Connect with us

Cover Story

Exploring the Impact of Gamification in Businesses

Published

2 years ago

on

Integrator-Feb-2024-Cover

The Integrator recently interviewed Jeremy Density, co-founder and managing partner at Imagin3 Studio, an innovation advisory firm specializing in driving digital innovation across various sectors such as Web3, NFTs, Community, the Metaverse, and Artificial Intelligence.

Jeremy, who co-authored the book “Virtual Economy” with Dado Van Peteghem, discussed the potential developments of the next decade while grounding them in present realities. In the following questions, we explore the concept of gamification and its potential applications across different industries in the region.

Explain to our readers what the gamification of business entails, including its various applications across industries?

Gamification traces its roots back to the gaming industry, which has experienced remarkable growth over the past two decades. It’s intriguing to observe how individuals across different age groups, from children to adults, immerse themselves in gaming for hours, drawn by the engagement and interaction it offers. This phenomenon is attributed to gamification, which enhances engagement, interaction, and loyalty among players. Consequently, there’s immense potential for businesses to leverage these techniques to foster better customer engagement, an aspect many brands currently struggle with.

Gaming is one of the most successful and fastest-growing industries with a report suggesting that young Americans spend 12 hours a week gaming. For example, Roblox boasts 70.2 million active daily users who spend on average two and a half hours per day on the platform, which shows how gaming has evolved from a hobby to a way of living, connecting, and consuming.

Those new generations of customers are getting accustomed to fast-paced, increasingly engaging, and rewarding experiences, which is what they expect from the brands they consume. In our book, The Virtual Economy, we talk about the Magic Triangle and how brands must create value by focusing on building better EXPERIENCES, LOYALTY, and COMMUNITIES. This is exactly what games are about.

How can customers interact better with brands?

The biggest impact of gamification for brands lies in the ability to nurture more loyal customers. Loyalty programs have historically rewarded customers transactionally, based on their referrals or a set number of purchases.

A great example of a brand leveraging gamification techniques to grow a loyal fan base is Starbucks.  Starbucks introduced a sophisticated points-based and benefits system through its Starbucks Rewards app, akin to some of the most successful Triple-A games. This digital alternative surpasses traditional loyalty cards, fostering customer loyalty and contributing significantly to the company’s revenue.

As a result of their successful loyalty program shift, Starbucks reported a $2.65 billion revenue increase, with over 25% growth in membership, and 40% of sales at US stores attributed to the membership program.

Starbucks leverages this approach to enhance customer interaction and feedback collection, offering incentives for completing surveys. This gamified strategy not only entertains users but also provides valuable insights to enhance overall business operations.

Going even further, Starbucks introduced Starbucks Odyssey in late 2022. This new layer of the loyalty program offers members the chance to participate in Starbucks “journeys”, such as watching a video on the history of the brand or trying their limited-edition Christmas drink, and rewards participants with “digital stamps”. Those stamps are either redeemable for unique benefits -one of them a trip to Costa Rica to visit a coffee farm, or tradable with other members on a marketplace. More than $200,000 of sales have occurred on the marketplace between members, with Starbucks grabbing a 7.5% royalty fee, making Starbucks Odyssey one of the first “loyalty-to-earn” programs, delivering direct benefits to members, and the brand.

This innovative approach not only enhances user engagement, loyalty, and customer experience but also serves as a creative method of collecting and utilizing data for continual improvement.

However, gamification is not only limited to increasing customer engagement and building more brand loyalty but also to improving internal operations.

Why brands are introducing gamification into their business?

Engagement in the workplace has increasingly become a challenge for brands and companies. A recent Gallup survey showed that “active disengagement” from employees has risen each year since the 2020 Covid pandemic. Only 32% of respondents felt engaged in their work, and 18% felt actively disengaged.

This lack of engagement has significant consequences for companies, whether through a lack of productivity or through increased recruitment and training costs derived from a higher employee turnover rate. Gamification could be seen as an appropriate solution to solve this problem.

It appeals to our competitive nature and fosters deeper engagement. Gamification integrated into business practices introduces a competitive and fun aspect that motivates professionals to outperform colleagues or their competitors within their industry.

As an example, gamification can be used to create more effective employee training programs. Training programs are loaded with information that usually takes a while to be completely acquainted with. 

Companies can learn from popular Triple-A games such as Call of Duty and develop a leaderboard and badge system that encourages employees to finish modules and learn new skills that will benefit them. In other words, allow them the ability to “level up” their stats, gain XP points, and be rewarded when they complete certain classes and certifications.

