Yandex has unveiled a browser extension named Benefit, designed to help shoppers locate promo codes for online purchases and to secure refunds where available. The company envisions the tool saving users time and money by reducing the effort needed to search for active promotions. This is according to the company’s press office.
According to Yandex, the service aggregates current offers from across the web. The firm also notes that its team verifies each promotional code for validity and usability. Users can report codes that do not work, and moderators will review the signal and remove any irrelevant offers.
Benefit integrates with a wide range of online retailers in the e-commerce sector, from small storefronts to major department stores. When a user visits a site featuring a promotion or cashback, the Benefit button in the browser becomes brighter, and the number of available offers appears beside it. Users simply click the button and activate the most suitable code, the release explains. [Source: Yandex press service]
The extension is compatible with Chrome, Safari, Edge, and Opera, and it is also available in a dedicated Yandex Browser build for desktop computers. [Source: Yandex press service]
The company contends that anything added to the Yandex ecosystem has a legitimate chance of success. Yet the scope of usage remains a critical factor. A market-wide rollout as a staple tool like Yandex Taxi, Yandex Food, or Yandex Shop seems unlikely. Instead, Benefit is described as a niche tool that helps a segment of users who actively chase discounts. This viewpoint comes from Boris Agatov, an independent retail innovation expert and co-founder of New Retail and Project Line. He suggests the tool could prove highly valuable to discount-focused shoppers. [Source: Yandex press service]
Agatov notes that cash-back services appeal to a broad audience across many business circles. The practical question now is how widely Yandex can distribute Benefit among both loyal users and those who are less engaged with the brand. The ultimate test will be reach and sustained usefulness as the service expands across markets, including North America. [Source: Yandex press service]