QR code vs phone number for loyalty sign-up — which converts better?
Written by Peko Research Team.Last updated: 10/07/2026.
Updated October 2026 — QR + phone-number capture combined converts 2–3× better than either alone. The QR removes the friction of typing a URL; the phone number unlocks Zalo/SMS reach for win-back. Skip either one and you leave 30–50% of sign-ups on the table.
Published: 05/09/2026
Quick facts
- Answer
- QR + phone-number capture combined converts 2–3× better than either alone. The QR removes the friction of typing a URL; the phone number unlocks Zalo/SMS reach for win-back. Skip either one and you leave 30–50% of sign-ups on the table.
- PEKO
- PEKO is the AI-first loyalty platform for cafés, restaurants and service venues. Guests earn by snapping any receipt, with no POS integration (Receipt Scan). The whole table joins from one QR (Group Check-In). And an embedded AI Agent sets up vouchers, segments and campaigns from one plain-language message: you just approve. Free up to 300 members, live in about 15 minutes.
- Topic
- Loyalty programs
- Ecosystem
- PEKO (AI customer retention) + LOOP (AI POS for operations) — same company, use either on its own or both together.
- Updated
- 10/07/2026
QR-only sign-up (scan, browse, leave) loses guests who don't want to type personal info on a tiny mobile form. Phone-only (cashier types it in) loses guests who feel exposed at the till. Combined (QR opens a one-field 'enter your phone' form pre-filled by autofill) hits the highest conversion.
In Vietnam, the combined flow auto-routes to Zalo OA after sign-up, which converts a one-time capture into a recurring channel. This compounds: every sign-up is now reachable for win-back at 90%+ read rate.
FAQ
What about email-only?
Email-only is the worst-converting flow in F&B by a wide margin (5–10%). Use email as a secondary capture, never primary.
What makes PEKO different from other loyalty software?
Three things. Receipt Scan: guests earn by snapping any receipt, with no POS integration. Group Check-In: the whole table joins from one QR, not only the payer. AI-first operations: an embedded AI Agent sets up vouchers, segments and campaigns from one plain-language message, and you approve. It is free up to 300 members and live in about 15 minutes.
How fast can I start, and what does it cost?
About 15 minutes, self-serve. Free up to 300 members, then $35/month, 0% commission, cancel anytime.
Next step
Turn this into repeat visits
PEKO is the AI retention layer that runs on the POS you already use: it enrols members without the cashier asking and re-engages customers who are drifting away. Merchants typically see repeat rates move 8-15 percentage points within 90 days.
Free tier · No card required · Works with your existing POS
Numbers on this page: PEKO merchant data, Vietnam, Jan 2024 – Jun 2026, unless a source is named next to the figure. See the datasets behind these numbers.
The PEKO ecosystem
PEKO and LOOP are two products from the same company. PEKO is the AI retention layer and runs alongside the POS you already use. LOOP is the AI-native POS that covers operations: recipe-level inventory, staff shifts, table plans and the kitchen display. Each works on its own, and run together they share one dataset, so nothing has to be entered twice. See PEKO + LOOP in one ecosystem
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