The Library

Everything you need to activate, integrate, and grow with Cosmo.

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Open an Account

Getting Started with Cosmo

Welcome to Cosmo! Opening an account is the first step towards transforming your loyalty program. This guide will walk you through the entire process, from initial setup to your first campaign launch.

Step 1: Visit the Portal

Navigate to portal.cosmopoints.com and click on "Sign Up" to begin your journey.

Step 2: Provide Basic Information

You'll need to provide:

  • Company name and legal entity
  • Primary contact information
  • Business address and tax information
  • Industry classification

Step 3: Verification Process

Our team will review your application within 24-48 hours. We may request additional documentation to ensure compliance with our partner requirements.

Step 4: Account Activation

Once approved, you'll receive:

  • Welcome email with login credentials
  • API documentation and integration guides
  • Onboarding call with our success team

What You Need to Prepare

Before starting your application, gather these essential documents:

Business Documentation

  • Business license or registration certificate
  • Tax identification number
  • Bank account information for settlements

Technical Requirements

  • API integration capabilities
  • Webhook endpoint for real-time updates
  • SSL certificate for secure communications

Next Steps After Approval

Congratulations! Your account is now active. Here's what to do next:

1. Complete Your Profile

Add your brand assets, configure your reward currency, and set up your first campaign parameters.

2. Integrate Your Systems

Use our comprehensive API documentation to connect your existing loyalty infrastructure with Cosmo's platform.

3. Launch Your First Campaign

Start with a small test campaign to familiarize yourself with the platform before scaling up.

4. Connect with Partners

Browse our partner network and establish your first partnerships to expand your rewards ecosystem.

Campaigns: From Setup to Launch

The Campaigns tab shows all your past, current, and upcoming promotions.

If you're a loyalty program, you can create a new campaign to offer users more points when they redeem with your brand.

To set it up, first choose which financial institution you want to run the campaign with.

Then pick your campaign dates — when it should start and when it should end.

Next, decide how many extra points users will get. For example, setting it to 10% means users receive 10% more points when they redeem during this campaign.

You can also choose how the campaign will be funded. Either fully by your company, or co-funded with the financial institution. If it's co-funded, just enter the percentage your company will cover.

Once everything's set, click submit. Your campaign will automatically start and stop on the selected date

Transfer in or out?

Understanding Cosmo Partner Types

In the Cosmo ecosystem, partners are classified based on their role in the loyalty value chain. Understanding these classifications is crucial for building effective partnerships.

Earn Partners (Transfer In)

Earn partners are businesses that provide opportunities for customers to earn loyalty points or rewards:

  • Retailers: Award points for purchases
  • Service Providers: Reward for service usage
  • Financial Institutions: Points for banking activities
  • Travel Companies: Rewards for bookings and stays

Burn Partners (Transfer Out)

Burn partners are businesses where customers can redeem their earned points:

  • Merchants: Accept points as payment
  • Reward Catalogs: Offer redeemable products/services
  • Cash-Out Options: Convert points to cash or gift cards
  • Charitable Organizations: Donate points to causes

Hybrid Partners

Some partners can function as both earn and burn partners, creating a complete loyalty ecosystem:

Examples of Hybrid Partners

  • Large Retail Chains: Award points for purchases and accept points for discounts
  • Financial Institutions: Reward for transactions and offer redemption options
  • Travel Platforms: Points for bookings and redemption for upgrades

Benefits of Hybrid Partnerships

  • Increased customer engagement
  • Higher point velocity
  • Reduced settlement complexity
  • Better customer retention

Settlement and Economics

Transfer In (Earn) Economics

When customers earn points:

  • Earn partner pays for points issued
  • Points are credited to customer accounts
  • Settlement occurs based on agreed terms
  • Cosmo facilitates the transaction

Transfer Out (Burn) Economics

When customers redeem points:

  • Burn partner receives payment for redemption
  • Points are deducted from customer accounts
  • Cosmo manages the settlement process
  • Real-time balance updates occur

Net Settlement

For hybrid partners, Cosmo calculates net positions and settles accordingly, reducing transaction complexity and costs.

API Integration Guide

Getting Started with Cosmo APIs

Integrating with Cosmo's APIs allows you to seamlessly connect your existing loyalty infrastructure with our global partner network. This guide covers everything from authentication to advanced features.

