Abstract:
The present invention provides unique and immediately redeemable incentive vouchers to a customer when specified transactions occur between the customer and a business entity so as to encourage the customer to initiate additional transactions with the business entity. More specifically, the present invention provides a tiered incentive program that issues vouchers having a minimum redemption value and unique identifiers that may be redeemed for a reward. The present invention also provides steps for administering the incentive method of the present invention on behalf of a business entity so as to reduce the burden of tracking, issuing, and redeeming incentives that may be issued to the customers.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     1. Field of the Invention  
         [0002]     The present invention relates to the field of incentive systems for providing premiums to customers to reward and encourage customer transactions with a business entity such as a bank, insurance company, or other business.  
         [0003]     2. Description of Related Art  
         [0004]     Many companies provide incentives to customers in return for their business. Commonly used incentive programs may include: frequent flier miles; “points” that may be earned in return for money spent by a consumer at a particular retailer and/or service provider; and “cash back” programs wherein businesses provide cash incentives to customers that may be proportional to purchase value. In addition, some business entities, such as banks, mortgage companies, automobile dealerships, and others, may provide rewards, gifts, and/or premiums to encourage customers to visit a business location and/or engage in a business transaction with the business entity. In many cases, however, such rewards, gifts, and/or premiums are pre-selected by the marketing personnel of the business entity for a one-time and/or limited-time promotion, such that if potential customers are not enticed by the reward that is offered, they are often not encouraged to visit and/or engage in a transaction.  
         [0005]     Furthermore, while conventional incentive systems for encouraging transactions between customers and business entities may provide a potential and/or current customer with incentives such as redeemable “points,” “miles,” and/or “cash back” that may be incrementally earned, such incentives often do not provide the customer with the instant ability to redeem the incentive for a selected reward. More specifically, conventional incentive methods fail to provide unique and/or instantly redeemable incentives to customers in return for a transaction, such that the customer may be encouraged to engage in the transaction with the business entity. For example, if a business entity only offers generic “points” in return for a given transaction, a customer may be less likely to be encouraged to engage in the transaction because more than one transaction may be required to accumulate sufficient “points” to redeem for a reward that has value to the customer. Alternatively, while some business entities, such as banks, provide gifts and/or rewards directly in return for transactions (such as opening a checking account, for example), these instantaneous rewards may not be enticing to all potential customers, as only one or a limited variety of gifts may be practically offered by the business entity.  
         [0006]     Conventional incentive systems thus lack the ability to blend the flexibility of a “points-based” incentive system (that may allow a potential customer to select a reward and/or gift that is most likely to encourage a transaction) with the “instant gratification” aspect of certain “gift-based” incentive system (wherein a selected “free gift” is offered to the potential customer in return for engaging in a business transaction). Furthermore, certain “gift-based” conventional incentive systems are often purchased directly by a business entity such that the purchased “gifts” must be stored and distributed to potential customers directly by the business entity. This limitation of conventional incentive systems often limits the capability of the business entity to offer an array of potential gifts and/or rewards from which a potential customer might choose in return for engaging in a selected transaction. Furthermore, conventional incentive systems also must be administered directly by the business entity. For example, a business entity, when offering promotional rewards and/or incentives, may be charged not only with storing the rewards and/or gifts, but also shipping, distributing, and providing customer service with respect to the rewards. Thus, the use of conventional incentive programs may be labor-intensive and require special training and/or additional employee support.  
         [0007]     The limitations in conventional incentive systems may also create a burden on the systems of a business entity that seeks to encourage transactions with a group of potential customers. For example, the business entity may be required to display (via a specialized internet web page, for example) the rewards that may be available in return for accumulating incentive “points.” Because such “points” are often proportional to dollar amounts spent at the business entity, the business entity may often be required to expend computing power to calculate and store incentive “points” in uneven denominations or unusable point totals. For example, after redeeming some portion of accumulated incentive “points,” a customer may be left with an unusable point total that is insufficient to purchase and/or exchange for any reward.  
