IRISH EXECUTIVE John Nagle yesterday formally launched Zapa Technology, a loyalty scheme that marks the Corkman’s return to business following his high-profile departure last year from Sandyford-based mobile top-ups group Payzone.
Zapa has signed a deal with the 32-strong Insomnia coffee chain in Ireland that will enable users of its tag to accumulate loyalty points with the retailer.
The so-called ZapaTag contains a chip that can store many different applications, such as multiple loyalty schemes, club membership and payment facilities, without the need for multiple loyalty cards.
Users attach the tag to their mobile phones, which they can then swipe at the Zapa reader beside cash registers to receive their loyalty bonuses and rewards.
Consumers must register the tags online with Zapa.
“We are in discussions with a number of other retailers with a view to deploying ZapaTags in more and more outlets nationwide,” Mr Nagle said yesterday.
Bobby Kerr, chief executive of Insomnia Coffee Company, said: “It’s already proving extremely popular with over 12,000 of our customers in receipt of ZapaTags since launch.”
Mr Nagle was a founder of Alphyra, an Irish e-payments company that merged with UK ATM operator Cardpoint in December 2007 to form Payzone.
Mr Nagle was sacked by Payzone in March 2008 and was paid €925,000 last year as compensation for being let go.
