Employee engagement is in crisis, and it’s costing companies more than they realize. According to Gallup’s latest State of the Global Workplace report, global engagement dropped from 23% to 21% in 2024. This two-point slide translates into a staggering $438 billion in lost productivity worldwide.
So, if you’re on a quest for the perfect employee engagement software to solve your engagement issues, know that you’re not alone.
Today, just 31% of employees are engaged, 18% are actively disengaged, and more than half are not engaged at all. Stress, anger, and loneliness are also on the rise across the workforce, putting even more pressure on companies to act fast.
If the world’s workplace were fully engaged, Gallup estimates that $9.6 trillion in productivity could be added to the global economy. That’s the equivalent of 9% in global GDP.
The stakes have never been higher. But that doesn’t make choosing the best employee engagement platform any easier.
The perfect engagement software should be capable of tackling your specific workplace challenges head-on. These challenges could be low employee retention, manager disengagement, or lack of recognition.
Whatever solution you’re looking for, this guide will help you cut through the noise.
We’ll show you how the best employee engagement platforms address the real issues holding companies back. And, how they automate and amplify the solutions needed to move toward a happier, more productive workforce.
Read on to learn how your company can help close the $9.6 trillion gap. Plus, how to build a workplace where your people (and profits) thrive.
The 10 Best Employee Engagement Platforms + Common Problems They Solve
Finding the right employee engagement tool depends on your organization’s size and specific needs. Let’s take a look at the top options with special attention to how they solve employee engagement problems.
1. Applauz
🏆 Best all-in-one recognition and engagement for small to mid-sized teams.
Applauz is a robust, user-friendly, and award-winning employee recognition platform. It excels in giving employees and leaders a universal space to engage with each other. By providing tools like a social Newsfeed, Badges and Points awards, and a Rewards Marketplace, Applauz gives teams the power to celebrate each other daily. As a result, this creates a culture of recognition.
Applauz Is unique because it’s a “software and a service.” Its software is intuitive and accompanied by extensive service and customer support. Consequently, if you need help establishing a recognition program, you won’t be left to figure it out on your own. The Applauz team is here to guide you.
Another major advantage of this platform is its ease of integration with other systems. Not only does Applauz integrate seamlessly with popular HR management systems, it does so with common business and performance software, such as Microsoft, Bamboo HR, ADP, and Azure.
Applauz also comes with robust analytics that show engagement, performance, and rewards metrics. These metrics help you monitor point distribution and reward redemptions. You can also see response rates and program adoption. Ultimately, these analytics help you evaluate which teams are more engaged within your organization. And of course, find more metrics that allow you to monitor trends over time.
If you’re looking for an all-in-one solution to boost employee retention and improve employee engagement, Applauz is the right fit for you. Book a demo to see how it works.
Key features:
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Award-winning employee surveys
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Automated employee anniversary program
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Badge and point incentives
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Rewards marketplace with over 30,000 items
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Engagement analytics and reports
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Customization and integration options
Common Engagement Problems Applauz Solves:
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Low retention
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Disengagement
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Disconnected remote or hybrid teams
Pricing:
Applauz offers three paid plans: its Recognition Starter plan is $3.75 per user per month, its Engagement Essentials plan is $5.25 per user per month, and its Experience Pro plan is $6.50 per user per month.
Customer success stories:
"Our employees are scattered across the country, including Puerto Rico, and we now have this place where we can gather virtually to celebrate each other’s accomplishments. It’s been truly great!"
- Applauz customer review
"[Points and badges] allow for employees to feel the autonomy in not only showing appreciation to anyone they work with but filling their sense of value buckets too!"
- Applauz customer review
2. Nectar
🏆 Best for: Making daily recognition a company habit.
Nectar aims to help your company build the kind of culture that your employees won’t want to leave. Its features are divided into three pillars: its Nomination program, Recognition & Rewards program, and built-in internal communication.
The platform is designed to engage employees by providing engagement tools that help employees continuously recognize each other based on the company's core values in exchange for rewards and discounts.
