Gamification in B2B: a must for workplace software

Have you ever wondered why people like games so much? It’s all related to dopamine. When we play a game and achieve certain goals, our brain releases dopamine, a neurotransmitter linked to pleasure and motivation. This creates an overall feeling of satisfaction, that drives us to want to repeat the same actions over and over again, in order to reach that feeling.

From games, gamification was born, and software providers started to integrate gaming elements into non-game contexts to improve productivity and engagement. This is especially effective in B2B gamification, when applied to workplace settings.

Imagine your software being used by a team, but instead of using it just to complete tasks, they use it to create challenges, win rewards and give each other words of encouragement. With gamification elements, this could become a real possibility.

Read more: The psychology behind gamification: how it works

But now, the important questions arise: how, exactly, can it be applied? What type of features should you look for? And most important of all, should you look for external integration or try internal development? Let’s find out.

There are 3 main bases for gamification: game mechanics, behavioral psychology and motivation – intrinsic and extrinsic.

When users perform a task, they get feedback through game mechanics. These could be leaderboards, badges, points, prizes, levels, among others. When the feedback is received, the chemical agents are released in the brain, and the dopamine cycle initiates, creating positive emotions associated with the task that was performed.

People voluntarily seek this thrill in video-games. So, what happens when the same thrill is replicated in work tasks? High work engagement, more motivation and more productivity.

Studies show that gamification in the workplace can lead to up to 60% increase in employee engagement, with 90% of employees saying that gamification makes them more productive at work. But there’s more: gamification techniques allow companies to be up to 7 times more profitable.

Companies are seeking these positive numbers, and software providers can help companies achieve them through gamification. But how can software providers implement gamification features in their existing products?

Before you implement any gamification features on your software, there are some basic questions you should be able to answer – let’s dive in.

1. Study your audience

Effective gamification starts with empathy. Understand who your users are, what drives their engagement, and what challenges they face in their daily workflows.

A sales rep might thrive on competition, while a support agent may value recognition from peers. By truly knowing your audience, you can design gamified experiences that feel meaningful rather than just innovative for the sake of it.

2. Align with business flows

Gamification works best when it seamlessly integrates into existing workflows. It shouldn’t feel like an add-on, but rather enhance the tasks users are already doing.

For instance, rewarding consistent CRM updates or highlighting project milestones turns routine work into moments of achievement. When gamified elements naturally reinforce business objectives, engagement becomes both enjoyable and productive.

3. Select the right gamification features for your software

Not all gamification is created equal. Focus on features that create motivation loops and foster positive behaviors, like vaibe:

Challenges: Encourage users to achieve short-term, meaningful goals. With challenges, employees have the opportunity to showcase their skills and gain recognition for their achievements.

Leaderboards: A public display that shows who are the top performers for a specific task or challenge fosters healthy competitions and gives visibility to those who’ve earned it.

Kudos: Giving employees the opportunity to recognize and appreciate each other’s efforts in real time is the perfect way to promote teamwork.

Prizes: Celebrate achievements with tangible or symbolic rewards, keeping momentum high.

4. Build in-house or leverage a white-label solution

Finally, decide whether to develop gamification internally or integrate a white-label SaaS. In-house solutions offer complete control and deep customization, but require substantial investment. White-label platforms, on the other hand, allow rapid deployment and branded experiences with less overhead.

For most workplace software providers, a white-label gamification solution, such as vaibe, is the fastest and most strategic path to develop their product. There’s four big reasons for that:

Time and cost savings: Developing in-house gamification features can be expensive and time-consuming for a developing team that’s probably already focused on other important tasks. By using a white-label gamification solution you are taking advantage of a product that’s already developed and ready to be integrated with your software.

Faster time to market: Knowing all the advantages of gamification, you want your software gamified as soon as possible, right? Only a white-label Gamification-as-a-service solution can provide you with that kind of quickness.

Customizable according to company’s branding: As the name says, a white-label solution can be adapted to represent any branding you would like. Your logo, your colors, your message… will all be represented in a white-label gamification solution, just like it would be in an in-house development.

Reduced development risks: Developing a new software feature is always subject to some risks: failure, strategy changes, delays, among others. When you use a solution that’s already been built and tested by an external company, those problems are totally avoided – you just have to take advantage of the solution!

Gamification has become much more than playing games at work. By boosting engagement, motivation, and productivity, software providers that add gamification to their toolkit gain a competitive edge in a crowded market. This enables them to provide genuine value to businesses that are looking to increase engagement and build efficient teams.

If this resonates with you, vaibe can help!

Our white-label Gamification-as-a-service solution empowers software providers to enhance their offerings and achieve a truly standout product that will drive employee engagement, productivity and operational efficiency.

With a simple API for seamless integration and flexible customization, vaibe adapts effortlessly to your systems, brand, and business objectives.

Curious to know more? Talk with our team to discover how gamification will take your software to the next level.