Glossary /
SGQR loyalty
Written by PEKO Team.Last updated: 05/23/2026.
SGQR loyalty is retention software that attaches to transactions routed through Singapore's unified SGQR standard — a single QR code that accepts PayNow, NETS, GrabPay, and most major wallets — using the payment identifier to recognise returning customers.
Published: 05/23/2026
SGQR is the unified Quick Response code standard launched in 2018 by MAS and IMDA, designed to consolidate 27+ payment QR schemes into one. For loyalty, this matters because every transaction now carries a consistent payer identifier the operator can hash and match against their customer record.
SGQR loyalty mechanics typically work as follows: the customer scans the merchant's SGQR; the wallet routes the payment; the retention layer reads the wallet's payer reference (PayNow handle, NETS card token, or wallet ID) and updates the loyalty record. Rewards then settle either back through SGQR (PayNow cashback) or via WhatsApp Business notification.
The advantage over closed-loop stamp cards is operational: one rail, no plastic, identical UX whether the customer pays with DBS PayLah, GrabPay, or NETS. The advantage over app-based loyalty is acquisition friction — zero new downloads.
FAQ
Does every wallet expose a payer identifier?
PayNow and NETS expose stable identifiers usable for loyalty. Some closed-loop wallets (older GrabPay flows) anonymise the payer — in those cases, loyalty falls back to opt-in WhatsApp capture at the counter.
Is SGQR mandatory for Singapore F&B?
Not mandatory, but adoption is near-universal in mall and HDB-heartland F&B because it accepts every major wallet through one sticker.
How does SGQR loyalty compare to NETS QR loyalty?
SGQR is the umbrella standard; NETS QR is one of the rails inside it. SGQR loyalty is the broader, more durable approach because it captures the customer regardless of which wallet they used.
Sources
The definitions and figures on this page reference the sources below:
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