To enhance the employee recognition process, Nectar offers features like social recognition, rewards, employee discounts, the opportunity to earn swag from Amazon, and more. Ultimately, this platform wants to make recognition a habit.
Key features:
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Engagement tracking
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Gamification feature for recognition
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Rewards and discounts
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Employee feedback management
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Integrations
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Activity dashboard
Common Engagement Problems Nectar Solves:
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Lack of everyday recognition
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Low motivation
Pricing:
Nectar requires a minimum of a $4,000/year contract (all other details are available from the platform directly).
3. Worktango
🏆 Best for: Enterprise feedback and analytics at scale.
WorkTango is an enterprise-level Employee Experience Platform designed to engage, inspire, and retain talent within large organizations. The employee engagement platform offers tools that support every phase of the employee journey.
For example, WorkTango’s Recognition and Rewards program offers peer-to-peer recognition and milestone celebrations. It also has a global rewards marketplace that includes custom employee swag and other incentives.
For HR leaders, Worktango keeps your data-driven decisions in mind. You’ll find unlimited, customizable surveys for employee feedback. Plus, actionable insights on employee data and an intuitive dashboard powered by AI-driven analytics. WorkTango also has engagement tracking, anonymous conversations, and benchmarking capabilities for a comprehensive view of organizational health.
Key features:
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Pulse and engagement surveys
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Anonymous conversations
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Milestones and nominations
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Global rewards marketplace
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Analytics
Common Engagement Problems Worktango Solves
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Poor communication and feedback
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Low recognition in large organizations
Pricing:
For specific details on pricing, contact the platform directly.
4. O.C. Tanner
🏆 Best for: Purpose-driven culture and meaningful recognition.
Known for its focus on meaningful employee recognition, O.C. Tanner creates a culture of recognition and purpose that fuels engagement and drives results. Its tools help HR leaders and managers celebrate achievements, acknowledge contributions, and reinforce key values across the organization.
To solve your organization’s stickiest engagement issues, O.C. Tanner tools are designed to strengthen employees’ sense of purpose through tailored recognition that aligns with your company values. It also offers analytics and reports to gather and act on insights gleaned from customizable surveys continuously.
Key features:
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Peer-to-peer recognition
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190+ tailored engagement surveys
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Integrations
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AI-enabled insight
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Robust analytics
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Custom awards
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Intuitive dashboard
Common Engagement Problems O.C. Tanner Solves:
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Weak company culture
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Inconsistent feedback
Pricing:
For specific details on pricing, contact the platform directly.
5. Lattice
🏆 Best for: Continuous performance and feedback in growing teams.
Lattice provides HR teams with several features that help build high-performing, satisfied teams. For example, performance management, feedback, and analytics tools.
Its AI-driven analytics provide real-time, actionable insights from employee data. This helps HR teams make better-informed decisions and address issues promptly. Lattice’s continuous feedback and recognition tools further help foster a culture of appreciation and open communication.
Additionally, Lattice has robust integrations with tools like Slack, Microsoft Teams, and various HRIS systems. This seamless connection of tools helps with adoption across different workflows.
Key features:
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Customizable engagement and pulse surveys
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AI-powered sentiment analysis and insights
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Employee Net Promoter Score (eNPS) tracking
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Performance management and goal-setting tools
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Real-time feedback
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Integration with HRIS systems and communication tools
Common Engagement Problems Lattice Solves:
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Low engagement
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Lack of actionable insights
Pricing:
Lattice has two pricing tiers. Its Talent Management plan starts at $11/per seat/per month. Its HRIS plan starts at $10/per seat/per month.
6. Vantage Circle
🏆 Best for: Budget-friendly recognition with solid analytics.
Vantage Circle gives HR teams and business leaders the tools to identify, recognize, and reinforce productive behaviors in their workforce.
For starters, it's packed with several robust features. This includes a user-friendly analytics dashboard with metrics such as top awarding managers, number of employees recognized, and average recognition time.
