Define Accrual Rules for the Loyalty Program

Learning Objectives

After completing this project, you’ll be able to:

• Define rules for the accrual process.
  
• Create a loyalty program process for accrual transactions.
  
• Configure rules for standard and cumulative promotions.
  
• Track member behavior using engagement attributes.
  
• Create an accrual transaction record to review the accrual process.
  
• Schedule a batch job to process transactions related to engagement activities.
  

Before You Start

Before you start this project, consider completing the following recommended content.

• Promotion Setup Basics
  

Inner Circle Accrual Rules

Cloud Kicks is a manufacturer of stylish and comfortable custom sneakers. It runs a loyalty program called Cloud Kicks Inner Circle, which has a well-defined tier structure, points system, associated program partners, and partner products. Mary Evans is the Cloud Kicks loyalty program manager and the strategic mind behind operations. She knows that a good rewards program encourages long-term member engagement. 

The program rewards members for purchases and engagement activities such as responding to surveys, social media mentions, and so on. Rewards are in the form of points, vouchers, coupons, and more.

Anytime a member earns rewards, an accrual transaction occurs, and the rewards they earn depend on the accrual process. Mary wants to set up an accrual process for the Cloud Kicks Inner Circle program with rules that define how members earn rewards or accrue points. Using the process, Mary’s looking to answer questions like:

• How many points do members get?
  
• What kind of rewards do they get: points, vouchers, or experiences such as exclusive access to events?
  
• Are members rewarded only for purchases, or for engagement activities as well?
  

In the current competitive market, it’s also important that rewards are personalized to member preferences. Mary can personalize rewards and promotions by creating member engagement attributes. The attributes help track long-term member behavior and engagement with the program. For example, Mary can track the number of purchases a member makes in a month using the Cloud Kicks mobile app. She can set a target and create rewards when members achieve the target. For example, if a member’s purchases exceed $100 in a month, they receive a discount voucher. 

Before she creates the accrual process in Loyalty Management, Mary spends some time deciding how members accrue rewards for purchases, promotions, and engagement activities. She comes up with the following rules for the accrual process. 

Accrual Process for Purchases

Rule 1

Members get Regular Points (non-qualifying points) and Tier Points (qualifying points) equal to the transaction amount. These points are credited to them in real-time, as soon as the transaction is processed. 

Rule 2

Mary is planning a double points promotion for the Super Kicks product. Members get Regular Points twice that of the transaction amount when they purchase Super Kicks.

Rule 3

Mary is looking to boost overall program engagement and sales. She decides to run a promotion that issues members a $10 voucher for purchases worth $500 in a month.

Accrual Process For Non-purchase Activities

Rule 1

Members are also rewarded for activities that involve engaging with the brand and the loyalty program. For any social media mentions, members receive 50 Regular Points and 10 Tier Points. Records of transactions, called transaction journals, related to engagement activities are loaded into Loyalty Management every night, so these accruals are processed in a batch. 

In this project, you follow along as Mary sets up an accrual process based on these rules. 

Sign Up for a Developer Edition Org with Loyalty Management

To complete this project, you need a special Developer Edition org that contains Loyalty Management and our sample data. Get the free Developer Edition and connect it to Trailhead now so you can complete the challenges in this project. 

Note that this Developer Edition is designed to work with the challenges in this badge, and may not work for other badges. Always check that you’re using the Trailhead Playground or special Developer Edition org that we recommend.

1. Sign up for a free Developer Edition org with Loyalty Management.
   
2. Fill out the form. For Email, enter an active email address. For Username, enter a username that looks like an email address and is unique, but it doesn’t need to be a valid email account (for example, yourname@lm4ever.com).
   
3. After you fill out the form, click Sign me up. A confirmation message appears.
   
4. When you receive the activation email (this might take a few minutes), open it and click Verify Account.
   
5. Complete your registration by setting your password and challenge question. TIP: Write down your username, password, and login URL for easy access later.
   
6. You are logged in to your Developer Edition.
   

Now connect your new Developer Edition org to Trailhead.

1. Make sure you’re logged in to your Trailhead account.
   
2. In the Challenge section at the bottom of this page, click the playground name and then click Connect Org.
   
3. On the login screen, enter the username and password for the Developer Edition you just set up.
   
4. On the Allow Access? screen, click Allow.
   
5. On the Want to connect this org for hands-on challenges? screen, click Yes! Save it. You are redirected back to the challenge page and ready to use your new Developer Edition to earn this badge.
   

Congratulations! You now have a Loyalty Management-enabled org. In the next step, follow along as Mary creates an accrual loyalty program process using Promotion Setup.