Gamification: an innovative approach to corporate training

Although often used interchangeably, gamification and gamified approach have distinct objectives.

While gamification aims to integrate game elements to achieve measurable objectives, such as performance or productivity (points, badges, rankings), gamified approach focuses on adding fun elements to an activity to make it more engaging and enjoyable, without any direct commercial objective.

In training, gamified approach consists of introducing game mechanics to make learning more fun and engaging. This encourages learners to become more deeply involved, particularly in activities such as language courses, where players can ‘earn’ points or progress an avatar, thereby increasing their motivation to participate.

On the other hand, gamification in a professional context could take the form of loyalty programmes or productivity incentive systems via tangible rewards, such as bonuses or specific benefits.

Integrating gamification into the workplace offers several benefits. By making everyday tasks more engaging and fun, it promotes :

• Employee well-being: Turning repetitive tasks into memorable experiences that can reduce stress and improve motivation.
• Recruitment: Making the recruitment process fun will not only attract new talent, but also strengthen the company’s brand image.
• Management and change management: Adding game elements makes it easier to adapt to organisational change by making these transitions less stressful and more engaging.
• Team-building: Collaborative activities stimulated by game mechanisms strengthen interpersonal relations and promote team cohesion.

For example, a training programme integrated into a playful framework can encourage better interaction between employees while fostering a culture of innovation. Companies that adopt this approach see a significant increase in productivity and team commitment.

To assess the effectiveness of gamification in companies, a number of success criteria need to be taken into account:

• Participation rate: Measure the percentage of employees engaged in gamified activities.
• Employee satisfaction: Analyse employee feedback through regular surveys and feedback.
• Individual and team performance: Track progress against targets, whether in terms of productivity or collaboration.
• Return on investment (ROI): Compare the costs of implementing gamification systems with the tangible benefits for the company.

Gamification in training: an enriching and motivating practice

In workplace training, gamification transforms learning into an interactive and enjoyable experience, which has a positive impact on information retention and employee motivation. The introduction of elements such as points systems, virtual badges or learning games stimulates commitment and the pleasure of learning.

A relevant example of gamification in corporate training is the use of educational platforms that allow learners to earn points by completing tasks. This approach makes learning content not only more enjoyable, but also more effective. Employees are more likely to participate actively and retain information thanks to the built-in rewards and challenges.

In order to implement effective gamification, it is essential to follow certain principles:

• Create a clear framework and simple rules: For the experience to be engaging, you need defined objectives and easy-to-understand rules.
• Tailor the experience to the players‘ profiles: It’s crucial to adapt the game elements to the participants’ preferences, such as immersion, challenge, interaction or reward.
• Encourage interaction: Games that require collaboration or healthy competition stimulate participants’ involvement.

In short, gamification in a professional context is based on the use of game elements to make activities more engaging, motivating and productive. Properly designed, it can transform the user experience, while achieving specific objectives in terms of learning or performance at work.

Example of gamification carried out with Emeraude

Mailinblack – Cybersecurity gamification: Mailinblack uses gamification to raise its users’ awareness of cyberthreats through a 2D game. This serious game assesses cybersecurity skills and adapts training courses according to the results.

DIOR – Game-based HR onboarding path: Thanks to gamification, this HR onboarding path engages new employees in an interactive microlearning experience, making it easier for them to integrate and learn the company’s internal processes.

Carrefour – Gamified Digital Retail Training: Carrefour uses gamification to train its 85,000 employees in the challenges of e-commerce. The immersive serious game encourages the acquisition of the skills needed to achieve the company’s digital objectives.