New Technology in Employee Rewards Programs

In this digital age, it’s vital to keep up with the latest technology advances for core business processes (employee rewards programs included). Migration to the cloud, developing mobile apps and interactive web design—these are things that companies think of when upgrading their IT.

But did you know that technological advances have also made major strides in easing the process of implementing an employee rewards program? From streamlining the tracking process to facilitating integration, rewards programs can reap the benefits of the industry’s latest technology.

Improved feedback response rate

How can you find out which rewards your employees truly desire? How can you solicit feedback on their experiences with past programs? Gone are the days of cumbersome paper surveys. Online survey software, such as Qualtrics or SurveyMonkey, are an affordable, efficient way to collect key data for your programs.

With these flexible platforms, it’s easy for an employer to create, edit, and repurpose surveys for rewards programs for years to come. By migrating program feedback online, employers can save time, money, and cut down on paper waste all at once. Employees can answer questions from their phone, tablet, or computer, as long as they have an internet connection.

Increased engagement through gamification

Gamification is a popular new trend designed to boost participation and engagement in online rewards programs. Adding friendly competition and game-like elements to existing rewards programs (for example, shareable leader boards and trackable point systems) are popular ways to add a new level of engagement for employees. Hosting your program online or on its own mobile app can encourage younger employees especially to meet deadlines, learn new skills and improve productivity, all of which can be the subject of an employee rewards program.

employee rewards programs

Connectivity through social media

With more Millennials joining the workforce every day, this generation is projected to make up 50% of the working population by 2020. For the generation that grew up online, corporate social media presence is the new standard. What this means for employee rewards programs is that there is now a distinct opportunity to recognize employees in an instant, valuable, and shareable way.

People love receiving validation, and this type of positive reinforcement has been shown time and again to increase job satisfaction and productivity. Social media makes recognition simple, inclusive, and most of the time, free! If you find your company has the same top performers year after year, including alternate superlatives such as “most improved” or “quickest learner” is a good way to motivate a larger audience to participate. This has the potential to boost morale and keeps your program top of mind.

Configuration and customization

One of the most important things to remember in any employee rewards program is keeping it fresh year after year. Online reward programs make it easy to cater to your diverse employee base and offer dozens of different types of rewards. Even if your employee base spans generations or is spread around the globe, every employee will find a reward that is motivating to them.

On the other side of the coin, if many of your employees hold similar interests as a result of being in the same field, you can easily customize your program to include relevant rewards. For example, companies in the beauty industry can offer rewards such as an all expenses paid trip to a major fashion show or beauty expo. Your options can be as creative as you want!

Data integration

Technology also allows you to track, at a micro level, many different pieces of data your employee reward program captures. Want to know how much a particular incentive costs? How many people used it last year? Which departments are giving out the most rewards? Reward program software allows you to integrate and use that data more easily.

employee rewards programs

Location, location, location

One of the biggest challenges in remote teams is feeling out of the loop. Whether it’s from telecommuting or groups based in different geographical areas, how do you create a feeling of connectedness and cohesion among people who aren’t located in the same place? The answer lies in online reward platforms.

Software platforms can even the playing field for employees and allow for a central location for managers to run contests and reward programs, while giving instant recognition to team members. It’s a classic management adage that people who are rewarded together feel like a team.

ESG Incentives’ SaaS platform can help

At ESGI, we use a robust SaaS (software-as-a-service) platform to run employee incentive programs. We help our clients customize and integrate the perfect reward programs to fit their needs, ensuring that the program will run smoothly.

No more enrollment headaches. No more tracking problems. Just a wealth of data and options at your fingertips. With a user-friendly interface, employees will love it, too. The platform works seamlessly on any mobile device, so all your employees need to worry about is reaching their goals—no matter where in the world they are located.

From travel incentives to loyalty reward programs, ESG’s SaaS platform can help your company develop and run a reward program that’s best in class. The result? More motivated employees, happier managers, robust data and information that is secure and manageable.

Using your employee rewards program should be a reward in and of itself. Make it fun and easy with ESG Incentives.

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