         [0008]     Therefore, there exists a need for an improved incentive method and/or computer program product to solve the technical problems outlined above that are associated with conventional incentive systems. More particularly, there exists a need for a method capable of providing instant incentives, having an immediately redeemable and discrete value to a customer, in exchange for engaging in a given transaction. There also exists a need for an incentive method that provides flexibility to the potential customers to redeem the instant incentives for a variety of different rewards, arranged in value tiers, corresponding to the discrete redemption value of an incentive voucher. Furthermore, there exists a need for a turn-key incentive method that reduces the burden on a business entity by: providing a display of available rewards, providing third-party administration of incentive vouchers, detecting transactions (and the assigned values thereof) with the business entity, providing customer service for shipping and/or distributing the rewards, and/or providing other operational support for the incentive system.  
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0009]     The needs outlined above are met by the present invention which, in various embodiments, provides an incentive method and/or computer program product that overcomes many of the technical problems discussed above, as well other technical problems, with regard to the encouragement of transactions between a customer and a business entity, wherein each of the transactions has an assigned value. According to one embodiment of the present invention, the method and/or computer program product comprises steps for: detecting the transaction between at least one of the plurality of customers and the business entity; and issuing a voucher to the at least one customer in response to the detected transaction. According to some embodiments, the voucher may be issued with a unique indicia and a redemption value corresponding to the assigned value of the transaction. In some embodiments of the present invention, the voucher may also be issued with an expiration date. Furthermore, the voucher may be instantly and singularly redeemable, according to the unique indicia (such as a serial number and/or printed redemption value), in exchange for a reward corresponding to the redemption value of the voucher. Thus, the instantly redeemable and unique voucher may encourage the customer to engage in additional transactions with the business entity.  
         [0010]     Additional method and/or computer program product embodiments of the present invention may further comprise steps for receiving the voucher from the customer (at a customer service center and/or via an internet web page interface, for example) and issuing the reward in exchange for the voucher. According to various embodiments, the issuing step may comprise, for example, shipping the reward directly to the customer. Other method and/or computer program embodiments of the present invention may also comprise receiving the voucher from the at least one customer and adding the redemption value of the voucher to an account balance corresponding to the customer such that the account balance may accumulate the redemption value of the voucher. Thus, according to some embodiments, a computer program product may add, track, and/or store redemption value information for a plurality of vouchers on behalf of a customer such that the customer may “save” the discrete redemption value of several relatively low-value vouchers to accumulate an account balance that may allow the customer to redeem the account balance for a higher-value reward. For example, in some embodiments, the method and/or computer program embodiment of the present invention may also comprise steps for: receiving a redemption request from the customer, wherein the redemption request may correspond to a portion of the account balance; and issuing the reward in return for the portion of the account balance.  
         [0011]     Various method and/or computer program embodiments of the present invention may also serve to perform administrative and/or service functions with regard to a customer incentive program. For example, some embodiments of the present invention may further comprise presenting the rewards to the customer via a display (such as an internet web page and/or other electronic display) for displaying the reward in a redemption category corresponding to a value of the reward. In some embodiments, the rewards may be arranged and displayed in tiered redemption categories such that as a customer is issued incentive vouchers having a sufficient redemption value, the customer may redeem the incentive voucher for a reward in one or more of the displayed redemption categories. In addition, some method and/or computer program products of the present invention may also comprise shipping the reward to the customer on behalf of the business entity, such that the business entity need not warehouse and/or administer the shipping and/or issuing functions that accompany the customer&#39;s redemption of an incentive voucher. Furthermore, some method and/or computer program product embodiments of the present invention may also comprise additional customer service steps. For example, one embodiment may further comprise contacting the customer to confirm the reward issuing and shipping steps.  
         [0012]     Thus the methods and computer program products for encouraging transactions between a customer and a business entity, as described in the embodiments of the present invention, provide many advantages that may include, but are not limited to: providing a tiered incentive and reward system that provides a customer with an instantly redeemable incentive for engaging in a business transaction; providing an incentive voucher that may be selectively redeemed for an instant reward and/or stored in a customer account so as to accumulate incentive value that may be later exchanged for a “higher-tier” reward; providing incentive vouchers having an instantly redeemable value and individualized indicia (such as serial numbers) such that the customer receives a valuable incentive for even low-value transaction types; and providing an incentive method that is turn-key such that a business entity may focus on their business and/or customer service while the incentive method is administered by a third party that may track the vouchers, present the rewards, and handle customer service issues related to the incentive program.  
