The best reward isn’t the flashiest or the highest dollar amount. It’s the one that lands instantly, feels personal, and gives the recipient real control.That’s what today’s incentive landscape demands.
because today’s customer is asking,
- Can I spend this where I actually shop?
- Can I get this in my currency?
- Can I use it now, not next week?
They want instant, relevant rewards that meet the moment they are living in.The platforms grasping this reality aren’t just moving money better—they’re building ecosystems where flexible value flows naturally to everyone involved.
The problem with the old playbook
Legacy reward systems weren’t built for this kind of flexibility. They’re limited by borders, bogged down by manual processes, and overly reliant on a narrow set of options. When rewards are slow or limited, recipients either disengage or delay redemption. And providers lose out on the very impact they’re trying to drive.
But in the same way you can’t install a mobile wallet on a fax machine, you can’t just slap a new interface on old infrastructure and expect it to improve. Real modernization requires rewards that speak an entirely new language.
Universal payouts are the next evolution
Universal reward payouts let recipients choose how they get their reward—across gift cards, prepaid cards, digital wallets or direct deposits. One reward. Multiple payout types. Delivered instantly.
Reach and speed matter more than ever
To deliver universal payouts at scale, you need a few non-negotiables:
A global merchant network that offers real value to your recipients—wherever they are, whatever they care about.
Borderless infrastructure that simplifies compliance and currency conversion, instead of complicating it.
Immediate, intuitive activation so rewards feel like gifts, not errands.
If your reward experience can’t offer all three, you’re creating friction that undermines the success of the entire program.
Finding your universal payouts partner
Rewards payouts represent a moment of truth in the commitment a business makes to its customers. Fail at that moment—through rigidity, delay or complexity—and trust evaporates instantly. Nail it, and you build the foundation for lasting relationships.
At Runa, we’ve built the payouts infrastructure designed for this exact moment. Our platform lets businesses send funds instantly across 190+ countries, 135+ currencies, and thousands of reward payout options—all from one place. No dev lift or logistical headaches. Go live in minutes, not months. With Runa, one API unlocks global possibility.
Runa is elated to be Day 1 Headline Sponsor at the IMA Europe London Summit in 2025. Let’s connect in London and rethink what a reward can be.
