Mastercard launches AR app to explain card benefits

Mastercard has launched an augmented reality (AR) app that lets cardholders see, explore and access the benefits of their Mastercard. The card benefits app delivers a photorealistic AR experience that transports users to a 360-degree virtual environment, where a series of interactive portals brings their card benefits to life.

According to the J.D. Power 2018 U.S. Credit Card Satisfaction StudySM, rewards continue to drive consumer satisfaction with cards, yet only a third of credit card holders completely understand all the benefits available to them. Using AR, the Mastercard app explains the benefits via a fully immersive AR experience.

Upon launching the app, cardholders are prompted to scan their Mastercard to start the session. Using their phone to scan the area around them, cardholders will see three portals, each one representing one of the three categories that Mastercard benefits fall into: Experiences, Everyday Value and Peace of Mind. To explore a benefit area, cardholders tap the related portal to launch a fully immersive 360-degree experience which brings that area to life. For example, Peace of Mind is represented by a spa, and Everyday Value is a stylish home.

Once inside the virtual room, cardholders can use their phone to look around and discover their benefits – each represented by a relevant item. For example, tapping on a set of golf clubs prompts a pop-up screen where a user can learn about, and access, their Priceless Golf benefits. When they are finished exploring, users simply tap to exit the AR experience.

“At Mastercard, we’re using our technology and solutions to deliver multi-sensory experiences for consumers every day, whether they’re shopping, taking transit, or exploring the card benefits they care about,” said Raja Rajamannar, chief marketing and communications officer at Mastercard. “By leveraging an intuitive AR design, cardholders can now easily find and fully explore their benefits that otherwise might have been overlooked.”