         [0013]     These advantages and others that will be evident to those skilled in the art are provided in the methods and computer program products of the present invention. Importantly, all of these advantages allow a business entity to more effectively and efficiently encourage customers to engage in selected transactions with the business entity. Since the issued incentive vouchers have an instantly redeemable value and unique indicia, and still allow the customer to choose what rewards might be most desirable, the present invention provides a more effective incentive for encouraging customers to engage in selected transactions with the business entity.  
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0014]     Having thus described the invention in general terms, reference will now be made to the accompanying drawings, which are not necessarily drawn to scale, and wherein:  
         [0015]      FIG. 1  shows a flow chart of a method according to one embodiment of the present invention including the steps of detecting a transaction and issuing a redeemable voucher in response to the detected transaction.  
         [0016]      FIG. 2  shows a flow chart of a method according to one embodiment of the present invention including steps for receiving the voucher from a customer and issuing a reward in exchange for the voucher.  
         [0017]      FIG. 3  shows a flow chart of a method according to one embodiment of the present invention including steps for receiving the voucher from a customer and adding the value of the voucher to an account balance.  
         [0018]      FIG. 4  shows a flow chart of a method according to one embodiment of the present invention including steps for receiving a redemption request from a customer and issuing a reward in return for a portion of the account balance.  
         [0019]      FIG. 5  shows a flow chart of a method according to one embodiment of the present invention including a step for displaying a reward in a redemption category corresponding to a value of the reward.  
         [0020]      FIG. 6  shows a flow chart of a method according to one embodiment of the present invention including steps for shipping and confirming the issuance of the reward to the customer.  
         [0021]      FIG. 7  shows a display according to one embodiment of the present invention wherein a customer may view options for redeeming and/or adding vouchers to an account balance.  
         [0022]      FIG. 8  shows a display according to one embodiment of the present invention wherein a customer may add one or more vouchers, and their corresponding redemption vouchers, to an account balance.  
         [0023]      FIG. 9  shows a display according to one embodiment of the present invention for displaying the reward in a redemption category corresponding to a value of the reward.  
         [0024]      FIG. 10  shows one example of a voucher that may be issued according to one embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0025]     The present inventions now will be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which some, but not all embodiments of the invention are shown. Indeed, these inventions may be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein; rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will satisfy applicable legal requirements. Like numbers refer to like elements throughout.  
         [0026]     The various aspects of the present invention mentioned above, as well as many other aspects of the invention are described in greater detail below. The methods and computer program products of the present invention are described in a banking and health insurance company incentives environment. It must be understood that this is only one example of the use of the present invention. Specifically, the methods and computer program products of the present invention can be adapted to any number of business entity types (engaging in a number of different transaction types with customers). For example, the present invention may be used to encourage transactions including, but not limited to: loan originations with mortgage companies; initiation of cellular and/or land telephone service with a telecommunications company; transactions via any number of “e-businesses” such as, for example, internet-based payment companies and/or auction sites; and the purchase and/or financing of a vehicle.  
         [0027]      FIG. 1  shows a flow chart depicting a method according to one embodiment of the present invention for encouraging transactions between a customer and a business entity. The method may comprise, for example, step  110  for detecting a transaction between at least one of a plurality of customers and the business entity; and step  120  for issuing a voucher  200  (see  FIG. 10 , for example) to the at least one customer in response to the detected transaction. According to some method embodiments, as shown in  FIG. 10 , the voucher  200  may have a unique indicia  240  (such as a serial number and/or certificate number  240 ) and a redemption value  210  corresponding to the value of the at least one transaction. In some other embodiments, step  120  may also comprise issuing a voucher  200  having a date of issue  220  and/or an expiration date  230 . The voucher  200  issued by some embodiments of the present invention, may be instantly and singularly redeemable (via an internet website or display (see  FIG. 9 , for example), according to the unique indicia  240 , in exchange for a reward corresponding to the redemption value  210  of the voucher  200 . Thus, the method embodiments of the present invention may encourage the at least one customer to engage in additional transactions with the business entity in order to gain additional vouchers  200  that may be instantly redeemable for one or more rewards.  