Aside from the retail sector, in which other industries do you envision the application of gamification techniques?

The application of gamification techniques extends to virtually every industry that interacts with customers. Whether it’s retail or any other sector offering products or services, there’s a universal need to enhance customer engagement and loyalty. Therefore, gamification is pertinent for both business-to-consumer (B2C) and business-to-business (B2B) enterprises seeking to bolster customer engagement through innovative loyalty programs and engagement strategies.

How do you anticipate the integration of in-car gaming experiences to influence both the automotive and gaming industries?

The prospect of in-car gaming experiences impacting both industries is intriguing. While it’s true that current in-car gaming experiences, like those in Tesla vehicles, offer entertainment during stationary moments, it may take several years before such features significantly influence the gaming industry. The automotive sector must address various challenges, particularly in self-driving technology, before we witness substantial impacts on gaming. However, once these challenges are overcome, in-car gaming could liberate countless hours spent commuting, potentially transforming how individuals engage with gaming and other activities while on the move.

Looking ahead, do you foresee car companies launching cars through gaming platforms, and how might this impact automobile enthusiasts?

Car manufacturers, much like luxury brands and retailers, recognize the importance of fostering emotional connections with customers, especially younger generations. They aim to avoid being perceived as mere commodities and instead seek to create meaningful engagements. Understanding that gaming platforms offer rich opportunities for emotional interaction; car companies are increasingly leveraging these platforms to connect with younger audiences and cultivate lasting brand loyalty.

How do you envision the future of gamification in both the workplace and consumer-brand interactions, considering the influence of Generation Alpha and emerging technologies like VR and AR?

Gamification draws heavily from the principles of Prospect Theory, a behavioral economic concept highlighting the motivational power of small incentives in situations with known probabilities of outcomes. Individuals, fundamentally motivated by the prospect of rewards, find their behaviors influenced by gamification elements, offering brands a cost-effective tool to shape consumer engagement and commitment.

Beyond Gen Z, Generation Alpha is the only generation born into the internet and gamified experiences. Growing up playing games such as Roblox and Minecraft that leverage reward systems, Generation Alpha anticipates a similar dynamic in the workplace, emphasizing gamification’s lasting impact and relevance.

With the latest technological advancements, such as VR and AR, gaining popularity in workspaces with a generally young workforce, gamification will continue to shape companies and allow customers to connect with brands at a more relatable level.

Related Topics:
Continue Reading
Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Cover Story

Inside Zoho’s UAE Data Centers:

Published

23 hours ago

on

January 16, 2026

By

Shailesh Davey, Co-founder and CEO of Zoho, is seated in a cream-colored armchair and speaking with Srijith KN, Senior Editor at Integrator Media, who is holding a recording device. They are positioned in front of a dark backdrop featuring the ManageEngine and Zoho logos during a professional interview.

Playing the Long Game in Cloud Infrastructure, Data Centers, Privacy, Cybersecurity, and Growth in the UAE

Integrator Media had an interview with Shailesh Davey, Co-founder & CEO, Zoho, during the official launch of their newly opened data centers in the UAE. Zoho is executing a disciplined, long-term regional strategy by deploying and right-sizing data centers in Saudi and the UAE, aligning with global trends in data sovereignty and privacy. The UAE is a priority growth market fueled by regulatory and business-led digitization, supported by local teams and partners. Customers will see faster performance from local hosting, while flagship products Zoho CRM Plus and Zoho Books lead growth, with rapid regulatory feature alignment (e.g., e-invoicing). Zoho is also experimenting with a B2C app (RRT), planning expansion into diaspora-rich markets after establishing reliability and product-market fit.

Zoho currently operates more than 18 data centers globally, with the UAE being the latest addition. From a regional perspective, does the Middle East require more data centers, or are the facilities in the UAE and Saudi Arabia sufficient to support Zoho’s growth plans?

Shailesh Davey:
We currently operate two data centers in Saudi Arabia, which primarily serve the Saudi market. In the UAE, we have now established two data centers—one in Dubai and another in Abu Dhabi. These facilities have been carefully right-sized based on our expected growth in the region.

We have been present in this market since 2009, so we have a clear understanding of customer adoption patterns, data usage behavior, and growth trajectories. Based on this data, we have ensured sufficient capacity for the next two to four and a half years. Every six months, our teams review capacity utilization and growth rates. If we see demand growing faster than anticipated, we simply expand further.

