This guide walks through the complete Actual Activation experience from the user’s perspective, screen by screen. Use this to understand what your users will see, how rewards are earned, and where you can customize the experience.
The Activation Flow
The experience follows four steps: users discover offers, scan a receipt, earn rewards, and correct any missed earnings.
Step 1: Offer Wall
The Offer Wall is the main entry point. This is where users browse available savings opportunities before scanning a receipt.
What users see:
- Personalized coupons and deals based on shopping behavior
- Filters for category and popularity
- Merchant-specific offers (Kroger, Walmart, etc.)
- A floating “Scan Receipt” action button
Why it matters: Showing offers before scanning gives users a reason to scan. They know what rewards are available and are motivated to capture a receipt that qualifies. This is the “prime before scan” pattern — users who see offers first scan more often.
What you can customize:
- Header background and text colors
- Header title text
- Visibility of the header and floating action button
Step 2: Receipt Capture and Processing
After selecting offers or tapping “Scan Receipt,” users enter the camera-based receipt capture flow powered by the Actual Capture SDK.
What users see:
- Standard receipt scanning camera interface
- Real-time verification indicators for transaction date, total amount, and merchant name
- A contextual video advertisement while the receipt is being processed
Why it matters: The ad placement during processing is a natural monetization moment. Users are already waiting, so the ad doesn’t feel like an interruption. This is where your app generates ad revenue without adding friction.
What happens behind the scenes:
- The Actual Capture SDK extracts receipt data
- The Activation backend matches receipt items against active promotional offers
- Reward amounts are calculated based on your configured currency and callback logic
Step 3: Reward Summary
Once processing completes, users see a breakdown of everything they earned from the scan.
What users see:
- Base Scan Reward: Points for completing the scan (amount determined by your app)
- Offer Rewards: Points from Purchase Validation Program (PVP) offers matched to receipt items (e.g., “Earn 10pts per $1 spent” or “Buy 2+, get 30pts”)
- Boost option: An opportunity to watch a brief ad for bonus points
How rewards work:
| Reward Type | Who Sets the Amount | How It’s Triggered |
|---|---|---|
| Base Scan Reward | Your app (via reward callback) | Receipt scan completes |
| Offer Rewards | Activation backend | Receipt items match promotional criteria |
| Boost Rewards | Pre-configured amount | User opts in to watch an ad |
Why it matters: This is the “win” moment. Users see tangible value from scanning. A clear, celebratory reward summary drives repeat scanning behavior.
What you can customize:
- Receipt summary header background and text colors
- Base scan reward amount (dynamic, based on your business logic)
- Currency name and icon displayed alongside reward amounts
Step 4: Missed Earnings Corrections
If the scan didn’t capture all qualifying items, users can submit corrections to claim additional rewards.
What users see:
- A receipt icon on the Reward Summary screen that opens the Missed Earnings page
- A list of items available for correction
- Option to scan product barcodes to verify item identity
- A product form to edit quantity, price, and other details
- “Pending Review” status with green highlighting on submitted corrections
The correction flow:
- User taps the receipt icon on the Reward Summary
- Selects items that need correction
- Scans product barcode (overrides existing product number if scanned)
- Edits quantity, price, or product details via the product form
- Submits corrections for review
Why it matters: Corrections protect the user experience by ensuring accurate reward attribution. Users who feel they were shortchanged but have no way to fix it will stop scanning. This flow keeps them engaged.
Putting It Together
The full flow in sequence:
Offer Wall → User browses offers and taps “Scan Receipt” ↓ Receipt Capture → User scans receipt, sees ad during processing ↓ Reward Summary → User sees earnings breakdown, can boost with ad ↓ Corrections (if needed) → User fixes missed items, submits for review
Each step reinforces the value of scanning: users see what they can earn before they scan, see what they earned after, and have a safety net if something was missed.