FlexyB Solutions
Reinventing the gift card universe
Deep dive into FlexyB Solutions, an ambitious startup we supported from its early days all the way to the launch of its innovative digital solution. More than just a development mandate, our collaboration spanned multiple areas: research, prototyping, design, analysis, and coordination with various providers. Together, we gave new life to a market that had been stagnant for too long: gift cards.
FlexyB Solutions
Retail
Cross-platform application
Over $100k
2025
Founded in 2025, FlexyB Solutions is reinventing the gift card industry with a bold platform that combines interactive digital kiosks, cross-platform apps, and web services.
The project was envisioned by one of our long-time clients — a serial entrepreneur with a sharp eye for opportunity and a knack for challenging the status quo. It was born from a clear vision: to transform an often mundane experience in a market that has seen little change over the past 20 years into a modern, seamless, and engaging journey.
This is the story of a vision brought to life — through effective collaboration and a healthy dose of creativity!
The genesis of the project
Why modernize the gift card industry?
Today, the gift card industry still looks like a vast network of plastic and display racks. Printing, inventory management, transportation—costly and environmentally unfriendly constraints that typically benefit only the largest players, leaving local businesses behind.
Each in-store sale depends on a manual activation process, which can lead to errors and customer frustration. And cardholders often lose their cards simply because there’s no centralized place to store them.
FlexyB Solutions aims to radically transform this experience by making it 100% digital and accessible to merchants of all sizes: no more plastic, instant activation, and a centralized wallet so you never lose a card again.
From bold idea to concrete solution
At the start of the project, our client had a clear vision of what they wanted to achieve—but the challenge was figuring out how to bring it to life. None of us were familiar with the inner workings of the gift card market—an ecosystem that’s surprisingly opaque, poorly documented, and dominated by a few well-established players. Understanding how codes, balances, and integration systems with retailers actually work was our first major hurdle.
At the same time, we had to navigate an entirely different landscape: that of interactive kiosks and physical payment terminals. With no prior experience, we had to select the right hardware (kiosks, printers, terminals) and figure out how to integrate them—despite limited and scattered technical documentation. Rather than slowing us down, these constraints pushed us to innovate. Through experimentation, research, and close collaboration with many stakeholders, we quickly turned this ambitious idea into a high-potential, growth-ready application.
A complete solution tailored to market realities
To provide a modern alternative to traditional gift cards, we designed a modular platform built around four main components, each playing a key role in the ecosystem's operation.
Self-service interactive terminals
Installed in many points of sale in the province of Quebec, these kiosks replace physical displays of plastic cards. They provide access to a vast catalog, including both major brands and local businesses, adapted to the geolocation of each kiosk. Eventually, FlexyB aims to offer a catalog of over 500 suppliers for each kiosk.
Thanks to the integration of payment terminals from Clover and Moneris, customers can complete their purchases simply, quickly and securely, directly in-store.
A web application for users
After purchase, customers can consult their cards in a digital wallet accessible online. The application also lets them send a card to a loved one, view their transactions and receipts, or add a card to Apple Wallet and Google Pay. All their cards, centralized and available, at their fingertips.
An administration portal to manage everything
Behind the platform lies a powerful portal enabling administrators to control the kiosk network, add or modify suppliers in the catalog, manage the cards available at each point of sale, and track users, sales and commissions. A central tool for ensuring the platform's growth and stability.
A centralized API to orchestrate everything
At the core of the solution, a robust API acts as the link between all components. It ensures communication with payment systems, retailers' gift card programs, and handles all transactional operations. It is the invisible but essential engine of the entire software.
At the core of the experience: the kiosk
Designed to integrate naturally into retail spaces, the self-service kiosks represent the main point of contact between the FlexyB Solutions platform and consumers. Their design required as much technical rigor as attention to the user experience: finding the right hardware, meeting the challenges of unconventional environments and offering a simple, secure and intuitive interface. Here's how we met the challenge.
