Webmiles

Webmiles was a web-based customer loyalty program operated by webmiles GmbH, headquartered in Munich, Germany. Founded on 23 April 1999 as a non-listed stock corporation (Aktiengesellschaft) by Patrick Boos, Loretta Würtenberger and Dominik von Ribbentrop, it was one of the early German internet start-ups. The business model followed a rewards principle: customers could collect so-called "Webmiles bonus miles" through purchases and other monetary transactions at partner companies — including online shops, mobile phone providers, credit card issuers and Webmiles' own travel portal — as well as by participating in surveys, and later exchange them for rewards. Transaction data was stored on a personal basis by Webmiles or contracted companies. With over 600 partner companies and branches in Switzerland and Austria, Webmiles was considered the largest online-based customer loyalty system in the German-speaking region. Financing came mainly from the founders and the venture capital firm Wellington Partners. Driven by high growth expectations, Webmiles expanded within months, opening branches in the United Kingdom, Italy, France, Spain, the Netherlands and Sweden in November 1999. By that time it had 100 employees. In early 2000, Goldman Sachs invested around ten million Deutsche Mark. On 18 October 2000, Bertelsmann Service Group (BSG), formerly part of Arvato AG, acquired a seventy percent stake; remaining shares were held by the founders and investors Atlas Venture, Goldman Sachs and Wellington Partners. Co-founder Loretta Würtenberger left on 15 December 2000. Webmiles ceased activities in Sweden at the end of December 2000. After shutting down almost all European market activities except France, it opened a Swiss branch in March 2001. Following massive cost and personnel reductions by the new shareholder, the two remaining founders Dominik von Ribbentrop and Patrick Boos left in autumn 2001; Mario Schwegler took over their duties. In May 2002 the company converted from Webmiles AG to Webmiles GmbH. In February 2003 it reported black figures for the first time. On 20 August 2003, Bertelsmann subsidiary Emil Deutschland GmbH merged into Webmiles GmbH, and in the same month Webmiles expanded to Austria. During restructuring within the Mohn Media Group, Markus Schmedtmann moved to the management of Mohn Media Group; Stephan Wolfram succeeded him effective 20 May 2008 and joined the management of Webmiles GmbH. From 10 November 2008 the company operated as Arvato Online Services GmbH, and in 2013 it was renamed Webmiles GmbH again. On 23 May 2016 the company announced via newsletter that collecting bonus miles would no longer be possible from 1 June 2016; existing balances could be exchanged into DeutschlandCard points at a ratio of 3:1. Webmiles was finally discontinued on 31 December 2019. It competed with Payback and DeutschlandCard (also part of arvato AG).

Webmiles was founded on 23 April 1999 as a non-listed stock corporation (Aktiengesellschaft) and start-up by Patrick Boos, Loretta Würtenberger and Dominik von Ribbentrop. Financing came mainly from the founders and the venture capital firm Wellington Partners. Driven by enormous growth expectations from Wellington Partners, Webmiles expanded within a few months and opened branches in the United Kingdom, Italy, France, Spain, the Netherlands and Sweden in November 1999. At that time, about a year after founding, Webmiles had 100 employees. In early 2000, the venture capital firm Goldman Sachs invested around ten million Deutsche Mark in Webmiles. On 18 October 2000, Bertelsmann Service Group (BSG), formerly part of Arvato AG, acquired a seventy percent stake in Webmiles. The remaining shares were held by the founders and the investors Atlas Venture, Goldman Sachs and Wellington Partners. Co-founder Loretta Würtenberger left the company on 15 December 2000. After her departure, management consisted of the two remaining founders Dominik von Ribbentrop and Patrick Boos as well as Mario Schwegler, who was dispatched from the Bertelsmann parent environment and had already joined the board with the acquisition of the majority stake. Webmiles ceased activities in Sweden at the end of December 2000. After discontinuing almost all market activities abroad in Europe — with the exception of France — Webmiles founded a branch in Switzerland in March 2001. As a result of massive cost and personnel reductions by the new shareholder, the two founding members Dominik von Ribbentrop and Patrick Boos left the company in autumn 2001. Their duties were taken over by Mario Schwegler. In May 2002, Webmiles AG was converted into Webmiles GmbH. In February 2003, the company reported black figures for the first time. On 20 August 2003, the Bertelsmann subsidiary Emil Deutschland GmbH, once based in Gütersloh, merged into Webmiles GmbH. In the same month, Webmiles expanded to Austria. In the course of restructuring measures within the Mohn Media Group, Markus Schmedtmann (Arvato Services, Webmiles) moved to the management of the Mohn Media Group. Effective 20 May 2008, Stephan Wolfram succeeded him and joined the management of Webmiles GmbH. Since 10 November 2008, Webmiles GmbH operated under the name Arvato Online Services GmbH. In 2013, it was renamed Webmiles GmbH again. On 23 May 2016, the company announced via newsletter that collecting bonus miles would no longer be possible from 1 June 2016. Existing balances could be exchanged into DeutschlandCard points at a ratio of 3:1 from 1 June 2016. Webmiles was finally discontinued on 31 December 2019.

• Founded as a non-listed stock corporation (Aktiengesellschaft) by Patrick Boos, Loretta Würtenberger and Dominik von Ribbentrop.

• Opened branches in the United Kingdom, Italy, France, Spain, the Netherlands and Sweden; had 100 employees.

• Goldman Sachs invested around ten million Deutsche Mark.

• Bertelsmann Service Group (BSG) acquired a seventy percent stake.

• Co-founder Loretta Würtenberger left the company.

• Ceased activities in Sweden.

• Founded a branch in Switzerland.

• Founders Dominik von Ribbentrop and Patrick Boos left; Mario Schwegler took over.

• Converted from Webmiles AG to Webmiles GmbH.

• Reported black figures for the first time.

• Emil Deutschland GmbH merged into Webmiles GmbH.

• Expanded to Austria.

• Stephan Wolfram succeeded Markus Schmedtmann and joined the management of Webmiles GmbH.

• Renamed to Arvato Online Services GmbH.

• Renamed back to Webmiles GmbH.

• Announced end of bonus mile collection effective 1 June 2016; balances exchangeable into DeutschlandCard points at 3:1.

• Webmiles finally discontinued.

Largest online-based customer loyalty system in the German-speaking region, with over 600 partner companies.

• Webmiles bonus miles program

  Loyalty program allowing customers to collect bonus miles through purchases and transactions at partner companies and exchange them for rewards.

• Webmiles travel portal

  In-house travel portal where customers could earn bonus miles.

1. 1Webmiles - Wikipedia (German)de.wikipedia.org
2. 2Webmiles - Wikidatawikidata.org