Iteras supports gift functionality. In most cases, a simple setup will suffice. If you want a more advanced solution with a virtual gift card, that is also possible.
1. The simple setup
The simplest way to offer gift subscriptions is by using the standard features in Iteras.
The campaign
It is recommended to create a separate campaign for gift subscriptions that does not continue automatically. You may also allow the customer to switch to other campaigns via the self-service portal if they wish to continue the subscription after the gift period ends.
Business policy
If you allow campaign switching via self-service, it is recommended to configure the business policy so that the switch only occurs after the gift subscription expires:
This can be a separate business policy for gift campaigns if you do not want to enable it for all campaigns.
The order form
It is recommended to separate gift campaigns from regular campaigns by placing them in a separate order form. This way, customers avoid accidentally purchasing an ongoing subscription—or the other way around.
Add the field “Subscription start” to the form so that the gift can be purchased in advance. Also, ensure that the payer fields are mandatory. The welcome email should be sent to the gift giver so that the gift recipient is not informed about the gift before the intended time.
When using such a form, the customer goes through the same process as when buying a regular subscription. However, the gift giver must inform the gift recipient about the gift themselves.
2. The more advanced solution
It is possible to create a separate gift card product, where one person purchases the gift card, and another person redeems it for a subscription.
How to do it
1. Create a new product for the gift card
To create a new product, go to the account menu in the top right corner and click on 'Create product category'
Select “Individual products or events.” A number of sub-products will be suggested, but for simplicity we recommend ticking only “Vouchers for products.”
It makes sense to name this product type “Gift Card.” Once this is done, the product type is ready to use. Multiple different gift cards can be created under this category.
2. Create gift card
When creating a gift card, almost the entire setup is handled in one go. It works as a special type of order form where you set the gift card’s price, which campaigns the gift card grants access to, and at the same time configure the form for redeeming the gift card.
Basic info
Name: Internal name for the gift card, e.g. “CHRISTMAS gift card.”
Customer-facing name: The name that customers see when they redeem the gift card. This name can also appear on the gift card itself. We recommend naming the gift card the same as the subscription, e.g. “Annual subscription to Sportsmanden.”
Business policy: Can be left empty, but may be filled in with a gift-card-specific business policy.
Invoice lines: There should only be one invoice line – the gift card amount.
PDF template: Select the design the gift card should have. See more in the section “PDF gift card.”
Order codes
Each gift card receives an order code that grants access to a specific order form with associated campaigns. Here, you set the prefix for the order code (e.g. “CHRISTMAS”) and the validity period for each code generated via the form.
Order form for redemption
Here you set which campaign will be used to create the subscription when the gift card is redeemed. The gift card grants access only to the selected campaigns (not all).
We recommend inserting one campaign into the form with a price that matches the value of the gift card. (See more in the section “Accounting.”) This could be a special campaign used only for gift subscriptions.
The form works like other order forms, but keep it as simple as possible. For example, payer fields can be removed.
External URL: Enter the URL where the form will be embedded. This URL is also printed on the gift card.
When the gift card/form is saved, it can be found in three places:
Under Sales > Ordering codes
Under Sales > Ordering forms
And under the Gift card product category
In the Order forms section, the form is marked with a small “gift” icon.
3. Create an ordering form for purchasing the gift card
After creating the gift card and the redemption form, a separate form must also be created for purchasing the gift card.
This is done under Sales > Ordering forms. Create a form as usual, but instead of selecting a campaign in the product choice, select a gift card.
Always remember to have two forms:
One for redeeming the gift card (created at the same time as the gift card itself).
One for purchasing the gift card.
Name the forms consistently, e.g. “CHRISTMAS-purchase-form” and “CHRISTMAS-redemption-form”.
4. PDF gift card
When a gift card is purchased, a PDF file with the gift card design can be sent to the buyer. This is set up under Sales > PDF templates.
When you upload a PDF design, you can add text boxes to it. Each text box can contain text and auto-text, e.g. the gift card’s name, redemption code, where the gift card can be redeemed, issue date and expiry date. Auto-text is added by clicking the ¶ icon.
Text size, font and color can be adjusted. You can also set whether the text boxes should be transparent or have a background color.
Tips for the template
Recommended size: approx. 900 x 600 px.
Provide a clear call-to-action, e.g.: “Redeem the gift card for a 12-month subscription to Sportsmanden.”
Insert the URL for redeeming the gift card (can be inserted as auto-text).
Insert the redemption code (can be inserted as auto-text).
Specify the validity period (can be inserted as auto-text).
See example PDFs: example 1 | example 2 – simple blank design.
5. Accounting
We recommend that gift cards can only be redeemed for a specific campaign, and that the gift card’s value matches the campaign price. Any price differences between the gift card and the subscription are either recognized as revenue or credited. This is because the gift card is not considered a receivable, but rather a token that grants access to a specific subscription.
In practice, this means that each difference between the campaign price and the gift card price is either recognized as revenue or credited. For example, if the gift card amount is 500 DKK but the subscription price is 400 DKK, the customer does not receive 100 DKK as a credit. Those 100 DKK are recognized as revenue. The same applies in reverse: if the subscription costs 500 DKK and the gift card is 400 DKK, the 100 DKK difference is credited.
Accounting-wise
When the gift card is purchased, the revenue is booked to the category “Product gift card.”
Upon redemption, negative revenue is booked in “Product gift card” and positive revenue in “Subscription.”
6. Testing and adjustments
Ensure that both the purchase and redemption forms are embedded on the website. Remember that the redemption form must remain online for the entire validity period of the gift card. The same applies to the campaigns that can be redeemed with the gift card.
Be thorough with the gift card’s design and content.
Feel free to contact support if you have questions or need help setting up gift cards.