5 reasons why digital wallet passes are changing events, membership and loyalty

Published on 9th May 2025

Digital wallet passes are quickly emerging as a powerful alternative to traditional physical cards, passes, and paper-based tickets. We now use our smartphones for everything, they’ve become such an integral part of daily life that businesses are finding new ways to incorporate them into the customer experience, and no more so than in the form of the digital wallet pass.

From reducing plastic waste to improving security, boosting engagement and saving money, there are many advantages of digital wallet passes.

Here are our top reasons why digital wallet passes are set to transform industries such as hospitality, retail, fitness, and education.

1. Convenience and accessibility

Carrying physical cards and paper tickets can be inconvenient, especially when they can be lost or forgotten at home. Digital wallet passes solve this problem by allowing users to store and access their passes directly on their smartphones.

Apple Wallet and Google Wallet enable users to save boarding passes, event tickets, and membership cards in the digital wallet on their phone. Users don’t even have to log into a separate app, all passes are easily accessible as they’re all found within the phone wallet.

Not having to carry multiple physical cards can help to speed up check-in and entry processes at airports, gyms, and hotels.

In a 2020 survey, it was found that 45% of Gen Zs used mobile wallets for payments, a figure which has no doubt increased over time as its use cases expand to access, membership and loyalty,

2. Real-time updates

One of the biggest advantages of digital wallet passes is their ability to receive real-time updates. Unlike physical cards, which require manual replacement or modification, digital passes can be updated instantly.

For example, airlines can use digital boarding passes to notify passengers of gate changes and flight delays. Retailers can update loyalty cards with new reward points, and event organisers can send last-minute seat changes to ticket holders.

This level of responsiveness helps improve customer experience and ensures that users always have the most up-to-date information without any additional effort.

3. Enhanced security

Security is a major concern for both businesses and consumers. Traditional plastic cards and paper tickets can be easily lost, stolen, or counterfeited. Digital wallet passes address these concerns through a phone’s built-in encryption and authentication technologies.

For example, Apple Wallet uses biometric authentication such as Face ID and Touch ID to ensure that only the pass owner can access it. Additionally, businesses can revoke or update passes remotely if security is compromised.

4. Environmental benefits

The environmental impact of paper-based tickets and plastic cards is fairly obvious - and significant. Millions of tickets, flyers, and membership cards are printed and discarded every year, contributing to deforestation and pollution. Digital wallet passes provide an eco-friendly alternative by eliminating the need for physical materials.

According to PaperCut, a single tree can be saved for every 8,333 pages of paper that go digital instead of being used. Businesses that switch to digital passes not only reduce their environmental footprint but also appeal to eco-conscious consumers who prefer sustainable solutions.

5. Improved customer engagement

Digital wallet passes are more than just digital replacements for physical cards; they serve as an effective customer engagement tool. Businesses can use location-based notifications, personalised offers, and loyalty rewards to build stronger relationships with their customers.

For instance, a coffee shop can send a discount offer to a customer when they are near a store. A fitness centre can notify members about upcoming classes or expiring memberships. These real-time interactions create a more engaging and personalised experience for users.

When regular users were asked about why they use their mobile wallet passes, they listed speed, easier to organise and more visible savings.

Providing wallet passes is easy

The convenience, security, and engagement capabilities of wallet passes make them an essential tool for modern businesses looking to enhance customer experience and save costs.

From reducing environmental impact to providing real-time updates, digital wallet passes offer many advantages over traditional physical passes.

How to get started

If you’d like to issue wallet passes in your business…

We'd love to discuss your project - Book a Demo Today