Loyalty points can be easy to earn and just as easy for customers to forget. Even when shoppers have enough points to redeem, the extra step of converting them into store credit may delay when they receive the reward.
Advanced Loyalty Program now gives store owners another option. With version 1.9.3, you can set your store to automatically redeem loyalty points as store credit when a customer’s available balance reaches a threshold you choose. You can convert the full balance or limit each automatic redemption to your existing maximum.
Let’s look at how automatic redemption works, where to find the settings, and how the new shortcodes help customers check the points they’ve earned.
What Automatic Loyalty Points Redemption Does
Automatic redemption checks a customer’s available points balance whenever they earn points. Once the balance reaches your threshold, the plugin converts the eligible amount into store credit based on the option you selected.
Here’s what the feature controls:
- It triggers on earned points: when a customer earns points and their available balance reaches your threshold, the redemption fires automatically. Points still sitting in a waiting or pending state don’t count until they’re approved.
- It converts points into store credit: the customer’s points become Advanced Coupons store credit, which they can apply at checkout on a future order.
- You control how much converts: you decide the point threshold that triggers it and whether the whole balance converts or just a capped amount.
Automatic redemption works with the Store Credit feature in Advanced Coupons. Advanced Loyalty Program and Advanced Coupons both need to be active, with Store Credit enabled, for the conversion to run. You can also convert loyalty points to store credit manually whenever you need more hands-on control.
How To Automatically Redeem Loyalty Points as Store Credit
You can configure automatic redemption from your Advanced Loyalty Program settings. Follow these steps in order.
Before you start
Make sure both of these are true:
- Advanced Loyalty Program version 1.9.3 or newer is installed and active.
- Advanced Coupons is active with the Store Credit module enabled. Automatic redemption uses Store Credit when it converts the customer’s points.
Step 1: Open the Redemption & Expiry settings
From your WordPress dashboard, head to Coupons > Loyalty Program > Settings, then click the Redemption & Expiry tab. This is where you’ll find the redemption limits, expiry options, and automatic redemption settings.
Step 2: Review your redemption rules first
Before you turn on automatic redemption, review the existing redemption limits in this section:
- Minimum points allowed for redemption: the lowest number of points allowed in a redemption.
- Maximum points allowed for each store credit redemption: the most points that can be converted in one redemption. Automatic redemption uses this value when you choose Convert up to maximum cap in Step 4.
You’ll set the separate balance threshold that triggers automatic redemption in Step 3.
Step 3: Switch on automatic redemption and set the points threshold
Find the setting labeled Automatically redeem points to store credit and turn it on. When it’s checked, a customer’s points are redeemed as store credit on their own once their balance reaches the threshold you set next.
In the field labeled Automatically redeem once points balance reaches, enter your points threshold. Once a customer’s available balance reaches this amount, automatic redemption runs based on the option you choose in Step 4. For example, setting the threshold to 50 means the conversion runs when the customer reaches 50 available points.
Leave this at 0 if you ever want to pause automatic redemption without changing your other settings.
Step 4: Choose how much to convert
Use the Automatic redemption amount setting to choose how many points are converted each time automatic redemption runs:
- Convert entire balance: converts all of the customer’s available points, even when the balance is higher than your maximum points per redemption. Choose this when you want the full balance converted at once.
- Convert up to maximum cap: converts only up to the Maximum points allowed for each store credit redemption value. Any remaining points stay on the customer’s account for a future redemption.
Your changes save automatically as you update the settings. Whenever a customer earns points and reaches your threshold, Advanced Loyalty Program will convert the eligible amount into store credit based on the option you selected.
Why Automatically Redeem Loyalty Points as Store Credit
The main benefit is simple: customers no longer have to complete a separate redemption step once their available balance reaches your threshold. You still control when the conversion happens and how much is converted.
It removes an extra redemption step
Customers can still redeem their points manually, but automatic redemption gives you another option for eligible balances. Once the threshold is reached, Advanced Loyalty Program converts the points according to the amount setting you selected.
It makes the reward value easier to recognize
Points can feel abstract until customers see what they are worth. Converting them into store credit gives shoppers a clear balance they can apply at checkout on a future order.
🎯 POWER TIP: Add the new points shortcodes to a rewards page so logged-in customers can check their available points and current value while they work toward your automatic redemption threshold.
It gives you control over the conversion amount
You can convert the customer’s full available balance or use your maximum redemption cap to limit each automatic conversion. This makes it easier to match the feature to the way your loyalty program is structured.
It reduces routine admin conversions
Store owners can still redeem points for a customer from the dashboard when needed. For routine balances that reach your chosen threshold, automatic redemption can handle the conversion without requiring the same manual step each time.
Also New: Display Customer Points With Shortcodes
Version 1.9.3 also adds two shortcodes you can use on pages or in other areas that support WordPress shortcodes:
[lpfw_customer_points]shows the logged-in customer’s available points balance.[lpfw_customer_points_worth]shows what those points are worth in your store’s currency.
For example, you can add them to a rewards page or another customer-facing area where logged-in shoppers can check their available points and current value while their rewards are building.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need Advanced Coupons to use automatic redemption?
Yes. Advanced Loyalty Program uses the Store Credit module from the Advanced Coupons plugin when points are redeemed. Both plugins need to be active, and Store Credit must be enabled, for automatic redemption to run.
How is this different from converting points to store credit manually?
The manual method lets you or your customer choose when to convert points. Automatic redemption handles the conversion once the customer’s available balance reaches your threshold. If you’d rather keep hands-on control, the manual conversion method remains available, and you can use both options.
Which points count toward the threshold?
Automatic redemption looks at a customer’s available points balance. Points that are still pending or in a waiting period do not count until they are approved and added to that balance. Once the available balance reaches your threshold, the redemption runs.
Can customers still redeem their points manually?
Yes. Turning on automatic redemption doesn’t remove manual redemption. Customers can still redeem points themselves, and you can still convert points on their behalf. Automatic redemption simply handles the balances that reach your threshold.
How do the Convert entire balance and Convert up to maximum cap options differ?
Convert entire balance turns the customer’s full available points balance into store credit and ignores the per-redemption maximum. Convert up to maximum cap follows that maximum and leaves any remaining points on the customer’s account.
Does automatic redemption change points expiry?
No. Turning on automatic redemption does not change your points-expiry settings. It converts available points when the customer reaches your threshold, while expiry remains controlled separately under the Redemption & Expiry settings.
Start Automatically Redeeming Loyalty Points
Automatic redemption removes the need for customers to convert eligible points themselves. Once their available balance reaches your threshold, Advanced Loyalty Program turns the eligible amount into store credit based on the option you selected.
Here’s how to get started:
- Confirm the Store Credit module in Advanced Coupons is active.
- Open your Advanced Loyalty Program settings and go to the Redemption & Expiry tab.
- Turn on Automatically redeem points to store credit and set your points threshold.
- Choose whether to convert the entire balance or follow your maximum redemption cap.
- Optionally add the new points shortcodes to a customer-facing rewards page.
Ready to make your loyalty rewards easier to use? Explore Advanced Loyalty Program and set up automatic redemption for your store.