         [0028]     The detecting step  110  may comprise in one embodiment, for example, monitoring a business entity internet website for transaction activity between a customer (which may be identified by a unique customer identifier, such as a customer identification number, password, or other identification) and the business entity. According to some embodiments, the detecting step  110  may be performed by a computer device in communication via wired and/or wireless networks (such as the internet) with a computer device operated by the business entity. Furthermore, in other embodiments, the detecting step  110  may be performed by an individual tasked with monitoring one or more business entities for transactions having an assigned value that may trigger the issuing step  120 . In addition, the issuing step  120  may comprise issuing the voucher  200  via various methods, which may include, but are not limited to: issuing the voucher  200  via an electronic mail message; printing a paper copy of the voucher  200  that may be given directly and/or mailed to the customer; displaying the voucher  200  to a customer via a display screen (see  FIG. 7 , generally, showing a display  700  for displaying voucher  200  and/or other incentive method information to a customer); and other issuing methods. Furthermore, the issuing step  120  may also comprise issuing a voucher  200  to a computer device operated by the business entity (via, for example, a wired and/or wireless network (such as the internet)) such that upon detecting (step  110 ) a qualifying transaction, the issuing step  120  may send a voucher  200  via electronic mail and/or via facsimile or other method, directly to the business entity such that a representative and/or employee of the business entity may present the customer with the voucher  200  at the physical location of the transaction (such as at the business entity&#39;s offices and/or storefront). According to some embodiments of the present invention, such an instantaneous award of a voucher  200  having a redemption value  210  may encourage the customer to engage in further qualifying transactions in the hope of earning more instantly-redeemable vouchers  200  that may be redeemed for one or more of a wide selection of reward items (as described in further detail below).  
         [0029]     In some method embodiments, the value of the qualifying transaction may be pre-assigned by the business entity such that the issuing step  120  may comprise issuing a voucher  200  having a greater redemption value  240  in return for detected transactions that result in greater profit and/or a more desirable outcome for the business entity. For example, in embodiments where the business entity is a bank, the bank may assign transaction values to various banking transactions such as opening a checking account, and/or applying for a mortgage loan. According to some embodiments, the issuing step  120  may comprise issuing a voucher  200  having a redemption value  210  of 100 points, for example, when a customer opens a new checking account. In another example, the issuing step  120  may comprise issuing a voucher  200  having a redemption value  210  of 500 points, for example, when a customer applies for and/or closes on a mortgage. Thus, the business entity may encourage additional transactions and/or transactions that may be more profitable by assigning values to the transaction types that may be detected in step  110  and issuing vouchers  200  in step  120  that have redemption values  210  that are proportional to the profit and/or desirability of the transaction types detected. As described generally above, the voucher  200  may be instantly and singularly redeemable, according to the unique indicia  240 , in exchange for a reward corresponding to the redemption value  210  of the voucher, so as to encourage the at least one customer to engage in additional transactions with the business entity. For example, the bank customer described above may be able to redeem the 100 point voucher  200  immediately for one of the rewards that may be displayed (see step  180 ,  FIG. 5 , and the display  700  of  FIG. 9 ) in a 100 point reward category  910 .  
         [0030]     According to other method embodiments of the present invention, the method may further comprise a separate step for assigning a value to each of at least one transaction between the customer and the business entity. Thus a third party responsible for performing the steps of the present invention may bring specialized marketing expertise to bear in situations where the business entity may lack the marketing savvy and/or market data to appropriately assign values to transactions and corresponding redemption values  210  of vouchers  200  that may be issued in response to the detection (step  110 ) of such transactions. For example, a business entity such as a bank, may wish to offer new services (such as brokerage accounts) that may result in specialized transaction types (such as buy/sell orders) for which the bank may have no historical data as to transaction frequency and/or revenue realized per transaction. Thus, the method steps of the present invention may include steps for assigning a transaction value to one or more transaction types in order to appropriately incentivize the desired transactions using vouchers  200  and corresponding reward types having commensurate and/or proportional value.  
