Walgreens (NYSE: WAG) (Nasdaq: WAG) is conducting a developer contest to
encourage integration of its Balance® Rewards application program
interface (API), which allows users of other apps to earn Balance
Rewards loyalty program points for making healthy choices. Rewards
points can be redeemed for merchandise in-store or online.
From now through November 28, third-party app developers can access
contest details and submit an integrated app entry by visiting the Balance
Rewards App Challenge page. Winners will be announced during the
Walgreens session at the upcoming mHealth
Summit 2014 in Washington D.C., December 7-11. Categories, awards
and selection criteria are as follows:
-
Walgreens Best Overall App Integration Award ($7,000) – The prize will
be based on the quality of the app integration idea, successful
integration of the Balance Rewards API and impact for app customers to
lead a happy and healthy life.
-
Henry
Ford Health System Patient Engagement Award ($3,000) – As a
supporter of the challenge, Henry Ford Health System will offer an
award that is based on the potential to incent healthy patient
behavior and engagement while increasing or easing the ability to
manage chronic conditions. This criteria is in addition to the quality
of the app integration idea and successful integration of the Balance
Rewards API.
-
People's Choice for Best App Integration Award ($3,000) – Voted on by
ChallengePost users and also will be based on the quality of the app
integration idea, successful integration of the Balance Rewards API
and impact for app customers to lead a happy and healthy life.
“Through our API developer program, we’re able to extend our loyalty
program into the digital ecosystem, ultimately reaching more consumers
and rewarding them for their healthy activities,” said Abhi Dhar, group
vice president and chief technology officer, Digital, at Walgreens. “By
developing more API offerings, we’re continuing to invest in developer
relationships and see the value they deliver.”
In 2012, Walgreens launched its QuickPrints API, which enabled photo
apps to provide users with the convenience of sending photos directly to
Walgreens for printing. At that time, less than 1 percent of the
company’s digital print business came from mobile. Today, 40 percent
comes from mobile with more than 125 third-party photo app integrations.
The following year, the Prescription API was launched and allowed for
seamless prescription refill and transfer capabilities for users of
third-party apps. Most recently, Walgreens has launched its Balance
Rewards API to extend the company’s Balance Rewards for healthy choices™
program – the first loyalty program to offer consumers rewards for
healthy choices.
Popular fitness devices and apps such as GenieMD,
HoMedics,
LifeTrak,
Lose
It!, Misfit,
Nudge,
Omron
Fitness and RunKeeper
have integrated the Balance Rewards API allowing users to automatically
earn points for healthy activities like walking, running and biking.
Click to learn more about the Walgreens
developer program or the Balance
Rewards API.
About Walgreens
As the nation's largest drugstore chain with fiscal 2014 sales of $76
billion, Walgreens (www.walgreens.com)
vision is to be America’s most loved pharmacy-led health, wellbeing and
beauty enterprise. Each day, in communities across America, more than 8
million customers interact with Walgreens using the most convenient,
multichannel access to consumer goods and services and trusted,
cost-effective pharmacy, health and wellness services and advice.
Walgreens scope of pharmacy services includes retail, specialty,
infusion, medical facility and mail service, along with online and
mobile services. These services improve health outcomes and lower costs
for payers including employers, managed care organizations, health
systems, pharmacy benefit managers and the public sector. The company
operates 8,207 drugstores with a presence in all 50 states, the District
of Columbia, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Walgreens digital
business includes Walgreens.com, drugstore.com, Beauty.com,
SkinStore.com and VisionDirect.com. Walgreens also manages more than 400
Healthcare Clinic and provider practice locations around the country.
Copyright Business Wire 2014