Automated Cashback Campaign Processing Boosts Retail Spend
Last updated:
July 16, 2025
A major government initiative sought to revitalise Melbourne's hospitality sector after a challenging period. The city partnered with digital payments provider Waivpay to launch a significant cashback campaign. This project required a fast, accurate, and scalable method for processing a high volume of receipt submissions. Traditional manual validation was not a practical option for a time-sensitive campaign of this scale.
Waivpay implemented Taggun's technology for automated receipt validation to meet this demand. The solution used AI-powered Optical Character Recognition (OCR) to process and validate transaction data from receipts in real-time. This system effectively managed over 350,000 claims in just six weeks, generating more than $40 million in spending for local restaurants. This case study examines how automated receipt processing provides a secure and efficient foundation for large-scale promotional campaigns.
Michael Bamford
Head of Product
,
Waivpay
Melbourne's $40 Million Bet on Automated Cashback Technology
Waivpay, Australia's leading provider of digital payment solutions, faced a monumental task. The City of Melbourne sought to revitalise its post-pandemic dining scene with a bold initiative offering 20% cashback on restaurant bills. This $40 million government-funded campaign demanded a solution that could handle an unprecedented volume of receipt submissions rapidly and accurately.
The technical hurdles were significant:
- Process hundreds of thousands of varied receipts swiftly.
- Extract key information, including Australian Business Numbers (ABNs).
- Ensure accuracy to prevent fraudulent claims.
- Integrate seamlessly with existing systems.
- Provide a user-friendly experience for all diners.
- Implement a solution quickly to meet urgent deadlines for economic recovery.
Traditional manual processing methods wouldn't suffice for a campaign of this scale. Waivpay required a technology partner capable of addressing these complex requirements while maintaining the integrity of the massive public initiative. The pressure was on to deliver a robust, efficient system that could turn the City of Melbourne's ambitious vision into reality and inject much-needed vitality into the local restaurant industry.
Processing High-Volume Claims with Speed and Accuracy
Waivpay's partnership with Taggun began in March 2021, aimed at revitalising Melbourne's dining scene.
The integration process was remarkably efficient:
- Less than a week to build and test the workflow.
- Seamless incorporation into Waivpay's campaign software.
- Custom AI model development for Australian Business Number (ABN) extraction.
- Pre-launch reconfirmation of projected quantities and pricing.
By June 2021, the campaign was live, powered by Taggun's receipt transcription technology. The system efficiently processed receipts, extracting key data like retailer details, transaction amounts, and dates. This automated validation enabled rapid cashback processing, eliminating manual checks and potential errors.
Taggun's scalable solution handled increasing submission volumes without compromising speed or accuracy. Throughout the campaign, they provided direct support to Waivpay, ensuring smooth operations.
The partnership's success stemmed from Taggun's quick implementation, tailored solutions, and responsive support. This allowed Waivpay to meet the City of Melbourne's urgent need, resulting in a user-friendly system that processed over 350,000 claims in just six weeks, far exceeding initial expectations.
A Successful High-Volume Campaign
The partnership between Waivpay and Taggun successfully addressed the campaign's challenges. The project delivered significant economic results for the City of Melbourne and key operational advantages for the Waivpay team.
Campaign Results
The technology provided the foundation for a highly successful public initiative. It directly stimulated the local dining economy.
- The campaign generated over $40 million in spending for Melbourne restaurants.
- Over 350,000 cashback claims were processed in less than six weeks, demonstrating the system's ability to handle high volumes.
- The platform enabled $8.4 million in cashback redemptions for consumers.
Operational Success for Waivpay
The automated solution provided Waivpay with several important advantages. These benefits were crucial for meeting the project's technical and timeline requirements.
- Rapid Deployment: The integration of the receipt processing technology was completed and tested in less than one week. This allowed the campaign to launch quickly and meet its time-sensitive goals.
- Scalable Performance: The system handled sudden spikes in submission volumes without issues. This confirmed the platform's reliability and ability to scale under pressure.
- Fraud Prevention: Automated receipt validation, including custom ABN extraction, ensured campaign integrity and protected against fraudulent claims. This removed the need for slow and costly manual checks.
- Seamless Integration: The solution was implemented easily using a well-documented API. This created a smooth workflow within Waivpay's existing campaign software.
Custom Built Large Scale Cashback Campaign Processing
The cashback campaign was powered by Taggun’s Receipt OCR API, which is specifically built for high-volume promotional campaigns that require automation and fraud prevention. The technology provided the speed, accuracy, and scalability necessary for the project's success.
The core of the solution involved using AI-powered Optical Character Recognition (OCR) to automatically extract data from receipt images. This converted the information into a structured format for validation. Key data points extracted for the campaign included:
- Merchant details, such as the business name and address
- The official transaction date
- Total and tax amounts listed on the receipt
- Custom extraction of Australian Business Numbers (ABNs)
The custom ABN extraction was a critical technical component for this campaign. The AI model's ability to accurately identify these numbers was essential for verifying that each transaction occurred at an eligible business. This specific feature served as a primary tool for preventing fraudulent claims and ensuring the integrity of the promotion.
The platform’s architecture was designed for rapid, scalable deployment. Waivpay connected its software to the service using a developer-friendly REST API. The system delivered real-time processing, which meant data was returned immediately upon request. This resilient infrastructure ensured high availability, allowing the platform to handle over 350,000 submissions without experiencing downtime.
The Future of Frictionless Rewards
The Waivpay cashback campaign demonstrates how specialised technology can successfully execute large-scale promotional initiatives. The project serves as a clear blueprint for brands and agencies that need to run secure, high-volume campaigns on a tight schedule. The results highlight several key takeaways for planning future rewards programs.
First, automation is essential for managing the scale and speed required for a high-volume campaign. The use of AI-powered receipt validation was fundamental to processing over 350,000 claims efficiently and accurately. Second, market-specific customisation is critical for fraud prevention. Generic OCR solutions may not be sufficient. In this case, the custom extraction of Australian Business Numbers (ABNs) was crucial for validating legitimate purchases and securing the campaign. Finally, the project shows that a powerful technology solution can be implemented quickly, with the entire integration completed in less than one week.
The success of the campaign highlights the importance of choosing a technology partner with proven expertise in the specific market. Michael Bamford, Head of Product at Waivpay, summarised the partnership's value:
"Taggun is fantastic, they felt like part of our team. We would have no hesitation to recommend them 100%. Their ability to understand the Australian market and the importance of ABN number extraction accuracy set them apart from other OCR companies."
This focus on tailored and accurate data extraction remains a key factor for achieving campaign integrity and success.