         [0031]     While the examples above are used to encourage transactions having a direct monetary value to the business entity, the method of the present invention may also be used to encourage other types of transactions between customers and a business entity. For example, the method of the present invention may also be used by health insurance companies to encouraging health-conscious activity by its clients by detecting “transactions” such as the reporting of regular exercise activity, the reporting of a preventative exam and/or “wellness visit” to a health-care provider, the reporting of healthy eating habits, and/or other health-conscious behaviors that may, in sum, be beneficial to both the insured customers of the insurance company (by encouraging healthy habits) and to the insurer (by reducing payouts required to treat health problems that may be prevented by positive eating and exercise habits). According to one embodiment, the detecting step  110  of the present invention may comprise detecting the reporting (via the health insurance company&#39;s internet website, electronic kiosk, and/or an electronic mail message) of a particular customer&#39;s exercise program over the course of a month. In response, the method may comprise issuing  120  a voucher  200  having a redemption value  240  of, for example, 100 points, that may be redeemed instantly for a reward that may encourage further exercise, such as, for example, sports equipment displayed in the 100 point redemption category (see element  910 ,  FIG. 9 ). The detecting step  110  may also detect the customer&#39;s reporting of a significant weight loss and/or smoking cessation, which may result in the issuance (step  120 ) of a voucher having a larger redemption value  240  (commensurate with the long-term benefits of the lifestyle change) that may be instantly redeemed for a more significant reward (i.e., a  500  point redemption value  240 , that may be redeemed for a digital camera or other electronic equipment listed in the 500 point redemption category (see element  930 ,  FIG. 9 ). Other examples of voucher  200  redemption are described in further detail below with respect to the reward issuing steps  140 ,  170  (shown generally in  FIGS. 2, 4 ,  6 , and  9 ).  
         [0032]      FIG. 2  shows another exemplary method embodiment of the present invention, further comprising a receiving step  130  for receiving the voucher  200  from the customer, and an issuing step  140  for issuing a reward in exchange for the voucher. According to one embodiment (shown generally in  FIG. 5 ) of the present invention, the method of the present invention may also comprise a presenting step  180 , for presenting a reward to the customer via a display  700  (see  FIG. 9 , for example, depicting an internet webpage that may be accessed by a customer according to one embodiment of the present invention, for viewing rewards that may be obtained by redeeming unique vouchers  200  issued via step  120  of the present invention).  
         [0033]     The display  700  may, in some embodiments (as shown generally in  FIG. 9 , present the reward to the customer in a redemption category (see elements  910 - 960 ) corresponding to the value of the reward. Thus, according to some embodiments of the present invention, the customer may access the various reward redemption categories via an internet website configured to present the display  700  shown generally in  FIG. 9  such that the customer may instantly redeem an issued voucher  200  (having a specific redemption value  210 ) for a reward in one of the categories  910 - 960  shown in the display. For example, if the customer has been issued a voucher  200  having a redemption value  210  of 500 points, the customer may choose to instantly redeem the voucher  200  for one of the items listed within the 500 point redemption category  930  in the display. According to some method and computer program product embodiments of the present invention, the display  700  shown generally in  FIG. 9  may also display the redemption categories  910 - 960  as interactive graphics that may be selected (i.e., by the click of a mouse), causing the display  700  to update to a detailed list and/or description of reward items that the customer may choose to be issued according to step  130  of the method of the present invention. According to various embodiments of the present invention, the issuing step  140  may comprise initiating a shipping step  190  (see  FIG. 6 , for example) and/or a contacting step  195  (see also,  FIG. 6 , for example). In addition, according to some embodiments, the issuing step  140  may also initiate (either automatically via computer program product embodiments of the present invention, or via substantially manual methods, such as the generation of a warehouse “pick sheet” or order sheet) a step for notifying a warehouse and/or third-party logistic service of the customer&#39;s shipping address and/or other information that may assist in the issuance (step  140 ) of the reward in return for the voucher  200  (step  130 ). For example, once the customer has selected a reward, entered voucher information (such as the unique indicia  240 ) and initiated the receiving step  130 , methods of the present invention, as part of the issuing step  140 , may comprise automatically notifying a third-party (responsible for storing and/or shipping the various rewards) that the selected reward should be shipped to the customer. Such a notification may be performed in an automated manner according to some computer program embodiments of the present invention as part of the issuing  140 , shipping  190 , and/or contacting  195  steps.  