Like most employee engagement platforms that specialize in recognition, Vantage Circle has a gamified leaderboard that acknowledges employee achievements and helps drive performance. It also recognizes behaviors that drive business results with easy-to-use rewards and badges.
Key features:
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Employee/peer recognition
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Engagement surveys
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Work/Anniversary awards
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Engagement analytics
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HCM/HRIS/SSO and Microsoft Teams integration
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Budget management dashboard
Common Engagement Problems Vantage Circle Solves:
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Lack of performance visibility
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Disengaged employees
Pricing:
Vantage Circle’s basic Grow plan is $2.69 per user per month. For more advanced features, you’ll have to upgrade to its Vantage Transform plan for $3.89 per month. The platform offers custom pricing for its Enterprise solution.
7. Bonusly
🏆 Best for: Flexible rewards and performance insights.
Bonusly combines recognition features with a rewards-based system and robust analytics. This engagement platform encourages positive interactions with peer-to-peer recognition and thousands of reward options. Beyond that, the software offers insights that help managers align recognition with impact
Bonusly has a rewards catalog with over 1,200 options divided into user-friendly categories like Apparel, Travel, Money, and Company Swag. It also allows your employees to turn reward points into donations to over 50 different charities.
With Bonusly, you can give your team the tools they need to improve priorities, performance, and impact.
Key features:
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Peer-to-peer recognition
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Automated employee milestones
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Rewards gift card catalog
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Social feed
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Engagement analytics
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Integrations
Common Engagement Problems Bonusly Solves:
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Low employee motivation
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Weak performance conversations
Pricing:
Bonusly has three paid plans: its Appreciate plan is $2 per user per month, its Connect plan is $5 per user per month, and its Achieve plan is $7 per user per month.
8. Kudos
🏆 Best for: Configurable awards and budget-friendly recognition.
True to its name, Kudos is designed to help companies recognize and congratulate their employees' achievements. The employee engagement software puts performance recognition and employee experiences first. It has several features, including a rewards program, peer-to-peer recognition tool, employee recognition awards, and more.
This platform makes it easy for your team to deliver instant kudos via a social feed, eCards, and an AI assistant. Plus, Kudos boasts a highly configurable “world-class suite of awards” for employees to choose from. Kudos rewards have zero transaction fees, making the rewards experience even more enjoyable.
Zero transaction fees also help the HR team control costs. The platform offers other budget tracking tools as well.
Ultimately, Kudos strengths lie in its rewards budgeting and manager insights, including points, rewards, and redemption tracking.
Key features:
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Employee/Peer recognition
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AI recognition assistant
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Social feed
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Points and rewards catalog
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Engagement analytics and budget insights
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Group eCards
Common Engagement Problems Kudos Solves:
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Recognition gaps
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Budget concerns
Pricing:
Contact Kudos for pricing.
9. Motivosity
🏆 Best for: Value-packed rewards and flexible add-ons.
Motivosity is an employee recognition platform with a large Rewards marketplace. It also has plenty of features to elevate and automate your employee engagement strategy.
Its rewards marketplace includes a diverse range of rewards, from gift cards and company swag to Amazon products and charitable donations. It even offers employees the option to use rewards for groceries and fuel.
Beyond its rewards system, Motivosity also has several tools for engagement insights, such as Mv6 Survey (eNPS) and pulse surveys. As well as programs for keeping track of engagement, funding, and your rewards budget.
Key features:
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Peer-to-peer recognition
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Social feed
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Engagement surveys
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Large rewards marketplace
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Anniversary awards
Common Engagement Problems Motivosity Solves:
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Low engagement levels
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Limited engagement visibility
Pricing:
Contact Motivosity directly for personalized pricing. Motivosity requires a minimum of $3,000 per year/contract.
10. Workvivo
🏆 Best for: Creating connections in hybrid or remote teams.
Acquired by Zoom in 2023, Workvivo has become increasingly popular. As an employee experience platform (EXP), Workvivo was designed to create a more connected and inclusive workplace.
To streamline your operations, the platform has several integrations with well-known apps for HR departments. As well as payroll software, productivity tools, and, of course, Zoom.
