Payment technology and services company First Data has enhanced its Perka mobile loyalty solution with the Perka beacon, a small, low-powered device that communicates wirelessly with the Perka app, enabling increased customer engagement and a faster, more personalized retail experience, First Data reports.

"By connecting merchants and consumers in a seamless way at the point of sale, the Perka solution enables even the smallest store to design a customized marketing and loyalty program," said Guy Chiarello, First Data president. "The Perka beacon is now an important component of the Perka solution and puts a professional-grade, presence-detecting technology directly into the hands of thousands of unique local merchants. These merchants will have the ability to check-in customers as soon as they walk in the door and create a smoother, faster experience inside their stores."

Once Perka merchants place the beacon near the store entrance or point of sale, they can sync the beacon with their Perka mobile loyalty program within minutes, the company reports. Powered by Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) communications technology, the Perka beacon wirelessly checks customers into stores automatically as soon as they are within range of the beacon (typically about 50 feet). Customers no longer need to launch the Perka app on their smart phones, allowing merchants to instantly greet their customers by name and award perks for confirmed purchases, according to First Data.

The Perka beacon supports Apple iOS and Google Android mobile devices. All current Perka subscribers will receive a free beacon, and all new subscribers will receive a beacon in their activation kit when they sign up.