Driving Guest Engagement and Frequency with unPLUG Dining
Introduction
Restaurants increasingly rely on digital tools not only to streamline operations but to deepen connections with their guests. unPLUG Dining’s platform continues to demonstrate how loyalty-driven engagement, personalized marketing, and advanced analytics can transform first-party digital channels into revenue powerhouses. This follow-up case study showcases the next phase of impact — combining in-store activations with digital exclusives, data-driven remarketing, and precise performance tracking.
In-Store Check-In Creates Cross-Channel Engagement
While loyalty has traditionally been measured through digital transactions, unPLUG is proving that physical in-store moments can also play a powerful role in reinforcing the guest relationship. Today, in-restaurant check-ins account for roughly one-third of total loyalty traffic. By embedding app interaction into the in-restaurant experience, unPLUG is helping brands bridge the physical and digital worlds.
Of the 42,800 guests who placed an order through the mobile app this year, 18,175 also checked in at the POS. This crossover proves that app usage not only drives digital revenue but also increases in-person engagement — creating a virtuous cycle where each channel fuels the other.
Digital-Exclusive Items Drive First-Party Growth
To further accelerate app adoption, unPLUG enabled brands to introduce digital-exclusive menu items such as “Build a Bowl”. These offerings can’t be found on third-party marketplaces, giving guests a strong reason to interact directly with the brand’s app. Beyond driving traffic, exclusives showcase innovation, create buzz among loyal customers, and reinforce the value of first-party channels as the home for premium, customizable experiences.
Personalized Remarketing Through Attentive
Once guests are signed up, unPLUG ensures they stay engaged. By leveraging deep links integrated with Attentive, unPLUG delivers highly personalized remarketing campaigns directly to mobile devices. These targeted nudges guide users back into the app seamlessly, whether to redeem an offer, explore an exclusive, or re-order a past favorite.
increase in repeat visits among remarketed guests.
This personalization builds stronger brand loyalty and reduces churn, ensuring that guests remain active participants in the restaurant’s ecosystem.
Appsflyer Integration Powers Smarter Marketing
To refine marketing efficiency, unPLUG integrated with Appsflyer, enabling precise calculation of Return on Ad Spend (ROAS). This unlocks full visibility into which campaigns deliver the best return, helping brands double down on high-performing tactics while reallocating spend away from underperforming ones.
With Appsflyer data feeding back into unPLUG’s analytics engine, marketing teams now have a complete view of attribution, campaign impact, and customer lifetime value, empowering them to make informed, data-driven decisions.
“The ability to connect app usage, in-store experiences, and marketing campaigns into a single loyalty journey has been a game-changer. unPLUG isn’t just helping us capture more transactions — it’s giving us the insight and tools to keep guests coming back again and again.”
— Restaurant Marketing Executive
Conclusion
Through a holistic approach that blends in-store activations, exclusive digital offerings, personalized remarketing, and advanced analytics, unPLUG Dining has helped its partners redefine loyalty. Guests engage across multiple touchpoints, frequency is rising, and marketing spend is more efficient than ever.
As restaurants face increasing pressure to deliver personalized, connected experiences, unPLUG’s platform proves that the right mix of technology and strategy can unlock significant growth while keeping the guest experience at the center of it all.
