Mar 16: With India’s retail market projected to reach USD 8 trillion by 2035, channel partners continue to remain the backbone of growth across industries. However, traditional incentive-led loyalty models are showing signs of strain. The Channel Loyalty Report 2026 reveals that 51% of channel partners are enrolled in six or more loyalty programs but actively engage with only a few, indicating growing fatigue and diminishing impact of transactional reward systems.
As per the Channel Loyalty Report 2026 released by Almonds Ai, a channel loyalty, rewards and solutions company, brands are increasingly transitioning from enrolment-focused metrics toward measurable ROI, behavioural engagement, and AI-led program intelligence. Loyalty programs are no longer being viewed as promotional tools but as structured growth infrastructure designed to improve productivity, retention, and compliance.
Key Insights from the Channel Loyalty Report 2026:
·80% of retailers/ last-mile influencers now prefer mobile-first redemption experiences.
·95% of brands are actively moving toward sustainable and purpose-driven loyalty frameworks.
·65% of B2B partners believe training, digital adoption, and participation should be rewarded alongside sales, marking a clear transition from transaction-based incentives to behaviour-led loyalty.
The report also outlines the growing role of AI and predictive analytics in identifying disengagement risks, improving program transparency, and ensuring regulatory discipline within large partner ecosystems.
Commenting on the report release, Abhinav Jain and Apurv Modi, Co-founders of Almonds Ai, jointly said,
“Channel loyalty has entered a new phase. It is no longer about how many partners enroll or how many rewards are redeemed. It is about measurable growth, disciplined compliance, and structured engagement. Brands that design loyalty as infrastructure, not as expense, will define the next decade of channel leadership. This report is a call for smarter loyalty – transparent, data-driven, and ROI-linked.”
Based on insights gathered from 1,000+ brand leaders and over 8,000 channel partners, the Channel Loyalty Report 2026 provides strategic guidance for organizations looking to redesign loyalty programs as long-term growth infrastructure rather than promotional initiatives.
