Core Concepts
Understanding these concepts is essential before configuring your loyalty program. They explain how the system thinks about membership, which directly shapes how you set up tiers, currencies, and redemption logic.
The Three-Layer Model
BigLedger separates loyalty into three distinct layers. Each layer has its own rules:
| Layer | What it represents | Where it lives |
|---|---|---|
| Customer | The business relationship — contact info, transaction history | Core Module |
| Member | A customer’s participation record in a program | Membership Module |
| Program | The rules: what currencies are active, how earning works, expiry | Membership Configuration |
Multi-Level Marketing (MLM) & Referral Network Architecture
Businesses often ask how standard member loyalty differs from Multi-Level Marketing (MLM) or direct-selling referral trees:
┌───────────────────────────────┐
│ Sponsor / Upline Member │
└───────────────┬───────────────┘
│ Direct Referral Link
┌───────────────┴───────────────┐
│ Downline Member (Level 1) │
└───────────────┬───────────────┘
│ Indirect Referral Link
┌───────────────┴───────────────┐
│ Downline Member (Level 2) │
└───────────────────────────────┘- Single-Tier Loyalty: A member earns points or tier status based solely on their own personal purchases.
- Multi-Level Referral (MLM): Members build hierarchical downline teams (Genealogy Trees). When a downline member makes a purchase, the system calculates multi-tier override points or cash commissions up the sponsor chain.
- How BigLedger Handles MLM: Member referral links and sponsor hierarchies are managed in the Membership Admin Applet, while multi-level override calculations and financial commission payouts integrate directly with the Commission Scheme Applet and Sales Commission Applet.
Key Concepts at a Glance
| Concept | You need it because… |
|---|---|
| Customer vs Member | You must understand the link before creating member records |
| Member Class vs Member Label | Classes are tiers (Gold/Silver). Labels are tags (VIP/Newsletter). They work differently. |
| Points Currencies | You can have multiple point types with different rules. Design this before setup. |
| Points Expiry | Expiry drives redemption behavior and affects financial liability. |
| Reward Types | There are three redemption mechanisms. Pick the right one for your business model. |
| MLM Referral Networks | Structures upline sponsor trees for multi-tier commission and override points. |
Three Redemption Paths
BigLedger supports three distinct mechanisms for converting membership value into benefits:
| Method | How it works | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Member Pricing (Pricebook) | Item price automatically changes based on tier | Ongoing tier discounts |
| Points Redemption | Member uses accumulated balance to offset the bill | Flexible spend-and-burn programs |
| Voucher | Points fund a voucher that the member presents at checkout | Promotions, birthday rewards, campaigns |
What to Read Next
- Configuration — start building your classes, points currencies, and conversion rates.
- Use Cases — review reference architectures for retail loyalty and MLM referral networks.