Choosing the right hardware is a challenge in itself
Before even writing a line of code, we had to identify the ideal kiosk : robust, compatible, easy to deploy... and available. We tested several options, including Android Elo kiosks, Samsung Tizen kiosks and adapted touch TVs. Each alternative had its strengths and limitations.
Another major challenge was connectivity. To ensure the smooth operation of the kiosks at all points of sale - even the most remote - we relied on a stand-alone LTE/5G connection, eliminating any dependence on retailers' Wi-Fi networks.
Developing for unconventional platforms
Designing a stable, high-performance application for a range of kiosks in different environments called for a tailor-made technical approach. We built an architecture that enabled us to share the same code base across different types of hardware and operating systems.
Some platforms even posed technical challenges, such as limited compatibility with recent Web and JavaScript standards. So we had to juggle with these limitations and find compromises to deliver the best possible user experience.
Kiosks in action
Here's an overview of the main features offered to customers at each point of sale:
Catalog organized by category
To make browsing and searching easier, gift cards are grouped into categories. You can also search for a specific supplier.
Security through SMS verification
Each transaction is protected by a double authentication system: a code sent by SMS is used to confirm identity before purchasing cards at the kiosks.
Multi-program compatibility
The kiosks support a variety of gift card systems, including Freebees, DataCandy, Ackroo, Moneris and our in-house program, making it possible to support a large number of suppliers.
Visibility for suppliers
An advertising carousel on the home page enables suppliers to promote their gift cards to in-store shoppers.
At the core of the experience: the web app
Designed to extend the experience begun on the kiosks, the web application enables users to consult, manage and use their gift cards with ease. Accessible via mobile or PC, it centralizes all the tools needed to give, find and use gift cards.
💌 Give someone a gift card
Send a card to a loved one by e-mail, SMS or even by scanning a simple QR code. Print it to offer it in person. You can also schedule a card to be sent on a specific date, so you never miss an opportunity.
📲 Add a card to your mobile wallet
Easily integrate your cards into Apple Wallet or Google Wallet, so you can have them on hand whenever you need them, right in the store.
🎟️ Find all your cards in one place
All your cards purchased via the kiosks are brought together in a clear, practical interface, with quick access to barcodes for in-store use.
💳 Check balance and history
Keep track of your card balances and associated transactions in real time, so you can stay on top of your spending.
At the core of the experience: the administration portal
Running a Quebec-wide network of self-service kiosks requires much more than a public interface. Behind the scenes, a robust administration portal manages every aspect of the platform: from kiosk configuration to supplier management and sales analysis. The following provides an overview of the tools available, without being an exhaustive list.
🗂️ An intelligent, geolocated and contractual catalog
The portal lets you manage the display of gift cards according to commercial agreements with suppliers, and tailor offers according to region or kiosk location.
📈 Real-time reports and statistics
It includes reports on transactions, sales and other performance indicators essential for monitoring the system's evolution and making informed decisions.
🛠️ Supplier configuration
The system allows you to define the parameters of each supplier's gift card program, including branding, pricing, card format, code source, and more.
🖥️ Remote kiosk monitoring and management
Through this portal, you can check the status of terminals in real time, set up payment methods, receive alerts in case of an issue with a kiosk, and lock a terminal remotely if necessary.
A winning solution for all stakeholders
The rollout of FlexyB Solutions marks a concrete step forward for all users of this new platform:
For customers, it means the arrival of a simplified, more modern purchasing experience that offers plenty of choice: no more misplaced or unactivated cards, everything is centralized, accessible and secure, from the kiosk to the mobile application.
Suppliers benefit from a new distribution channel that is more flexible, less costly and more accessible; a digital showcase that enables them to reach local customers without the logistical constraints of traditional networks.
Finally, retailers can diversify their offer, simplify their operations and promote local businesses, all without having to manage physical inventory and gift card sales.
Despite the fast pace of the project and the need for every part to fit together perfectly, we were able to deliver a solution that lived up to expectations. And the story is just beginning. Alongside FlexyB, we continue to evolve the ecosystem, explore new use cases and continue to transform the gift card industry - one terminal at a time.