Workvivo is a user-friendly platform that has several features to inspire connection and increase retention rates. These features include peer-to-peer recognition, activity and social feeds, and shout-outs. It also offers unique community features like live video stream capabilities and even the ability to produce a company podcast.
Key features:
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Peer-to-peer recognition
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Activity/Social feed
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Polls & surveys
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Onboarding insights
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Activity Monitor
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Push notifications
Common Engagement Problems Workvivo Solves:
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Isolation and disconnection
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Hard-to-reach employees
Pricing:
Workvivo offers two plans. The typical pricing for its Business Plan starts at $20,000 and works best for organizations with 250-2000 employees. For its Enterprise plan, you’ll have to contact sales for a custom quote.
Top 5 Engagement Problems (+ How to Pick the Best Employee Engagement Platform to Solve Them)
“What problem do I want my employee engagement tool to solve?”
If you’re facing issues like disengaged employees or high turnover, chances are you’re probably not looking for a shiny platform feature chart.
You’re looking for a solution to a problem.
Remote work and a multi-generational workforce have presented leaders with new employee engagement challenges. In fact, the U.S. workforce is shifting faster than it has since World War II.
Among other factors, experts say this is due to early retirement and cost-cutting. As a result, today’s workplace includes a wide mix of values, experiences, and expectations.
But while the workforce evolves, many companies are falling behind. Not all employee expectations are being met. As global engagement drops to 31%, reengaging your workforce has become more critical than ever.
The good news? Employee engagement tools can help.
In this section, we map out common employee engagement challenges and recommend tools based on the specific problems you’re trying to solve.
Problem #1: Low morale and motivation
Low morale has many signs. For example, reduced effort, poor attitude, or a lack of enthusiasm for new projects.
But, low morale isn’t always about major conflicts. More often, several factors at play drain employee motivation. For instance, missing employee feedback, unclear growth opportunities, or unrecognized effort.
So, what to look for? If low morale is an issue, you need tools that reinforce positivity and make appreciation a habit.
Try this: Platforms like Applauz make it easy to launch peer-to-peer recognition programs right away. These platforms have user-friendly dashboards, plus integrations with tools like Slack or Microsoft Teams. Peer-to-peer programs help to promote gratitude among colleagues. Additionally, software integrations make it easy to incorporate recognition into the daily flow of work.
Problem #2: Disengaged hybrid or remote teams
The upside of remote and hybrid teams is flexibility and convenience. But the downside is that hybrid and remote teams pose a challenge for engagement.
Remote employees miss out on the day-to-day coffee chats or morning greetings that naturally happen in an office. This leads to feeling alienated and overlooked.
According to Gallup, emotional well-being at work declined in 2024. More specifically, 23% of the global workforce reported feeling sadness daily. Meanwhile, 22% reported daily feelings of loneliness, a two-point increase from 2023.
In a hybrid or remote workforce, these emotions translate into employees zoning out during meetings and contributing less. Or, you may notice a general feeling of disconnection.
Fortunately, engagement tools can help build connections among remote and hybrid teams.
Popular employee engagement tools to solve the issue of disengaged remote or hybrid teams include:
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Peer-to-peer recognition
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Social feed or activity walls
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Virtual celebrations and gamification
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Pulse surveys and feedback tools
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Team-based goals and achievement tracking
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Integrated chat and messaging tools
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Virtual onboarding and mentoring programs
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Wellness challenges or programs
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Company-wide newsletters or podcasts
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Recognition points and rewards marketplaces
So, what to look for? Many employee engagement platforms are designed with hybrid workplaces in mind. For example, a team engagement platform like Applauz includes pulse surveys, virtual recognition, and other social engagement tools to keep remote and hybrid teams engaged. It also offers a robust Rewards Marketplace as an extra incentive.
Check out Applauz's Pulse Survey feature.
Try this: Employee recognition platforms like Applauz, are built to support hybrid teams with asynchronous praise. For example, built-in social feeds with badges and points incentivize employees to recognize each other. This helps bring back that “water cooler” vibe of in-office connection.
