Having the right employee engagement software is crucial for business success. It saves time and resources, enables organizations to make data-driven decisions, boosts engagement, and ultimately improves retention – all the while impacting positively on the company’s bottom line.
Table of Contents
- What is Employee Engagement Software?
- Factors to Consider Before Selecting Employee Engagement Software
- Why Mass Personalization is Important for Employee Engagement?
- Top 10 Employee Engagement Software Options for 2024
- 10 More Employee Engagement Software Options
- The Most Important Features of Employee Engagement Software
- The Future of Employee Engagement Platforms
- Why Cerkl Broadcast?
- What’s Next?
- FAQ
According to Gallup, U.S. engagement hit an 11-year low in the first quarter of 2024, with only 30% of employees actively engaged. In an article titled U.S. Engagement Hits 11-Year Low, Jim Harter, Gallup’s Chief Scientist of Workplace Management and Wellbeing reveals that 4.8 million fewer U.S. employees were engaged in early 2024. This reflects a growing trend that appears to be worsening.
“Employee engagement trends are significant because they link to many important performance outcomes crucial to organizational leaders such as productivity, employee retention, customer service, safety incidents, quality of work and profitability.”
Jim Harter
Now, imagine a workforce where employees feel valued, motivated, and genuinely connected to their work. Employee engagement software has the power to make this happen. And it’s there for you to use.
Essentially, employee engagement software is a digital toolbox filled with features designed to boost employee satisfaction, foster a positive company culture, and ultimately, drive business success. But, there are different types of software designed to meet different needs. Company size, needs, and budget, along with the varied features offered will all help you to choose the best employee engagement software for your organization.
We have explored the options currently available and have created a list of our top 20 employee engagement tools. But first, we’re going to talk about employee engagement software in general. Then we’ll provide guidance on what to consider before choosing software.
Another vital aspect is personalized engagement. So, we’re going to delve into this area too and show you why it is such an important factor in 2024.
What is Employee Engagement Software?
Employee engagement software is a digital tool designed to improve and track the level of satisfaction, motivation, and overall commitment employees feel towards their work and company. It acts like a virtual toolbox filled with all sorts of valuable features that the best employee engagement software offers.
But why would you use this kind of software? In its 2024 Employee Engagement Strategies Checklist, Gallup highlights the fact that 44% of employees worldwide are stressed. Furthermore, when they are stressed they are less likely to be engaged with their work and the company they work for. But it’s not easy. Gallup’s research shows that managers are more likely to be disengaged and burned out than their teams. In other words, they too are stressed.
The key is employee engagement. The optimizer is employee engagement software. But you need to be able to measure employee engagement and identify why some employees aren’t engaged.
“80% of employees who say they have received meaningful feedback in the past week are fully engaged — regardless of how many days they worked in the office.”
Gallup
Here’s what employee engagement software can do to help your organization:
Boost Communication
Employee engagement software facilitates personalized communication allowing you to tailor messages to individual needs and preferences. Imagine sending targeted messages through preferred channels like an app or email with content that resonates with the recipient, like video snippets or employee names. It’s much more likely to grab the attention of employees — and with the right software, it’s super-easy.
Enhance Recognition
Move beyond generic points and badges. The best employee engagement software empowers you to offer diverse rewards, celebrate achievements big and small with timely recognition, and leverage the power of social recognition to boost team spirit.
Drive Feedback and Development
When you use a well-designed employee engagement platform, the software provides features for two-way communication. This allows employees to give and receive feedback safely and constructively. Performance management tools help set goals, track progress, and provide ongoing coaching. Additionally, employee engagement software can integrate with development resources like microlearning modules, empowering employees to grow and reach their full potential.
Measure Employee Sentiment
The best employee engagement software allows you to conduct regular pulse surveys to gather real-time feedback on employee experience, morale, and potential roadblocks.
As Gallup’s 2024 Employee Engagement Strategies Checklist states, by analyzing this data, you can identify areas for improvement and tailor your engagement strategies accordingly. But the important thing is to act on the data.
“An engagement survey is the starting point, not the ending point, of motivating employees. You must act on the results you gather, or you could cause more harm than good.”
