- Only 56% of those surveyed say their organization currently runs personalized promotions or discounts
- Almost one in four (22%) say their organization has no plans to personalize promotions or discounts
- The majority are planning to increase their focus on the profitability of promotions and/or loyalty programs in the next 12 months
June 23, 2025 — Far too many brands are still failing to implement a personalized loyalty program when it comes to promotions and loyalty, stuck in a vicious circle of blanket discounting, poor data, and squeezed margins, at a time when profitability is under scrutiny.
That’s according to new research carried out by Harvard Business Review and sponsored by Talon.One, the leading incentives platform. The study of 420 respondents at organizations with promotions strategies found that only 56% of those surveyed say their organization currently runs personalized promotions or discounts, as opposed to mass discounting for example.
There remains a stubborn cohort of almost one in four (22%) at businesses who have no plans to personalize promotions or discounts, while 17% say they don’t personalize offers but plan to start doing this soon.
The perks of a personalized loyalty program with integrated incentives
Yet, among those at organizations that do personalize discounts, 94% say they are reaping rewards: 62% say they’ve seen increased sales as a result, while nearly half (47%) say it’s increased customer loyalty, and 44% say it has delivered a better customer experience.
These benefits could be multiplied when promotions and loyalty strategies are integrated, which in turn helps brands to unlock personalization. Respondents at businesses that have already partially or completely integrated their promotions and loyalty strategies report improved customer loyalty (60%), increased sales revenue (58%), better customer experience (56%), improved data capture opportunities (41%), and increased ROI of marketing efforts (40%).
This comes as brands focus increasingly on profitability amid a challenging economic environment. In the next 12 months, 65% are planning to increase their focus on the profitability of promotions and discounting, and 66% are planning to increase their focus on the profitability of customer loyalty programs (among those who currently have a loyalty program).
The personalization paradox
Despite clear evidence that a personalized loyalty program drives value for businesses and for customers, many businesses have yet to recognize this. When respondents at organizations that don’t currently offer personalized promotions were asked what prevents them from personalizing offers or discounts, 25% cite unclear business value/Return on Investment (ROI) as a reason for not investing in personalization, and 28% say other business initiatives take priority.
Christoph Gerber, CEO at Talon.One, commented: “This data highlights what we call the Personalization Paradox. Until businesses invest in personalizing promotions and can see the ROI directly, they won’t grasp the business benefits and will be reluctant to push it up the list of strategic priorities. This means that today, too many brands still rely purely on blanket discounting – which eats into their margins and holds them back from improving customer engagement and loyalty.”
“But, if mass discounting offers a vicious circle, integrated and personalized incentives programs represent a virtuous one – with more data, personalization, and added value for businesses and their customers, growing both margins and loyalty as a result. Unlocking this virtuous circle might require resource and tech investment, but it’s important that brands hold their nerve and make smart strategic changes that will give them competitive advantage.”
Oliver Page, principal at Deloitte Consulting LLP, who contributed to the report, commented: “One of the most critical mistakes we see is that loyalty programs are not in line with the overall company strategy. We see businesses setting these big organizational goals in terms of how they want to drive revenue, or which segments they want to target, and then you look at their loyalty program and the personalization elements within it, and they aren’t tied to those goals. It seems obvious, but we see this strategic disconnect all the time.”
Click here to read Getting Strategic About Incentives: Building Value Through Promotions and Loyalty Programs
Methodology
Harvard Business Review Analytic Services surveyed 420 members of the Harvard Business Review audience via an online survey fielded in March 2025. Respondents qualified to complete the survey if their organization ever offers promotions or discounts and they were familiar with their organization’s decisions about promotional pricing and customer loyalty. Sixty-nine percent are in executive or senior management roles, 22% middle management, and 9% other grades.
Media Contact
Talon.One
About Talon.One
Talon.One is the most powerful incentives engine that unifies loyalty, promotions and gamification into one holistic platform.
Backed by enterprise-grade security and scalability, Talon.One empowers companies to build personalized, profitable promotions and loyalty programs using any data. The world’s most-loved brands, including Adidas, Sephora, and Carlsberg, work with Talon.One to drive deeper engagement and lasting loyalty with their customers.
Founded in 2015, the company has a global reach with teams in Berlin, London, Boston and Singapore, and over 250 clients across North America, Europe, and APAC. It was recognized in Gartner’s 2025 Market Guide for Loyalty Program Vendors and as a major player in IDC’s 2024 MarketScape report for Loyalty Software Providers.