This approach isn’t new for us—we’ve been doing this consistently since 2006–2007.

Zoho is widely known for its capital discipline and strong stance on privacy. With increasing global rhetoric around cybersecurity, data sovereignty, and regulations—especially in markets like the UAE—do you believe governments are emphasizing certifications due to a trust deficit with large tech companies, or is this part of a broader global shift?


There are a few important factors at play here. First, some of the world’s largest technology companies have built their businesses by monetizing user data. This is openly acknowledged as part of their business model. While it may be legal, it understandably creates discomfort—especially for governments concerned about the data of their citizens, and for individuals who often accept terms and conditions without fully realizing what they are agreeing to.

Second, we are now living in a rapidly evolving geopolitical environment. The shift toward a multipolar world has accelerated significantly over the last couple of years. In this context, it is only practical for governments to introduce regulations that ensure clarity around where data resides, how it is handled, and whether companies are compliant with local laws.

From Zoho’s perspective, this has always aligned with our philosophy. Wherever we set up data centers, we comply fully with local regulations and data sovereignty requirements. Certifications and compliance are simply proof points of that commitment.

Zoho has seen strong growth in the UAE. Which flagship products are driving this momentum, and how does the establishment of local data centers translate into tangible benefits for businesses in terms of innovation and performance?


Let me start with the impact of the data centers. The most immediate and visible benefit is speed. Earlier, customer data was being served from the US, which meant latency due to the physical distance. With local data centers in the UAE, response times are significantly faster. This directly improves user experience, in addition to meeting security and compliance requirements.

In terms of products, our fastest-growing solution in the UAE is Zoho CRM Plus. For any business, sales is a critical function, and CRM Plus is a comprehensive, customer-facing suite that supports sales, marketing, customer support, service, and even project management.

The second major growth driver is Zoho Books, which is widely used by finance and accounting teams. With increasing regulatory requirements around accounting, compliance, and e-invoicing in the UAE, Zoho Books helps businesses stay compliant while maintaining accurate and transparent financial records.

Given the pace at which regulations are evolving, especially in areas like e-invoicing, our local presence allows us to respond very quickly. We see significant long-term potential for both CRM Plus and Zoho Books in this market.

One of Zoho’s recent consumer-focused initiatives Aaratai application has gained strong traction in India and has generated a lot of discussion. Do you see similar B2C-led innovations helping Zoho reach a wider audience in the UAE as well? Could we see such solutions being developed or localized for this market?


This has been an interesting experiment for us. What we’ve essentially done is take the technology we built for the B2B world, adapt it, and make it accessible to B2C users. That’s how this particular app was born, and it received strong tailwinds in the Indian market.

Interestingly, due to the large Indian diaspora in the UAE, adoption naturally extended here as well. Our immediate focus is to ensure that the product is reliable, feature-rich, and delivers long-term value to users.

Once we are confident that the model works at scale, we will look at expanding into other markets where there is strong synergy. Markets with a significant Indian diaspora are a natural starting point, and Europe is high on that list.

Continue Reading

Automotive

Goodyear continues support for Team De Rooy in the 2025 Dakar Rally

Published

2 weeks ago

on

January 2, 2026

By


Goodyear continues its partnership with Team De Rooy for the upcoming Dakar Rally 2025. As the official tire supplier, Goodyear will equip the Dutch team with its high-performance Goodyear OFFROAD tires and advanced Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS), helping to ensure reliable performance throughout the rally’s demanding stages. This collaboration highlights Goodyear’s dedication to truck motorsport, combining innovation with proven durability on some of the world’s toughest terrains.

Dakar 2025: new challenges await

The 2025 Dakar Rally, running from January 3 to January 17, will cover nearly 8,000 kilometers, including over 5,000 kilometers of competitive stages, starting in Bisha and finishing in Shubaytah. This edition ramps up the difficulty, featuring an early 48-hour chrono stage that flows into the marathon stage, setting a challenging pace from the outset. In the second week, competitors will tackle the demanding dunes of the Empty Quarter, with over 45% of the course on separate tracks for different vehicle classes, enhancing safety while complicating navigation.

Goodyear OFFROAD tires and TPMS: performance in challenging conditions

Team De Rooy relies on Goodyear OFFROAD tires for their durability and reliable traction across different conditions. Designed to handle heat and challenging surfaces, these tires help reduce heat buildup at high speeds and provide consistent performance on sand, rocks, and steep slopes.