Problem #3: High employee turnover
If you notice turnover rates creeping up or more exit interviews, it's time to go deeper. High turnover often signals a disconnect between employees and their work. Additionally, it shows a disconnect with teams or a lack of positive company culture.
While competitive salaries and perks are important, they’re not always enough to keep your top talent around.
This is where employee engagement platforms can make a real impact. The right tools help you identify early disengagement warning signs. Do this through pulse surveys, employee feedback tools, and sentiment tracking.
When you’re able to spot these patterns early, you can intervene before someone hands in their notice.
Engagement platforms also support a culture of recognition. And recognition is one of the biggest drivers of retention — when employees feel seen and valued, they’re more likely to stick around.
So, what to look for? Tools that combine employee recognition with actionable insights into engagement and turnover risks.
Try this: The Applauz platform provides tools like customizable pulse surveys and sentiment analysis to make it easy to spot early signs of disengagement. Meanwhile, its engagement analytics dashboard highlights where support is most needed.
Other Applauz features like peer-to-peer praise, point awards, and a social-style newsfeed build a culture where employees feel more connected and valued. The idea here is to make feedback and recognition a part of daily work life to boost retention and raise engagement.
Problem #4: No clear path for feedback
If employees say they want more feedback, but managers say they already gave it, there’s probably a disconnect.
The feedback problem isn’t always about quantity, it’s often about quality and clarity.
When feedback feels vague or only surfaces during annual reviews, it’s easy for employees to feel lost. Employees want guidance that’s timely, actionable, and honest. That means feedback should be a habit for managers, not a hassle.
While some managers may naturally shine in this category, many do not. So, managers must receive the training and support required to give quality feedback.
One of the biggest drivers of declining global workplace engagement is manager disengagement. Gallup reports that manager engagement rates dropped by 3% in 2024. This is a troubling trend, considering managers are primarily responsible for keeping their teams engaged.
The right employee engagement platform can help. This software makes it easier to give and act on feedback. As employees develop, managers feel more confident, and the team is more aligned.
So, what to look for? Performance management software that gives managers a framework for continuous employee feedback. Why? Because daily feedback boosts morale, clarity, and performance.
Try this: Applauz allows managers to leave quick, meaningful recognition directly on the platform. This makes it easy to acknowledge contributions in real time, which helps employees feel seen and valued. Plus, Applauz’s Pulse Surveys and sentiment analysis can spot employee feedback blind spots early and course-correct fast.
Problem #5: Employees feel invisible
This problem is a quiet killer of engagement. When people feel their work goes unnoticed, they’re more likely to disengage. Or, worse, check out completely.
Over time, lack of recognition chips away at motivation, morale, and even performance.
Recognition doesn’t have to be big or flashy to make an impact. In fact, small, frequent gestures often do more to build a culture of appreciation.
The key is to give employees a way to regularly recognize one another in real time. That means more than just top-down praise from managers.
That’s where employee recognition platforms come into play.
So, what to look for? Employee recognition software with peer-to-peer nominations, milestone celebrations, and rewards that feel personal.
Try this: Applauz includes a company-wide social feed where recognition posts are shared openly. Managers can give shoutouts for teamwork or creativity, and employees can like, comment, and join the celebration. Over time, this builds a daily habit of appreciation into your work culture.
Ultimately, by focusing on what your people actually need, you can make a smarter investment that boosts morale, retention, and long-term success.
Choosing the right employee engagement platform is about solving the right problems. However, you want the right features to back you up.
How To Implement Employee Engagement Software
Now that you’ve found your company’s best employee engagement software, it’s time to set yourself up for success.
To maximize the impact of your platform, you’ll need a thoughtful strategy. One that ensures your investment is well-received by your employees.
Here are the essential steps for a smooth and successful implementation.
#1: Plan the rollout
Start with a clear plan that outlines goals, timelines, and responsibilities. This plan could include key dates and who’s responsible for what.
The idea here is to define what success looks like.
