and can be spent both online and in-store across 50 million+ merchants worldwide.
Smart Integration: Gift cards can be added to Google Pay and Apple Pay to make payments online using contactless.
Secure & Trackable: Each card is unique for every employee. Businesses can track distribution, and employees can track their card balance on the CleverCards app.
Personalised: Digital gift cards can be sent with custom messaging, making rewards feel more thoughtful.
Tax-efficient: CleverCards are tax-free up to €1,500 per employee per year in Ireland.
Scalable: Whether it is a team of 10 or 10,000, CleverCards can be sent to employees in bulk in just one click.
Trusted by over 15,000 businesses: CleverCards are the highest rated provider on TrustPilot
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
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