How to onboard electricians and keep them scanning
Electricians are busy, mobile and wary of anything that asks for documents. Many will not download an app because a sales officer asked. They will join when the first reward reaches their bank account in seconds and the steps are explained in their own language.
To onboard electricians, meet them where they already are, at the retail counter, at sites and at electrician meets, and get them to a first paid scan on the same day. Let them join by scanning a product QR code on WhatsApp or the app with only a mobile number, collect UPI and KYC details when the first payout is due, and explain everything in their language by voice. Track first-scan, first-week repeat and 30-day active rates, not just registrations.
Where to find electricians
| Channel | How it works | What to watch |
|---|---|---|
| Retail counters | The retailer introduces walk-in electricians and helps with the first scan | Retailers need a small reward per active electrician they bring |
| Electrician meets | Group sign-up with a demo scan and an instant reward on the spot | Follow up within a week or meet sign-ups go cold |
| Site visits by field staff | Sales or technical staff meet electricians at construction sites | Expensive; best for large contractors and lead electricians |
| Product packaging | QR code on the coil or box invites a scan with a clear reward line | The reward line must be visible and in the local language |
| Referral by electricians | Active electricians invite their helpers and peers | Pay the referral only after the new member's first valid scans |
| Dealer and distributor staff | Dealers share the WhatsApp link with electricians they know | Track sign-ups by dealer to see who helps |
Make the first scan the sign-up
The best onboarding has no separate sign-up step. An electrician scans the QR code on a coil or switch box with WhatsApp or the app, enters his mobile number and name, and sees the reward. UPI and KYC details can be collected when the first payout is due, not before. Every extra field at the start loses people. Our guide to app adoption with low-literacy users goes deeper on design for first-time smartphone users.
- 1ScanQR on a coil at the counter, opened in WhatsApp
- 2Mobile numberName and mobile, nothing else
- 3Reward shown₹30 credited (illustrative), in his language
- 4UPI linkedAsked only when the first payout is due
- 5Second scanA switch box or MCB the same week
- 6Tier explainedVoice note on how to reach silver
WhatsApp or app?
Offer both. WhatsApp needs no download and works for scanning, balance checks and scheme explanations. An app is better for electricians who scan often and want history, tiers and the catalogue. Many brands start electricians on WhatsApp and invite the most active ones to the app later. If your brand already has an app, the loyalty features can sit inside it so electricians do not need a second one.
Language and voice
Electricians often prefer to ask by voice in their own language rather than type. Welcome messages, reward explanations and support replies should be in the main language of each state. A voice note explaining how tiers work is more useful than a long text.
KYC and payout readiness
Collect bank or UPI details and identity documents only when needed for payout and tax compliance, and explain why you need them. If an electrician's first payout fails because of a wrong UPI ID, fix it the same day; a failed first payout is the fastest way to lose him. Confirm KYC and TDS requirements with your advisor.
Activation: the first 30 days
Day 0
First scan and reward, ideally at the counter or meet where he joined.
Week 1
A message suggesting a second category, with a first-scan bonus.
Week 2
If no repeat scan, a reminder from the retailer or a call from the support team.
Day 30
A summary of earnings and the next tier, in his language.
Electricians who scan at least twice in the first two weeks tend to stay. Design your first month around that second scan.
Electricians who work with several brands
Most electricians fit more than one brand, depending on what the customer or contractor asks for. Do not expect exclusivity at sign-up. Expect a first scan, then a gradual shift as your rewards arrive faster and your support is easier. Show each electrician his own scan history by category so he sees what he is earning from you, and use cross-category bonuses to bring a wire-only electrician into switches or MCBs. Helpers who work under a lead electrician are worth onboarding too: they often do the actual fitting and become lead electricians themselves in a few years.
Train the people who onboard
Sales officers, retailer staff and support agents should all be able to do a demo scan, explain the reward card in one sentence and fix a wrong UPI ID. A short script and a demo product at every counter does more than a printed brochure.
Metrics that matter
Registrations look good in a review but say little. Track the share of registrations with a first valid scan, the share that scan again within 14 days, 30-day active electricians, and sign-ups by source (counter, meet, packaging, referral, dealer). Drop channels that bring registrations but no scans. The electrician loyalty program guide covers the program design behind these numbers.
How Unotag helps
Unotag lets electricians join by scanning a per-unit QR code on WhatsApp or the app, pays instantly by UPI, and supports them by voice in Indian languages, with a chat assistant in 10 languages. The program can also run inside your own app through an SDK. See the influencer loyalty program and the electrical industry page.
Key takeaways
- Find electricians at counters, meets and sites, and pay a small reward to retailers who bring active ones.
- Make the first QR scan the sign-up and collect UPI and KYC only when the first payout is due.
- Offer WhatsApp for low effort and the app for frequent scanners.
- Design the first 30 days around a second scan in a second category.
- Track first-scan, 14-day repeat and 30-day active rates by source, not just registrations.
Frequently asked questions
How do I get electricians to download my app?
Many will not download an app first. Start with a WhatsApp scan that pays instantly, then invite frequent scanners to the app once they value the history, tiers and catalogue.
What details should an electrician give at sign-up?
Only a mobile number and name to start. Ask for UPI and KYC details when the first payout is due and explain why.
Do retailers help onboard electricians?
Yes. The counter is where electricians are found. A small reward for each active electrician a retailer brings works better than a reward per registration.
How long does it take for an electrician to become active?
The first two weeks matter most. An electrician who scans twice in that time, ideally in two categories, is much more likely to stay.
Can electricians use the program in their own language?
They should be able to. Welcome messages, scheme explanations and support should be available in the main languages of your markets, including by voice.
Should we pay a referral bonus to electricians?
Referral bonuses work if they are paid only after the new member's first valid scans, so they are not abused.