What are geo-targeted location alerts?
Geo-targeted location alerts use a geofence around each branch so Apple Wallet can automatically show a notification on a customer's iPhone lock screen the moment they walk near one of your branches — without any action from you or your staff. The alert appears silently as a lock-screen banner, reminding the customer that they have a loyalty card with you and encouraging them to walk in.
This is a native Apple Wallet feature. No app download, no Bluetooth hardware, and no extra configuration is needed by the customer.
**Plan requirement:** Geo-targeted location alerts are available exclusively on the **Growth** and **Enterprise** plans. To upgrade, go to **Settings → Billing**.
How it works
When a customer adds your loyalty card to Apple Wallet, the wallet pass carries the GPS coordinates of each of your branches. iOS checks the device's location in the background and, when the customer enters the vicinity of a branch (typically within 100–300 metres), it surfaces the card on the lock screen automatically.
The whole flow looks like this:
- Customer adds your wallet pass to Apple Wallet
- iOS registers the branch coordinates embedded in the pass
- When the customer's iPhone detects they are near a branch, the loyalty card appears on the lock screen
- The customer taps it to open their card and is reminded of their balance, upcoming reward, or current promotion
This alert requires no internet connection, no push token, and no action from your side — it is entirely handled by iOS.
Plan requirements
| Plan | Geo-targeted alerts |
|---|---|
| Starter | Not available |
| Growth | Included |
| Enterprise | Included |
If you are on the Starter plan, upgrade from Settings → Billing to unlock this feature and all other Growth-tier capabilities.
How branch geocoding works
For location alerts to fire, GetLoyal needs to know the exact GPS coordinates of each branch. This process is called geocoding.
Automatic geocoding: When you save a branch with a street address, GetLoyal automatically looks up the coordinates using the address you entered and stores them alongside the branch record. This happens in the background within seconds.
What a successful geocode looks like: In the Branches list, look for the green Geo-targeting active badge on the branch card. This means coordinates were found and are embedded in every wallet pass issued for that branch.
What "Coordinates pending" means: A grey Coordinates pending badge means GetLoyal could not resolve GPS coordinates from the address — usually because the address was entered in an unrecognised format, or because the branch was created before geocoding was added to the platform.
The UI badges explained
| Badge | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Geo-targeting active (green) | Coordinates are stored. Location alerts will fire for customers near this branch. |
| Coordinates pending (grey) | No coordinates stored. Location alerts will not fire until you re-save the branch. |
Hover over either badge to see the raw latitude and longitude (for active branches) or a short explanation of why coordinates are missing.
How to activate location alerts for older branches
Branches created before geocoding was introduced may show Coordinates pending. This is easy to fix:
- Go to Branches in the sidebar
- Find any branch showing the Coordinates pending badge
- Click the Edit (pencil) button on the branch card
- Without changing anything, click Save Branch
- The badge should change to Geo-targeting active within a few seconds
Re-saving the branch triggers geocoding using the existing address. You do not need to retype the address — just save again.
**Tip:** If the badge remains on **Coordinates pending** after a re-save, double-check that the address is a recognisable street address (e.g. "Sheikh Zayed Road, Dubai, UAE"). Avoid entering only a building name or PO box — the geocoder needs a street-level address to resolve coordinates.
What the customer sees on their iPhone
When a customer walks near your branch, Apple Wallet surfaces your loyalty card on the lock screen as a small banner. The banner shows:
- Your business name and logo
- The card type (e.g. "Coffee Stamp Card")
- Their current balance at a glance (stamps collected, points balance, etc.)
The customer can tap the banner to open the full card in Apple Wallet. No notification permission is required beyond the standard wallet access the customer granted when they first added the card.
Important: Location alerts only work on iPhone (Apple Wallet). Google Wallet location alerts are not currently supported.
Frequently asked questions
Does the customer need to opt in to location alerts?
No. Location alerts are a built-in feature of Apple Wallet and are active by default when a customer adds a pass. The customer can disable them for a specific card in iOS Settings → Wallet & Apple Pay if they choose.
How close does a customer need to be for the alert to fire?
Apple controls the exact radius (typically 100–300 metres depending on GPS accuracy). You cannot adjust this.
Does this drain the customer's battery?
No. iOS uses low-power geofencing technology, not continuous GPS tracking. The impact on battery life is negligible.
Can I set a custom radius or message for the location alert?
The alert content is the wallet pass itself (your card). You can update the card's promotional text or banner image from the Card Designer to customise what the customer sees in the alert.
Will existing customers get location alerts after I re-save a branch?
Yes. Once coordinates are stored, the next time a customer's wallet pass is updated (e.g. after a stamp or push notification), the new coordinates are included. All customers will gradually receive updated passes within 24 hours.