Loyalty programs are initiated by businesses with two main goals. The primary goal for most loyalty programs is the acquisition of information relating to their customers' spending habits, while the secondary goal is to actively cultivate loyalty amongst customers to ensure they continue patronizing the business. While some companies do reverse these priorities, the above hierarchy holds true for most.
Ultimately, the success of loyalty programs depends on how well the business uses the data it gathers to further refine its policies and loyalty programs. Many businesses find little profit in the use of loyalty programs, while others, such as eBay, attribute much of their financial success to a well-executed use of such programs.