Walgreens Balance Rewards now integrated with Android Pay

PHOENIX  — Equinox Payments on Wednesday announced that all Equinox terminal solutions are now integrated with Android Pay, including the L5300 multi-lane terminals used by Walgreens, the first retailer to integrate its loyalty program with Android Pay on the L5300s in its stores nationwide.



Members of retailers’ loyalty programs, such as Walgreens Balance Rewards, seamlessly add information into their Android Pay wallet. Once at the point of sale, a simple tap of their phone at the terminal conveys loyalty, coupon or gift card information so members can earn points or have discounts applied. A second tap applies payment from the card of their choice.



Alternatively, retailers can choose to have loyalty and payment information conveyed in a single tap.



“Integrating our Balance Rewards loyalty program with Android Pay on all of the Equinox checkout terminals in our stores nationwide is another example of how we are always looking to enhance our customers’ in-store experience,” stated Abhi Dhar, chief digital officer, Walgreens Boots Alliance and CIO, Walgreens. “It was evident just last month during the holiday shopping season that many of our Balance Rewards members enjoy the benefits of linking our loyalty program with mobile payments."



"The migration from cards to mobile wallets intensifies the demand for a quick and easy payment experience, and our integration with Android Pay makes this possible," said Rob Hayhow, VP Equinox. “Shoppers can simply tap their phones at the terminal, which replaces the time-consuming process of entering loyalty program information, inserting a chip card for payment, and waiting for the transaction to complete.”



“It’s our goal to make in-store payments simple for everyone, so we've worked with Equinox to implement these latest Android Pay enhancements with all of their terminals, starting with the L5300 used by retailers like Walgreens. Android Pay customers who shop at stores equipped with Equinox terminals can have instant, frictionless access to their loyalty card when they pay,” said Pali Bhat, global head of payment products at Google.



Retailers and software partners that develop solutions on Equinox’s Apollo, L5000 and Luxe terminal lines are eligible to use this latest Android Pay technology since Equinox has integrated Android Pay to its baseline software.