         [0034]     The method of the present invention also provides additional alternate embodiments wherein a customer may choose to save multiple vouchers  200  and accumulate the redemption values  210  of the multiple vouchers in an account balance that may be received (in its entirety, or in discrete portions, see steps  160  and  170  described below) and/or redeemed for rewards having a greater value than the redemption value  210  of any one voucher  200 . For example, as shown in  FIG. 3 , the method and computer program embodiments of the present invention may further comprise step  130  for receiving the voucher  200  from the customer, and step  150  for adding the redemption value  210  of the voucher  200  to an account balance corresponding to the customer such that the account balance may accumulate the redemption value  210  of the voucher  200 . According to some method and/or computer program product embodiments of the present invention, the receiving step  130  (which may also precede the issuing step  140  listed above in  FIG. 2 ) may be performed via an internet website and/or computer display  700  (as shown in  FIG. 8 , for example) comprising a voucher input prompt  810  and a voucher input field  820  such that the customer may enter one or more vouchers  200  that may be received (according to step  130 ) and accumulated (see step  150 ) in an account balance that may be maintained according to various embodiments of the present invention, in a computer device, such as a server and/or personal computer that may be selectively accessed by the customers via an internet portal and/or via a computer display  700  (as shown generally in  FIG. 7 ) which may be provided to facilitate the method steps of the present invention. According to other method embodiments of the present invention, steps  130  (the voucher  200  receiving step) and  150  (the redemption value  210  adding step) may also be performed by substantially manual and/or semi-manual methods. For example, according to some embodiments, step  130  and/or step  150  of the present invention may be performed by providing a facility which may include, but is not limited to: a customer service center, a substantially automated kiosk, and/or other input area that may be operated by the business entity and/or a third party responsible for performing the method steps of the present invention. Thus, a customer may choose to redeem and/or input the unique vouchers  200  at such a facility in lieu of and/or in addition to redeeming the vouchers via an internet website (as shown generally in  FIG. 8 , for example).  
         [0035]     Thus, according to one example of the steps receiving  130  and adding  150  steps of the present invention, the method may comprise receiving four unique vouchers  200 , each having a redemption value  210  of 200 points (which may have been issued to the customer (in step  120 , for example) in return for engaging in four separate transactions) and adding  150  the redemption values of the unique vouchers  200  to accumulate an account balance of 800 points. Thus, steps  130  and  150  of the present invention may also enable the customer to select and redeem the account balance for a reward in the 800 point redemption category (see element  940  of  FIG. 9 ) instead of  4  individual rewards in the 200 point reward category (see element  920  of  FIG. 9 ). According to some embodiments, however, as discussed above, the voucher issuing step  120  may also comprise issuing vouchers  200  having an expiration date  230 . Thus, the method embodiments of the present invention may also be capable of automatically determining when one or more of the unique vouchers have expired and adjusting the account balance accordingly. For example, according to some embodiments, the methods and computer program embodiments of the present invention may be capable of determining the expiration date  230  of a particular unique voucher  200  via the unique indicia  240  of the voucher and automatically removing the redemption value of the voucher  200  from the account balance upon an expiration date  230  of the voucher  200 .  
         [0036]      FIG. 4  shows a flow chart depicting another alternate method embodiment of the present invention further comprising step  160  for receiving a redemption request from the customer (the redemption request corresponding to a portion of the account balance accumulated and/or adjusted in step  150 , for example), and step  170  for issuing the reward in return for the portion of the account balance. As described above with respect to issuing step  140 , issuing step  170  may also comprise initiating a shipping step  190  (see  FIG. 6 , for example) and/or a shipping and issuing confirmation step  195  (see also,  FIG. 6 , for example). In addition, according to some embodiments, the issuing step  170  may also initiate (either automatically via electronic notification and/or computer program product embodiments of the present invention, or via substantially manual methods, such as the generation of a warehouse “pick sheet” or order) a step for notifying a warehouse and/or third-party logistic service of the customer&#39;s shipping address and/or other information that may assist in the issuance (step  170 ) of the reward in return for the redemption of at least a portion of the accumulated account balance.  
         [0037]     Various method and computer program product embodiments of the present invention may also provide a “turn-key” incentive program for a business entity (such as a bank, for example) to encourage one or more transactions between a customer and the business entity. For example, in some embodiment, the presenting step  180  (see  FIG. 5 ) may comprise presenting the rewards to a customer via an internet website and/or other visual display  700  that includes a logo, color scheme, background, trademarks, and/or trade dress that represents the business entity. Similarly, the voucher issuing step  120  may also comprise issuing a voucher  120  that may be printed and/or displayed with a logo, color scheme, background, trademarks, and/or trade dress that is representative of the business entity. Furthermore, according to some embodiments some or all of the rewards issued (see steps  140  and  170 , for example) may also be imprinted directly with and/or shipped (see step  190 , for example) in packing material including a logo, color scheme, background, trademarks, and/or trade dress representing the business entity. Thus, the methods of the present invention may be performed by a third party provider on behalf of the business entity such that the customer may be exposed only to the business entity (instead of the third-party provider) and also such that the business entity need not be involved with the operation and/or administration of the methods and/or computer program products of the present invention.  
