By no means has been a extra thrilling time to be into loyalty than now. 12 months over yr, we noticed loyalty program metrics, like satisfaction charges, share of funds and ROI enhance. This yr, they’ve reached a vital new top, and we’re assured to say that the loyalty trade is able to enter a brand new golden age. AI can be taking part in a vital function in loyalty – or is it the opposite means round? And the way valued do prospects really feel on this new period? All of those and extra are answered in Antavo’s World Buyer Loyalty Report 2026; THE report of the loyalty trade.
Introducing the World Buyer Loyalty Report, with 750+ international, regional, trade and demographic statistics
Our report is designed to assist decision-makers make sense of
right this moment’s loyalty panorama. It brings collectively information, visuals, and sensible insights to showcase loyalty packages within the new period of loyalty.
The information within the report comes from three sources, in addition to enter from numerous loyalty specialists, resulting in probably the most complete report available on the market right this moment:
- 3,000 survey responses from CMOs, Advertising and marketing, IT and Loyalty specialists
- A client panel crammed out by 10,000 loyalty program members globally
- 500 million member actions tracked through Antavo’s AI Loyalty Cloud platform (vs. final yr’s 230 million)
As well as, ranging from this yr, we’re bringing readers extra segment-based breakdowns for every international statistic. Due to this fact, you discover loyalty insights for:
- 19 trade sectors, like trend, retail and airways
- 17 nations all throughout the globe
- 10 client age teams, like Gen Z
The present loyalty program panorama: we’re on the doorstep of a brand new golden age
Loyalty packages have by no means been in a stronger place. 12 months over yr, manufacturers are seeing stronger engagement, higher retention, and clearer ROI. Due to this constant and observable efficiency, we’re assured to say: loyalty packages are now not add-ons, however strategic property for corporations.
- Satisfaction: 83.0% of loyalty program house owners are happy with their loyalty program (final yr, 69.2%)
- ROI: 9 out of 10 program house owners who measure efficiency reported constructive ROI. The typical ROI reported by those that measure a constructive ROI was 5.3X; one other new top (final yr it was 5.2X)
- Worth: 89.4% are assured that loyalty is driving worth that they wouldn’t get in any other case
- Funds: Amongst program house owners, 51.5% of the advertising funds is allotted to CRM & loyalty. 21.2% extra funds is allotted by present program house owners than those that plan to launch
- Expertise: Amongst each program house owners and people planning to launch a loyalty program, ease of administration is the #1 most precious function
Remodeling AI with loyalty
Phil Shelper, CEO of Loyalty & Reward Co and creator of ‘Loyalty Packages: The Full Information’, attributes the rising recognition of loyalty packages to a single issue: they’re one of the best supply of consented first- and zero-party that may be fed to AI. Our information backs this up: these with a loyalty program really feel extra ready to make use of AI than these planning to launch one.
- AI utilization: AI: 51.4% of entrepreneurs now use AI in loyalty program administration, an enormous leap from final yr’s 37.1%. Additionally, 50.9% of program house owners mentioned that they’re providing AI-driven personalization
- AI readiness: On a 1-10 scale, the common readiness rating of program house owners is 6.3, noticeably larger than corporations which might be solely planning to launch (5.6) and much above these not contemplating loyalty packages in any respect (4.9)
- Challenges with information: Solely 9.0% of program house owners face no challenges when analyzing loyalty information (so the opposite face some type of subject)
- 36.3% says that information high quality points or information fragmentation make it onerous to research
- 34.5% says that restricted integration prevents clear efficiency evaluation 31.6% says that they’ve issue specifying which purchases occurred due to the loyalty program
- 31.2% says they want specialised abilities or analysts to make sense of the info
- Advantages of loyalty information: 90.7% of loyalty program house owners use loyalty information in pricing and promotions. Additionally 31.1% of management groups anticipate weekly evaluation, whereas 33.5% anticipate it month-to-month
Bringing worth to prospects & the notion hole
However what do shoppers consider loyalty packages? Our findings point out that customers acknowledge the worth these packages deliver, particularly within the face of rising prices and elevated competitors. Nevertheless, watch out for the “Notion Hole”.
- Buyer loyalty: 43.2% of shoppers say that they’re extra prone to be a part of a program now than they have been final yr. As well as, 65.9% of consumers say that utilizing a loyalty program is now a part of their lives
- Prime explanation why shoppers are disenchanted with a loyalty program
- 49.1% mentioned it takes too lengthy to earn rewards
- 41.1% mentioned rewards expire earlier than they’ll use them
- 38.9% mentioned unattractive rewards
- Unspent loyalty program factors & expiration: In 2025, 27% of the factors prospects earned have been left unspent. Amongst loyalty packages that use level expiration, 12% of the overall factors earned expire
- Notion hole: 82.6% of entrepreneurs consider loyalty packages make prospects really feel valued. But far fewer (56.2%) of consumers really feel the identical
The Large Shopper Wishlist, 2026 Version
The market actuality is that prospects present curiosity in a big number of options, and there’s no clear-cut technique to win them over. Whether or not or not it’s coupons and promotions, community-driven options, and even companion rewards, loyalty packages have to be versatile and various.
- Promotions: 68.6% of consumers say promotions affect their purchasing habits, and 81.9% of consumers use promotions ceaselessly
- Favourite approach to work together with a loyalty program
- They log in to a cellular app – 44.1% vs 59.0% in 2025
- They use a digital loyalty card saved on their telephone – 42.4% vs 34.7% in 2025
- They carry a plastic card – 41.0% vs 29.3% in 2025
- Level pooling & good friend referral: 36.1% of consumers would do level pooling if it have been obtainable. 68.5% of consumers say they refer mates.
The “Age of Worth” is coming
In fact, all of those statistics are simply the tip of the iceberg. By downloading the World Buyer Loyalty Report 2026, you discover breakdowns and rankings related to these insights, in addition to information tables for numerous areas, and nations, case research, know-how showcases and professional insights. It’s 66 pages packed stuffed with loyalty information!
In case you are already within the technique of know-how purchasing, make sure that to take a look at Antavo’s AI-powered loyalty platform and our product choices:
- The Loyalty Engine, our core platform that does the complicated math behind the scenes, retains prospects in the suitable tier and immediately points the suitable reward on the proper time.
- The Planner, the place you may add a transcript of a brainstorming assembly, a PDF of a method deck, or a photograph of a whiteboard sketch. With our AI co-pilot, it analyses these inputs and immediately builds a visible map of your program construction.
- The Optimizer, which makes use of our in-house AI to allow you to “communicate to your information”. It helps you dive deeper into analytics and uncover insights in minutes that will usually take hours.
Collectively, they type the Antavo Working System, which permit loyalty groups to run packages that evolve repeatedly as a substitute of repeating the identical campaigns.
In case you are concerned about what Antavo has to supply, remember to strike up a dialog by reserving a name with our specialists! And don’t overlook to obtain our report!
Tamas is the Head of Content material at Antavo and a Licensed Loyalty Advertising and marketing Skilled – CLMP. Tamas is understood for having a eager eye for loyalty and buyer retention methods and traits. Tamas can be a real gamer at coronary heart and has a powerful assortment of cyberpunk books.