Gallup
Create an Engaging Employee Experience
The best employee engagement software is user-friendly, accessible on any device (which means it needs to be mobile-friendly), and visually appealing to keep employees interacting with the platform.
Factors to Consider Before Selecting Employee Engagement Software
Knowing how to select the best employee engagement software depends on your company’s unique characteristics. Key factors to consider range from the size of the company and its budget to the features required to do the job.
Don’t hesitate to leverage free trials and demos to explore different platforms before making a decision. The right employee engagement software can be a game-changer, transforming your company culture and driving success. But you need to get the right software to meet the needs of your organization.
Company Size
Smaller companies may benefit from a more focused solution with core features like recognition and communication. Larger organizations may require a comprehensive suite with advanced functionalities. But there are no hard and fast rules or guidelines.
Industry Needs
Some industries have specific compliance requirements or communication demands. Because of this, a retail chain might prioritize mobile-first communication, while a healthcare organization might need features that comply with HIPAA regulations.
Desired Features
Identify the functionalities of employee engagement software that are most crucial to your engagement strategy. Do you prioritize personalized communication, robust survey options, or advanced performance management tools? It’s vital to identify your priorities before selecting software.
Budget
Software costs vary significantly. Consider your budget and prioritize features that align with your needs. There isn’t a one-size-fits-all solution.
Why Mass Personalization is Important for Employee Engagement?
Mass personalization is a vital key to unlocking the true potential of employee engagement software. It allows you to tailor your approach to each individual, creating a more meaningful and impactful experience.
In its State of the Sector 2023/24 report, Gallagher emphasizes the importance of personalization highlighting it as the second most important trend for employee relationships, after generative artificial intelligence (Gen AI).
So, what can mass personalization achieve?
Increased Engagement
Generic communication and recognition fall flat. Personalized messages and rewards resonate with individual needs and preferences, leading to higher engagement. Employee engagement software can enable mass personalization.
Boosted Morale
Feeling valued and recognized for their unique contributions strengthens employee morale and fosters a sense of belonging. Once again, personalization can make a huge difference.
Improved Development
Personalized feedback and development opportunities help employees grow and reach their full potential. The best employee engagement software can make this happen.
Enhanced Productivity
When employees feel engaged and valued, they’re more likely to be productive and invested in their work.
By embracing mass personalization, you can unlock the true power of employee engagement software and create a thriving, high-performing workforce.
Top 10 Employee Engagement Software Options for 2024
Now, we are going to go into more detail about what solutions are available in the marketplace, and how each one personalizes employee engagement and experience.
#1 Cerkl Broadcast
Cerkl Broadcast positions itself as an employee communication and engagement suite that unifies existing communication channels like newsletters, email, Microsoft SharePoint and Teams, and their mobile apps. It functions on the principles of mass personalized messaging through an omnichannel, including instant messaging. Incorporating behavioral data into communications significantly increases the effectiveness and relevance of internal messaging.
Cerkl Broadcast takes a unique approach to employee communication, focusing on personalization to drive engagement.
Strengths
- Hyper-personalized newsletters: Cerkl Broadcast goes beyond basic segmentation. The MyNews engine and custom segment creation allow for highly targeted communication. Imagine sending content tailored to regional teams, departments, or even individual interests, ensuring every employee receives relevant and interesting updates. That’s what it will do for you.
- AI-powered content curation: The MyNews engine leverages AI to curate weekly NewsDigests for each employee. This automation saves time for internal communicators while ensuring employees receive content that aligns with their interests.
- Real-time segmentation: Seamless syncing with HRIS and Payroll systems ensures your segments are always up-to-date. This eliminates the need for manual updates and guarantees targeted communication based on the latest employee data.
- Content Hub for streamlined workflows: The Broadcast Content Hub simplifies content creation, scheduling, and distribution for internal communicators. This versatile centralized platform allows for efficient management of communication efforts.
- Ease of use: Cerkl Broadcast is designed to be user-friendly, eliminating the need for coding or ongoing maintenance. This allows internal communication teams to get started quickly and focus on crafting compelling content.
Mass Personalization in Messaging
Cerkl Broadcast’s focus on mass personalization can significantly impact employee engagement. It delivers personalization in messaging through its hyper-personalized employee NewsDigest newsletters. In addition, users can improve their messaging in various ways.
- MyNews engine: Tailored weekly NewsDigests cater to individual employee interests, ensuring relevance and grabbing attention. Imagine employees receiving updates that directly connect to their roles or areas of interest. That’s what it does.
- Custom segments: Segment your workforce based on departments, locations, or other relevant criteria. This allows for targeted communication, sending specific content to regional teams, departments, or individuals.
- Dynamic content: Content adapts continuously based on recipient data, ensuring every newsletter feels fresh and relevant.
- Content Hub for a streamlined workflow: Internal communicators can manage content creation, scheduling, and distribution efficiently and effectively. This saves time and allows internal communicators to focus on strategic communication initiatives.
Who Can Benefit From Cerkl Broadcast?
Cerkl Broadcast can be a good fit for companies that:
- Prioritize personalized communication as a key element of their employee engagement strategy.
- Have a strong foundation of existing employee engagement tools (recognition, performance management) but seek to enhance communication efforts.
- Want to improve information flow and ensure targeted messages reach the right audience.
Final Thoughts
Cerkl Broadcast offers a unique solution in the employee engagement landscape. Its focus on mass personalization can be a powerful tool for boosting engagement, information flow, and overall employee experience. However, it’s important to consider its limitations in areas like performance management or gamification and ensure it integrates well with your existing HR tech stack.
#2 Bonusly
Bonusly is a peer-to-peer recognition and rewards platform designed to celebrate achievements, foster a positive work environment, and boost employee engagement.
Strengths
- Peer-to-peer recognition: Bonusly empowers employees to recognize colleagues for their contributions, fostering a sense of appreciation and teamwork.
- Diverse rewards: It offers various reward options beyond traditional points and badges, allowing employees to choose rewards that resonate with their preferences. These may include gift cards, charity donations, and so on.
- Social recognition: It encourages public recognition through the platform that can boost team spirit and encourage healthy competition.
Mass Personalization in Messaging
Bonusly offers some personalization features within its recognition system. These include:
- Customizable messages: Employees can personalize recognition messages with details about the achievement being celebrated.
- Emoji and GIF integration: Adding emojis or GIFs can inject a personalized touch and make messages more engaging.
Who Can Benefit From Bonusly?
Bonusly can be a valuable addition for companies that:
- Want to foster a culture of appreciation and peer-to-peer recognition.
- Seek a user-friendly platform to encourage frequent recognition efforts.
- Value the motivational impact of diverse reward options.
Final Thoughts
Bonusly offers a compelling solution for peer-to-peer recognition and rewards. While it incorporates some personalization features in messaging, additional functionalities could further enhance the impact. Consider Bonusly as part of a broader employee engagement strategy alongside tools that address performance management, surveys, and communication needs.
#3 Achievers
Achievers is a comprehensive employee experience platform that encompasses recognition, rewards, performance management, and social connection.
Strengths
- Personalized recognition and rewards: Achievers goes beyond a one-size-fits-all approach.
- Customizable recognition: Employees can personalize recognition messages with specific details and praise tailored to the achievement.
- Diverse reward options: A variety of rewards cater to individual preferences, moving beyond generic points and badges. Imagine offering gift cards for preferred retailers or experiences employees will truly value. This is the real deal.
- Goal-based recognition: You can link recognition to individual or team goals, making it more meaningful and relevant.
- Performance management with a personal touch
- Individualized goal setting: Set clear and measurable goals tailored to each employee’s role and development needs.
- Personalized feedback: Facilitate a two-way feedback exchange with options for private coaching or public recognition messages.
- Continuous development: Encourage ongoing growth through features that allow for personalized development plans based on feedback and performance reviews.
- Foster social connection with personalization
- Targeted social recognition: Highlight achievements within relevant teams or departments, creating a sense of community and accomplishment.
- Employee profiles: Encourage personalized connections through employee profiles that showcase skills and interests.
- Internal communication options: Personalize communication by allowing content segmentation based on roles or departments. Note that the options depend on the plan selected.