         [0038]     For example, some method and/or computer program product embodiments of the present invention (shown generally in  FIG. 6 ) may comprise shipping the reward to the customer on behalf of the business entity (step  190 ). Furthermore, according to some embodiments, as described generally above, the method of the present invention may also comprise (as part of the issuing steps  140 ,  170  and/or the shipping step  190 ) notifying a logistic service provider (such as a warehousing and/or shipping entity) when a voucher  200  and/or some portion of an account balance has been received (step  130 , for example) and/or redeemed by a customer. Such a notification may include, but is not limited to: the identification of a specific reward, the customer identification and/or shipping address, special shipping instructions, and/or the business entity on whose behalf the reward is being shipped. Thus, the operator performing the steps of the present invention may select packing materials, literature, and/or specific reward types that correspond to a given business entity.  
         [0039]     In addition, some embodiments of the present invention may also comprise step  195  (see  FIG. 6 ) for contacting the customer to confirm the issuing ( 140 ,  170 ) and shipping ( 190 ) steps. For example, the methods and/or computer program products of the present invention may prompt customer service personnel to provide a follow-up telephone call to the customer to ensure that the appropriate reward was received by the customer, that the voucher  200  was correctly received, and/or that the shipping step  190  occurred within a promised and/or expected time frame. Furthermore, according to some other embodiments, the contacting step  195  may also comprise generating an automated and/or semi-automated message (which may include, for example, an electronic mail message) to the customer to confirm accuracy and promptness of the issuing ( 140 ,  170 ) and shipping  190  steps of the present invention.  
         [0040]     In addition to providing apparatus and methods, the present invention also provides computer program products for performing the operations described above. The computer program products have a computer readable storage medium having computer readable program code means embodied in the medium. The computer readable storage medium may be part of a storage device and may implement the computer readable program code means to perform the above discussed operations.  
         [0041]     In this regard,  FIGS. 1-6  are block diagram illustrations of methods and program products according to the invention. It will be understood that each block or step of the block diagram and combinations of blocks in the block diagram can be implemented by computer program instructions. These computer program instructions may be loaded onto a computer or other programmable apparatus to produce a machine, such that the instructions which execute on the computer or other programmable apparatus create means for implementing the functions specified in the block diagram, flowchart or control flow block(s) or step(s). These computer program instructions may also be stored in a computer-readable memory that can direct a computer or other programmable apparatus to function in a particular manner, such that the instructions stored in the computer-readable memory produce an article of manufacture including instruction means which implement the function specified in the block diagram, flowchart or control flow block(s) or step(s). The computer program instructions may also be loaded onto a computer or other programmable apparatus to cause a series of operational steps to be performed on the computer or other programmable apparatus to produce a computer implemented process such that the instructions which execute on the computer or other programmable apparatus provide steps for implementing the functions specified in the block diagram, flowchart or control flow block(s) or step(s).  
         [0042]     Accordingly, blocks or steps of the block diagram, flowchart or control flow illustrations support combinations of means for performing the specified functions, combinations of steps for performing the specified functions and program instruction means for performing the specified functions. It will also be understood that each block or step of the block diagram, flowchart or control flow illustrations, and combinations of blocks or steps in the block diagram, flowchart or control flow illustrations, can be implemented by special purpose hardware-based computer systems which perform the specified functions or steps, or combinations of special purpose hardware and computer instructions.  
         [0043]     Many modifications and other embodiments of the inventions set forth herein will come to mind to one skilled in the art to which these inventions pertain having the benefit of the teachings presented in the foregoing descriptions and the associated drawings. Therefore, it is to be understood that the inventions are not to be limited to the specific embodiments disclosed and that modifications and other embodiments are intended to be included within the scope of the appended claims. Although specific terms are employed herein, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation.