From a Simple Idea to a Growing Platform

The Story Behind BleepRewards: From a Simple Idea to a Growing Platform

BleepRewards started with a simple request from my wife. Like many of us, her wallet was overflowing with loyalty cards — from Woolworths Everyday Rewards to Airpoints, Flybuys, Southern Cross, and more. She asked if I could create a digital solution so she could store and access all her rewards cards from her phone.

I built a basic mobile app, allowing her to scan and store her cards digitally. She loved it! No more carrying a cluttered wallet — just a quick scan from her phone. Initially, the app was available only on Apple devices, but an Android version followed a month later. This is made available for now in 3 countries: New Zealand, Australia and The Philippines.

Curious about its broader potential, I shared it in a local Filipino Facebook group. The response was overwhelmingly positive. One of the first requests came from a tradie who often worked in remote areas with limited internet access. He asked if the app could work offline so he wouldn’t have to worry about forgetting his cards. Within a day, I added caching and offline functionality, and two days later, an updated version was live in the App Store. Users were already enjoying the convenience.

Then, security concerns arose. A user asked how safe it was to store card information in the app. While loyalty cards don’t hold direct monetary value, security was a priority from day one. To ensure protection, we implemented AES-256-CBC encryption. Instead of storing actual card numbers, we encrypt them. When users access their cards, a secure key — stored in a highly protected Amazon Web Services (AWS) environment — decrypts the data. This means that even in the unlikely event of a database breach, sensitive card details remain secure.

As the community grew, another user raised a competitive question: “I’m using Stocard, a free app — why should I switch to BleepRewards?” That’s a conversation worth diving into, and I’ll be sharing more on that soon. Stay tuned!

BleepRewards started as a simple solution to a personal problem but quickly evolved into something bigger. This journey reinforced the power of listening to users, iterating fast, and solving real problems. If you’re building something, engage with your audience — you never know where it might lead!

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