Who Can Benefit From Achievers?
Achievers can be a valuable asset for companies that:
- Prioritize a comprehensive employee experience platform with recognition, rewards, performance management, and social connection features.
- Want to leverage mass personalization to boost engagement, motivation, and social connection among employees.
- Have a sizable workforce and require a scalable solution.
Final Thoughts
Achievers offers a powerful platform for employee engagement, with mass personalization playing a central role in its functionalities. While some aspects might require a learning curve, the ability to customize recognition, feedback, and communication experiences can significantly enhance employee engagement and overall company culture.
#4 Vantage Circle
Vantage Circle is a global employee engagement platform offering a suite of tools designed to recognize, reward, and develop the potential and engagement of employees.
Strengths
- Recognition and rewards
- Points-based system: Vantage Circle offers a points-based system that can be redeemed for various rewards.
- Social recognition: The platform offers public recognition that can boost team spirit and a sense of accomplishment.
- Gamification elements: Leaderboards and gamification elements can add a fun and competitive aspect to recognition efforts.
- Employee engagement features
- Wellness programs: Integrations with wellness programs can promote employee well-being.
- Pulse surveys: Tools for conducting pulse surveys can help gather real-time employee feedback.
- Internal communication: Facilitate communication within teams and across the organization. These features might vary depending on the plan chosen.
Mass Personalization in Messaging
Vantage Circle offers some personalization options, but there’s room for improvement. They include:
- Limited personalization depth: Personalization options might be limited to basic elements within recognition messages or reward selections.
- Focus on broader communication: Vantage Circle excels at company-wide announcements and team discussions. However, this might not be ideal for delivering highly personalized feedback or coaching tailored to individual needs.
Who Can Benefit From Vantage Circle?
Vantage Circle can be a good fit for companies that:
- Seek a comprehensive employee engagement platform with recognition, rewards, wellness programs, and internal communication features.
- Value the ability to conduct pulse surveys and access basic recognition functionalities.
- Operate in a global environment and require a platform with multiple language and currency support.
Final Thoughts
Vantage Circle provides a versatile platform for employee engagement. While its mass personalization features might be more basic, it offers a good foundation for recognition, rewards, and communication. Consider Vantage Circle if you value a global platform with core engagement features, but explore additional tools if in-depth personalization for feedback or communication is a top priority.
#5 Empuls
Empuls is a comprehensive employee engagement platform designed to elevate employee satisfaction and productivity at every touchpoint.
Strengths
- Mass personalization focus: Empuls prioritizes personalized experiences for employees:
- Individual needs: Tailor communication, feedback, and recognition programs to cater to individual preferences and development goals. Imagine sending targeted learning modules or offering rewards based on employee interests.
- Data-driven approach: Leverage data from various sources (performance reviews, surveys) to personalize communication and engagement strategies.
- Multilingual capabilities: The platform offers support for more than 20 languages ensuring a seamless experience for a global workforce.
- Holistic employee engagement
Empuls goes beyond recognition and rewards.- Connection and communication: Features foster a sense of connection through social interaction tools, internal communication channels, and team-building activities.
- Feedback and development: Enables two-way feedback exchange with surveys, pulse checks, and performance management tools.
- Employee well-being: Integrations with wellness programs and features that promote healthy habits can enhance employee well-being.
Mass Personalization in Messaging
Empuls emphasizes personalized communication across various functionalities:
- Targeted communication: You can segment audiences based on demographics, departments, or performance to deliver relevant messages.
- Personalized recognition: Craft recognition messages that highlight specific achievements and resonate with individual preferences.
- Nudges and social actions: Utilize nudges and prompts to encourage desired behaviors and personalize the employee journey.
Who Can Benefit From Empuls?
Empuls can be a valuable asset for companies that:
- Prioritize a comprehensive employee experience platform with a strong focus on personalization.
- Want to go beyond recognition and rewards, aiming to improve communication, feedback, and overall employee wellbeing.
- Have a diverse workforce and require a platform with multilingual capabilities.
