PayPoint has announced that its i-movo Secure Digital Vouchers are now accepted across all Waitrose supermarkets allowing newspaper subscribers to pay for their newspaper with their subscription card or a barcode displayed on a mobile phone at staffed tills and self-checkout units.
The move expands redemption options for newspaper subscribers and comes as publishers increasingly look to digital voucher solutions in response to changing consumer legislation.
The Digital Markets, Competition and Consumers (DMCC) Act 2024 will, once fully implemented, give consumers enhanced rights to cancel subscriptions purchased online. While primarily aimed at digital subscriptions, some newspaper publishers have expressed concern that paper voucher books issued to subscribers may not always be returned following cancellation, potentially creating financial exposure. Digital vouchers issued through i-movo can be deactivated immediately by the publisher when a subscription is cancelled, removing this risk.
Georgia Easteal, head of print strategy & portfolio at Guardian News & Media Ltd, which has used the i-movo platform since 2014, said: “As one of the first publishers to adopt i-movo, we welcome the wider use of digital vouchers as an important step towards a more sustainable future for print. They provide a secure, flexible alternative to paper, making it easier for subscribers to collect their newspaper in store or enjoy the convenience of home delivery. Our retail partners, including independent newsagents, play a vital role in serving readers and local communities. We are confident more retailers will choose digital vouchers to benefit from enhanced margins, faster payments and simpler processes.”
Use of i-movo by newspaper publishers has continued to grow since the acquisition, reflecting increasing demand for a secure, flexible, digital voucher solution that can be redeemed across multiple retail channels.
Gemma Heavens, head of retail at Associated Newspapers Ltd, owners of the Daily Mail and The Mail on Sunday, believes the development will benefit the wider industry and commented: “Independent newsagents account for the majority of retail newspaper sales and virtually all home-delivered copies. By giving subscribers the option to redeem their Daily Mail subscription barcode at Waitrose, we are confident that more subscribers will move from paper vouchers to digital alternatives. That means faster payments, improved security, reduced administration, and greater value for all retail partners, including independent newsagents.”
The move to digital vouchers is also expected to deliver wider benefits for newspaper retailers. As more subscribers switch from paper vouchers to digital redemption, retailers can benefit from faster settlement, improved cash flow, and reduced administration associated with handling and reconciling paper vouchers. These operational advantages will be felt across the retail network, including by independent newsagents, which remain central to newspaper sales and home delivery.
Although the initial focus is on newspaper subscriptions, the Waitrose implementation will also support PayPoint’s growing consumer promotions business, which has expanded significantly since the acquisition of i-movo in 2020.
“The original design goal for i-movo digital vouchers 23 years ago was to make the retail experience as intuitive as using a paper voucher for the consumer, removing processing costs and settlement delays for retailers while giving the companies that issue them increased transparency and reduced financial risk,” commented David Tymm, founder of i-movo and now with PayPoint. “Waitrose’s implementation of i-movo and their focus on optimising the consumer experience is an excellent realisation of that vision.”