Goodyear’s TPMS offers real-time monitoring of tire pressure and temperature, helping the team make quick adjustments and avoid potential issues. This advanced system helps to minimize downtime and supports better strategic decisions—crucial for maintaining momentum during the rally.

A Legacy of motorsport excellence

Goodyear’s continued support of Team De Rooy highlights its long-standing commitment to truck motorsport. As the title sponsor of the Goodyear FIA European Truck Racing Championship (ETRC), Goodyear uses motorsport as a proving ground for tire technology advancements. The partnership with Team De Rooy reflects this commitment, driving innovation and performance in demanding environments.

Maciej Szymański, Marketing Director Commercial EMEA at Goodyear, commented:

“Our continued collaboration with Team De Rooy for Dakar 2025 underscores our commitment to supporting motorsport teams in extreme conditions. With Goodyear OFFROAD tires and TPMS, we aim to provide the reliability needed to tackle the rally’s challenges. We wish Team De Rooy all the best and look forward to another exciting competition at this iconic rally”.

Continue Reading

Cover Story

PLAUD Note Pro: This Tiny AI Recorder Might Be the Smartest Life Upgrade You Make!

Published

2 weeks ago

on

December 31, 2025

By

By Srijith KN

I’ve been using the Plaud Note Pro for over three months now, and this is a device that has quietly earned a permanent place in my daily life now. Let me walk you through what it does—and why I say that so?

Well at first I thought this wasn’t going to do much with my life, and by the looks of it Plaud Note Pro looks like a tiny, card-sized gadget—minimal, unobtrusive to carry it around.

With a single press of the top button, it starts recording meetings, classes, interviews, or discussions. Once you end your session, the audio is seamlessly transferred to the Plaud app on your phone, where it’s transformed into structured outputs—summaries, action lists, mind maps, and more.

In essence, it’s a capture device that takes care of one part of your work so you can concentrate on the bigger game.

Design-wise, the device feels premium, it features a small display that shows battery level, recording status, and transfer progress—just enough information without distraction. The ripple-textured finish looks elegant and feels solid, paired with a clean, responsive button. It also comes with a magnetic case that snaps securely onto the back of your phone, sitting flush and tight, making it easy to carry around without thinking twice.

Battery life is another standout. On a full charge, the Plaud Note Pro can last up to 60 days, even with frequent, long recording sessions. Charging anxiety simply doesn’t exist here.

Well, my impressions about the device changed once I had an audio captured. I tested this in a busy press conference setting—eight to ten journalists around me, multiple voices, ambient noise—and the recording came out sharp and clear. Thanks to its four-microphone array, it captures voices clearly from up to four to five meters away, isolating speech with precision and keeping voices naturally forward. This directly translates into cleaner transcripts. It supports 120 languages, and yes, I even tested transcription into Malayalam—it worked remarkably well, condensed the entire convo-interview that I had during an automotive racing show that I was into.

Real meetings or interviews are rarely happens in a neat environment, and that’s where I found the Plaud Note Pro working for me. It captures nuances and details I often miss in the moment. As a journalist, that’s invaluable. The app also allows you to add photos during recordings, enriching your notes with context and visuals.

I tested transferring files over 20 minutes long, and the process was smooth and quick. Accessing the recordings on my PC via the browser was equally intuitive—everything is easy to navigate and well laid out.

Now to what is inside this tiny recorder. Well, the core of the experience is Plaud Intelligence, the AI engine powering all Plaud note-takers. It dynamically routes tasks across OpenAI, Anthropic, and Google’s latest LLMs to deliver professional-grade results. With over 3,000 templates, AI Suggestions, and features like Ask Plaud, the system turns raw conversations into organized, searchable, and actionable insights. These capabilities are available across the Plaud App (iOS and Android) and Plaud Web.

Privacy is what I happen to see them look at seriously. All data is protected under strict compliance standards, including SOC 2, HIPAA, GDPR, and EN18031, ensuring enterprise-grade security.

What makes the AI experience truly effective is the quality of input. Unlike a phone recorder—where notifications, distractions, and inconsistent mic pickup interfere—the Plaud Note Pro does one job and does it exceptionally well. It records cleanly, consistently, and without interruption, delivering what is easily one of the smoothest recording and transcription experiences I’ve used so far.

I’m genuinely curious to see how Plaud evolves this product further. If this is where they are today, the next version should be very interesting indeed.



“The Plaud Note Pro isn’t just a recorder; it’s a pocket-sized thinking partner that captures the details so you can think bigger, clearer, and faster.”

Continue Reading

Trending

Copyright © 2023 | The Integrator