Final Thoughts
Empuls offers a powerful platform for employee experience management, with mass personalization at its core. While the comprehensive features might necessitate some initial learning, the potential to create highly personalized and engaging experiences for employees can significantly enhance engagement, communication, and overall company culture.
#6 Lattice
Lattice positions itself as a people management platform designed to streamline performance management, goals, and development for a modern workforce. We’re going to explore its strengths and weaknesses, with a specific focus on how it incorporates mass personalization into the platform’s functionalities.
Strengths
- Performance management redefined: Lattice offers a modern approach to performance management.
- Continuous feedback: Encourages ongoing feedback exchange through features like check-ins and one-on-one discussions.
- Goal setting and tracking: Enables you to set clear, measurable goals aligned with company objectives and individual development plans.
- Performance reviews: You can facilitate performance reviews with tools for documentation, feedback exchange, and development planning.
- Development and learning: Lattice goes beyond performance reviews.
- Development plans: Create personalized development plans based on performance feedback and individual needs.
- Skills management: Track and manage employee skills to identify gaps and personalize learning opportunities.
- Integrations: Integrate with learning management systems (LMS) to provide access to relevant training materials.
Mass Personalization in Lattice
While mass personalization isn’t the core focus of Lattice, it incorporates some features to tailor the experience. These include:
- Individualized feedback and goals: You can encourage managers to provide personalized feedback and set goals aligned with each employee’s strengths and development areas.
- Skill-based development plans: Personalize development plans based on an employee’s specific skill set and identified gaps.
- Self-service learning: Allow employees to explore and choose learning resources based on their interests and development goals (effectiveness depends on LMS integration).
Who Can Benefit From Lattice?
Lattice can be a valuable asset for companies that:
- Prioritize a modern approach to performance management with an emphasis on continuous feedback and goal setting.
- Want to create personalized development plans based on individual skill sets and needs.
- Value a user-friendly platform that can scale with their growth.
Final Thoughts
Lattice excels in performance management and development, and has some features for personalization in feedback and goal setting. Consider Lattice if a modern performance management approach is a priority. But explore other platforms for comprehensive employee engagement features like recognition, rewards, and broader communication functionalities.
#7 Qualtrics
Qualtrics isn’t your typical employee engagement platform. Rather, it is a powerful tool that acts as an employee engagement detective, uncovering insights to improve your workforce experience.
Strengths
- Unmasking employee sentiment: Qualtrics excels at gathering and analyzing employee feedback through a range of features.
- Targeted surveys: You can conduct pulse checks, in-depth satisfaction surveys, and other feedback mechanisms. Here, Qualtrics offers some capabilities for mass personalization:
- Survey branching and logic: Personalize the survey experience by directing employees to specific questions based on their demographics, departments, or previous responses. This allows for a more focused data collection based on individual needs.
- Panel management: Segment your employee base and send targeted surveys to specific groups, ensuring the questions asked are relevant to their roles and experiences.
- Targeted surveys: You can conduct pulse checks, in-depth satisfaction surveys, and other feedback mechanisms. Here, Qualtrics offers some capabilities for mass personalization:
- Advanced analytics: Analyze vast amounts of data to uncover hidden patterns, identify engagement issues, and understand employee sentiment.
- Segmenting employee data: Analyze data based on demographics, departments, or other relevant criteria, revealing engagement trends within specific employee groups. This enables you to understand the unique needs and challenges faced by different segments of your workforce.
Mass Personalization in Qualtrics
Qualtrics offers some features to personalize the survey experience and data analysis. This allows you to gather more relevant feedback and tailor engagement initiatives based on the specific needs of different employee groups. However, it’s important to acknowledge that the level of personalization is limited compared to platforms specifically designed for employee engagement.
Who Can Benefit From Qualtrics?
Qualtrics is a valuable asset for companies that:
- Prioritize data-driven decision making and want to gain a deep understanding of their workforce through surveys and feedback analysis.
- Value a platform that can be customized to gather targeted employee feedback.
- Have the resources or complementary tools to translate Qualtrics’ insights into actionable engagement strategies.
Final Thoughts
Qualtrics serves as a powerful microscope for examining employee engagement. It provides valuable data to identify areas for improvement and measure the effectiveness of implemented initiatives. However, if you are looking for a platform with built-in features for direct engagement activities like recognition or communication, Qualtrics might not be the sole solution.
