Too many data and poor-quality data quality are seen to pollute the My Coupon Manager solution, thereby blocking its wide-scale roll-out and the implementation of My Coupon Manager by new retailers.
Against this background, in the spring of 2023 GS1 Belgilux invited the various market players to get together as part of a series of meetings. The conclusions of the working group underscored the fact that it is perfectly realistic to have a very substantial positive impact on the quality as well as on the quantity of the data supplied to the retailers by establishing a few simple and flexible rules.
As a result, the joint and concerted decision was adopted to establish new rules which are set to take effect from 1 January 2024.
These new rules are:
- A discount coupon (GCN) will no longer be able to be linked to more than 100 products (GTIN).
- My Product Manager becomes the sole source to manage the link between the GCN and the GTIN.
- A coupon will no longer be allowed to have a validity period of more than 12 months.
- The shops will have just 1 month to send in their vouchers to HighCo DATA Benelux to be checked and to obtain reimbursement.
- There will be just 2 types of special offers for a couponing campaign:
- Promo type S1: Discount coupon to be tendered when purchasing one or several products.
- Promo type S4: Coupon for one free product.
Read the full official communication
Together with HighCo, we organised a webinar about the new rules of couponing. Did you miss it? Click the button below to watch the recording!
Limitation of number of products linked to a coupon
Yes, all existing coupons that have been created before 01/01/2024 and that are still valid and active will remain valid until their respective validity end date.
Please note that:
- Existing 'Draft' coupons that are approved after 01/01/2024 will have to follow the new rules.
- Any existing coupon that is updated after 01/01/2024 will have to follow the new rules.
Yes, but if you update an existing coupon after 01/01/2024, it will have to follow the new rules.
In case the coupon was previously linked to more than 100 GTINs, it will then have to be corrected.
Yes, you can always update the products linked to a coupon as long as the coupon validity is not expired.
But note that, if these products are still available in the stores, the discount or promotion might be rejected if the related GTIN has been removed.
This could also have an impact on the overall validity of the coupon, so you should always keep in mind that My Coupon Manager should contain the digital twin of the paper coupon.
Yes, this number has been defined to be the most efficient based on the actual current coupon use. It affects less than 20% of the coupons and aims at reducing the number of potential combinations.
If you require more than 100 GTINs to be linked to 1 coupon, then you will have to contact your system administrator (HighCo or GS1 depending on the platform used to create coupon) to initiate a special request and justify your requirement.
Limitation of the validity period
Yes, the indication of the validity date for the consumer is mandatory.
On the contrary, the indication of the additional period for the store to return the coupon to the clearing house is not mandatory, it does not need to be mentioned on the 'paper' coupon.
Note: these new validity periods for stores have already been communicated to all stores by HighCo Data.
Limitation of the coupon type
No, since this type of promotion is barely used in My Coupon Manager, it was decided by the coupon working group that it was unnecessary to continue to support such a coupon type.
No, a coupon type S4 is limited to 1 consumer unit ( = 1 GTIN).
If the GTIN refers to a package of 2 cans or bottles, the consumer will receive more 'products' but the coupon refers to 1 unit ( 1 GTIN) of this special consumer packaging.
Use of My Product Manager
HighCo will receive product data directly from My Product Manager.
It will remain the only source of data for HighCo Data.
You will not be able to upload product information on the HighCo Extranet platform anymore. You need to publish your product information in My Product Manager and once properly published ('Public' or to the HighCo GLN 5425003940002), this data will be automatically shared with HighCo Data.
I am already using My Product Manager
If you already use My Product Manager to share product information with retailers, your product should have a 'Public' status to be shared with HighCo Data or it should be published to HighCo's GLN 5425003940002).
I am not publishing in My Product Manager yet. What do I have to do before 01/01/2024?
If you are not publishing in My Product Manager yet, you will need to do it as soon as possible.
You can contact GS1 support team via support@gs1belu.org to explain you the procedure.
Yes, as long as the product exists in My Product Manager with a 'Valid' status, it will be available for My Coupon Manager.
No, this is only visible in My Coupon Manager or HighCo Extranet.
When creating a coupon in My Coupon Manager, can I see all products available in My Product Manager?
When creating a coupon, you are only able to select products defined as a 'consumer unit' that have a 'Valid' status in My Product Manager (this means they are still active). All other products including inactive products are not displayed nor can be selected.