API Overview

Cosmo provides RESTful APIs with the following key features:

  • Real-time point transactions
  • Webhook notifications
  • Partner discovery and management
  • Campaign configuration
  • Reporting and analytics

Authentication

All API requests require authentication using API keys:

  • Generate API keys from your portal dashboard
  • Include keys in request headers
  • Use different keys for sandbox and production
  • Rotate keys regularly for security

Core API Endpoints

Customer Management

  • POST /customers - Create new customer accounts
  • GET /customers/{id} - Retrieve customer information
  • PUT /customers/{id} - Update customer details
  • DELETE /customers/{id} - Deactivate customer accounts

Point Transactions

  • POST /transactions/earn - Award points to customers
  • POST /transactions/burn - Redeem points from customers
  • GET /transactions - Retrieve transaction history
  • GET /transactions/{id} - Get specific transaction details

Campaign Management

  • POST /campaigns - Create new campaigns
  • GET /campaigns - List all campaigns
  • PUT /campaigns/{id} - Update campaign settings
  • DELETE /campaigns/{id} - Deactivate campaigns

Webhook Integration

Setting Up Webhooks

Webhooks provide real-time notifications for important events:

  • Configure webhook endpoints in your portal
  • Verify endpoint security and reliability
  • Handle webhook retries and failures
  • Monitor webhook delivery status

Supported Webhook Events

  • customer.created - New customer account created
  • transaction.completed - Point transaction finalized
  • campaign.activated - Campaign goes live
  • campaign.paused - Campaign temporarily stopped
  • settlement.processed - Financial settlement completed

Best Practices

  • Always verify webhook signatures
  • Respond quickly to webhook requests
  • Implement idempotency for duplicate events
  • Log all webhook activities for debugging
Create Partnerships

Partnership Creation Process

Creating partnerships on Cosmo opens up new opportunities for your loyalty program. This guide explains the partnership creation process in detail.

Finding the Right Partners

Cosmo's partner network includes businesses across various industries:

  • Travel & Hospitality: Airlines, hotels, car rentals
  • Retail & E-commerce: Online and brick-and-mortar stores
  • Financial Services: Banks, credit cards, fintech companies
  • Entertainment: Streaming services, gaming platforms
  • Food & Beverage: Restaurants, delivery services

Partnership Setup Steps

1. Partner Discovery

Browse available partners in the Cosmo marketplace:

  • Filter by industry, geography, or reward type
  • Review partner profiles and terms
  • Check compatibility with your program
  • Read customer reviews and ratings

2. Partnership Configuration

Once you've selected a partner:

  • Review and accept partnership terms
  • Configure integration parameters
  • Set up reward structures and limits
  • Define customer eligibility criteria

3. Testing and Launch

Before going live:

  • Test the partnership in sandbox mode
  • Validate all integration points
  • Train your team on the new partnership
  • Prepare marketing materials for customers

Managing Partnerships

Ongoing Partnership Management

Successful partnerships require continuous management:

  • Monitor partnership performance metrics
  • Track customer engagement and satisfaction
  • Optimize reward structures based on data
  • Communicate regularly with partner contacts

Partnership Optimization

Regularly review and optimize your partnerships:

  • Analyze customer behavior patterns
  • Adjust reward rates based on performance
  • Explore new partnership opportunities
  • Renegotiate terms for better economics
Settlement and Reporting

Financial Settlement Process

Cosmo handles all financial settlements between partners, ensuring smooth and transparent transactions. Understanding this process is crucial for financial planning and reconciliation.

Settlement Types

Cosmo manages two main types of settlements:

  • Point Issuance Settlements: Payments for points awarded to customers
  • Point Redemption Settlements: Payments for points redeemed by customers
  • Net Settlements: Combined settlements for hybrid partners

Settlement Frequency

Settlements are processed according to agreed schedules:

  • Daily: For high-volume partners
  • Weekly: Standard settlement cycle
  • Monthly: For smaller partners
  • On-Demand: Special arrangements available

Reporting and Analytics

Available Reports

Cosmo provides comprehensive reporting capabilities:

  • Transaction Reports: Detailed point transaction history
  • Settlement Reports: Financial settlement summaries
  • Partner Performance: Individual partner metrics
  • Customer Analytics: Customer behavior insights
  • Campaign Reports: Campaign performance data

Report Access

  • Download reports in CSV, Excel, or PDF formats
  • Schedule automated report delivery
  • Access real-time dashboards
  • Customize report parameters and filters

Reconciliation Best Practices

Internal Reconciliation

Regular reconciliation ensures accuracy:

  • Compare Cosmo reports with internal records
  • Investigate any discrepancies promptly
  • Maintain detailed audit trails
  • Document reconciliation procedures

Partner Reconciliation

Work with partners to ensure alignment:

  • Share relevant reports with partners
  • Address any settlement discrepancies
  • Maintain open communication channels
  • Document all agreements and changes

Financial Planning

Use settlement data for business planning:

  • Forecast cash flow based on settlement schedules
  • Plan for seasonal variations in activity
  • Budget for partnership costs and revenues
  • Analyze profitability by partner and campaign