For example, success may mean higher recognition rates. Alternatively, a successful employee engagement platform could mean more survey responses. Or, improved retention.
Examples
Let’s say you’re rolling out a new employee recognition tool like Applauz. Here are some real-life scenario steps to launch your plan:
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Set a 30-day timeline that includes training for managers and weekly team check-ins.
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Soft launch your engagement efforts with one department before scaling across the company.
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Assign a project lead and point people on each team to keep the momentum going.
The goal? A well-planned launch helps people know what to expect. It also shows employees the benefits of employee engagement software. This way, adoption of the software becomes much easier.
#2: Win employee buy-in early
You want your employees to be excited about your employee engagement solution, so communicate the platform's benefits and perks early on.
Explain why you're introducing this tool and how it will improve your employees’ work life. For example, less guesswork, more recognition, and a voice in decision-making.
Keep the message positive and personal. You want employees to feel involved, not blind sided. Invite employees to participate and collaborate so that they become more invested in using the platform.
A simple rewards program can motivate employees to explore the new platform and build lasting habits. You could offer points for participating in surveys or recognizing a teammate. Then, these points can be redeemed for rewards like gift cards, experiences, and more.
Examples
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Host a kickoff Q&A to explain the “why” behind the new tool.
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Share examples of how it will make employees’ day-to-day lives better.
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Let employees vote on things like reward options or recognition themes.
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Highlight early adopters or recognition “champions” to show peer-led momentum.
The outcome? When people see there’s something in it for them, they’re more likely to engage early and often.
#3: Train for success
Employee engagement software requires thoughtful training that goes beyond IT setup. Therefore, to support a healthy software adoption, you need to provide your managers with thorough training. The training should be easy to grasp and translate to their teams.
Tutorials and demos are crucial for ensuring your employee adoption process goes smoothly. But don’t stop there. Ongoing support builds confidence and keeps usage consistent.
Examples
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Host live demos for managers and employees based on real tasks.
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Provide job aids like tip sheets or quick-reference videos.
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Create a “support channel” in your company chat program (such as Slack or Teams) for FAQs.
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Use team meetings for short refreshers. Also, to share adoption success stories.
The goal? Make the training process intuitive, not another task on a to-do list.
#4: Track what’s working, and what’s not
Once you’ve got the ball rolling, don’t forget to measure your success.
Once your employee engagement platform is live, you need to track engagement. But go beyond surface-level metrics. You’re looking for signs that your culture is actually improving.
Important engagement metrics include platform usage rates, feedback received, employee satisfaction, and job satisfaction levels. Additionally, the employee rewards points used and the average employee recognition time are considered.
The right software should help you turn engagement activity into real data you can act on. This data shows how engagement efforts lead to key business outcomes.
For example, Applauz tracks recognition activity by team and individual, so you can see who’s involved and how often. Plus, Applauz’s user-friendly reports help you monitor recognition trends over time and compare across teams and themes.
Examples
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Use platform reports to track participation, frequency of recognition, and survey engagement.
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Tie results to outcomes like improved morale, higher retention, or better team sentiment.
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Run quarterly reviews to identify trends and areas to improve.
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Share highlights in team meetings or newsletters to celebrate wins and keep people engaged.
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Give employees an incentive for participating in feedback surveys. For example, Applauz Pulse Surveys offer reward points for participating. This helps boost response rates and gives you honest feedback you can use.
The outcome? Tracking results shows employees that their input matters. Plus, it gives you the data you need to fine-tune your efforts.
Ready to Engage?
New technology is changing the game. Tools like AI and machine learning help companies look at data and find out what’s working. They also show where changes are needed, before problems grow. This means smart decisions are made faster.
But when it comes to choosing a platform, it’s not all about the features. The best team management platform should solve your engagement problems.
If morale is low or turnover is high, don’t wait. It’s time to try an employee engagement tool. These tools also help when feedback feels unclear or employees seem checked out.
Need a tool that does it all? Applauz is simple, flexible, and made to help you recognize and reward your team. If you’re looking for an all-in-one solution to engagement issues, Applauz is the perfect fit.