A message reaches the client's phone lock screen through her wallet card, not an app or a text
A lock-screen wallet notification works by updating the client's existing wallet pass — the loyalty card she already added to Apple Wallet or Google Wallet — and pushing a short message that shows up on her lock screen the same way a text message would, except it comes through the wallet system (APNs for Apple, Google's own push service) rather than SMS. There's no app for her to open and no notification setting to configure; if the card is in her wallet, the message reaches her.
This is a meaningfully different channel from what most small shops are used to. A paper punch card obviously can't message anyone; even a shop's WhatsApp broadcast requires the client to have saved the shop's number and to open the app. A wallet notification appears on the lock screen itself, without either of those steps.
What triggers a notification, and what's automatic versus manual
Four automatic triggers exist, each with an editable message the salon writes once: welcome when someone enrolls, a message when a stamp is added, a message when a reward is redeemed, and a win-back message after 14 days of inactivity (checked daily, deduped over 30 days so nobody gets the same nudge twice). Beyond the automatic triggers, a salon can send one-off broadcasts or scheduled campaigns to everyone, a segment, a specific program, or a hand-picked list.
Scheduled campaigns respect the shop's working hours — a send queued for outside opening hours simply waits for the next open slot, so a message never lands at 3am because someone scheduled it the night before without thinking about timing.
| Type | Trigger | Setup required |
|---|---|---|
| Welcome | Client enrolls | Write once, fires automatically after |
| Stamp added | Staff scans and adds a stamp | Write once, fires automatically after |
| Reward redeemed | Client redeems the reward | Write once, fires automatically after |
| Win-back | 14 days of inactivity | Write once, fires automatically, deduped every 30 days |
| Campaign / broadcast | Salon sends manually | One-off or scheduled, targeted to an audience |
The Waya-specific fact worth knowing: geofence is free and Apple-only
One specific feature worth understanding clearly: geofence notifications, which fire when a client's phone is physically near your branch, cost zero message quota because they aren't counted as a wallet-message send the way a broadcast or trigger is. They're Apple Wallet only, cover up to 10 branch locations per card, with a radius between 50 and 500 meters (150 m is the default), and are set from the Branches screen in the dashboard — not from the card's address text, which is a common point of confusion.
The limitation, stated plainly
There's no SMS channel at all — every message, whether a trigger or a campaign, reaches the client only through her wallet card's lock-screen push. If a client removes the card from her wallet, or her phone supports neither Apple Wallet nor Google Wallet and she's on the web card fallback, she stops receiving lock-screen messages entirely, since the web card doesn't support push notifications or geofence.
This is worth stating to clients too, in a low-key way, when they enroll — the messages come through their wallet, not a text, which sometimes needs a quick explanation the first time.
- No SMS — every message reaches the wallet lock screen, not a phone number
- Web-card clients (no wallet on their device) don't receive push messages or geofence alerts
- Message balance is shared across triggers and campaigns; geofence alone doesn't count against it
- Free plan gets 100 messages a month; Growth 5,000; Premium unlimited
Message balance and what happens when it runs low
The monthly message balance is shared between automatic triggers and any campaigns you send — Free includes 100 a month, Growth 5,000, Premium unlimited. If a busy month is approaching (a bridal season, a launch push) and the balance is likely to run tight, top-ups are available directly from the in-app Store: 500 messages for 5 SAR, 1,000 for 10 SAR, or unlimited for 20 SAR, without needing to change plans.
Set up notifications for a salon in a single sitting
None of this requires ongoing daily attention once it's configured — a salon owner can set up every trigger in one sitting and let it run. The platform pillar guide covers the full picture of choosing a card type and combining these triggers with a launch plan.
- Step 1: write the welcome message
One short line thanking the client for joining, sent automatically on enrollment.
- Step 2: write the win-back message
A message referencing the salon by name, fired after 14 days of inactivity.
- Step 3: decide on geofence
If your location suits proximity alerts, set the radius from the Branches screen (Apple Wallet only).
- Step 4: check your message balance
Confirm your plan's monthly allowance covers your expected campaign volume before a busy season.
Frequently asked questions
How do lock-screen wallet notifications work for a salon client?
A message updates the client's existing wallet pass and appears on her phone's lock screen through Apple Wallet's push system or Google's, without any app to open or SMS to receive — if the card is in her wallet, the message reaches her.
What notification triggers happen automatically?
Welcome on enrollment, a message when a stamp is added, a message when a reward is redeemed, and a win-back message after 14 days of inactivity — each written once by the salon and firing on its own after that.
Does geofence use up the monthly message quota?
No — geofence alerts, which fire when a client's phone is near the branch, cost zero message quota, unlike triggers and campaigns which draw from the shared monthly balance.
What happens if a client isn't on Apple or Google Wallet?
She uses the web card fallback instead, which doesn't support lock-screen push messages or geofence — she can still hold and use the card, but won't receive notifications the way wallet users do.
Is there an SMS option if a client prefers texts?
No — Waya has no SMS channel. Every message, automatic or manual, reaches the client only through her wallet card's lock-screen notification.