#8 15Five
15Five is a performance management platform that fosters continuous conversations, improves engagement, and ultimately drives better results.
Strengths
- Continuous conversations: 15Five emphasizes ongoing communication through these features.
- Weekly check-Ins: You can encourage regular check-ins between managers and employees to discuss progress, goals, and challenges.
- 1-on-1 agendas and templates: It provides structure and guidance for effective one-on-one conversations.
- Goal management: Set clear goals, track progress, and have ongoing discussions around goal achievement.
- Engagement boosters: 15Five goes beyond basic performance management with several enabling features.
- Employee recognition: Offers tools for peer-to-peer and manager recognition, fostering a culture of appreciation.
- Real-time feedback: Enables continuous feedback exchange through features like pulse surveys and comments.
- Social features: Encourages connections and knowledge sharing through social elements within the platform.
Mass Personalization in 15Five
While not its sole focus, 15Five offers features for personalization:
- Goal setting and tracking: Goals can be customized based on individual roles, career aspirations, and company objectives.
- Check-in templates and prompts: Managers can personalize check-in templates and prompts to tailor conversations to each employee’s needs and development areas.
- Feedback mechanisms: The platform allows for various feedback formats including written feedback and ratings, catering to individual preferences.
Who Can Benefit From 15Five?
15Five can be a valuable asset for companies that:
- Want to move beyond traditional annual reviews and prioritize continuous conversations for performance management.
- Value a platform that allows for some level of personalization in goal setting, check-ins, and feedback mechanisms.
- Seek to improve employee engagement through ongoing communication and recognition.
Final Thoughts
15Five offers a comprehensive platform for performance management with a focus on continuous conversations. While the level of mass personalization might not be as extensive as some dedicated recognition platforms, it allows for tailoring goal setting, check-ins, and feedback to individual needs. Consider 15Five if you want to foster a culture of open communication, ongoing feedback, and some level of personalization in performance management.
#9 Leapsome
Leapsome positions itself as a comprehensive HR platform designed to empower your people and cultivate a thriving work culture.
Strengths
- Holistic people enablement: Leapsome offers a unified platform for various HR functions:
- Performance management: You can streamline performance reviews, goal setting, and continuous feedback processes.
- Learning and development: Provide personalized learning paths and manage training materials.
- Employee engagement: Foster a positive work environment with recognition tools, surveys, and social features.
- Focus on continuous improvement: Leapsome emphasizes ongoing development:
- Goal management: Set clear, measurable goals aligned with individual and company objectives. There are also options for ongoing tracking and adjustments.
- Regular feedback: Encourage continuous feedback exchange through features like check-ins and pulse surveys.
- Performance reviews: Facilitate development-oriented reviews with tools for documentation and planning.
Mass Personalization in Leapsome
Leapsome integrates personalization features across its functionalities:
- Goal setting and feedback: Encourage managers to set personalized goals and provide targeted feedback tailored to each employee’s strengths and development areas.
- Learning paths: Curate personalized learning paths based on individual skills, performance gaps identified through reviews, and employee interests.
- Recognition and engagement: Offer various recognition options (public praise, social recognition) and tailor messages to resonate with individual preferences.
Who Can Benefit From Leapsome?
Leapsome can be a valuable asset for companies that:
- Prioritize a comprehensive people enablement platform that integrates performance management, learning and development, and employee engagement.
- Want to personalize the employee experience through goal setting, learning paths, feedback, and recognition.
- Value a platform with strong data and analytics capabilities.
Final Thoughts
Leapsome offers a powerful solution for organizations seeking a one-stop shop for people enablement. With its focus on personalization, Leapsome can empower employees, foster a culture of continuous learning and development, and ultimately drive higher engagement. However, consider the potential learning curve and the need to balance personalization with administrative ease before implementing Leapsome.
#10 Sociabble
Sociabble is a platform that empowers organizations to improve internal communication, employee advocacy, and engagement.
Strengths
- Unified internal communications: Sociabble offers a central hub for all company communications:
- Modern intranet: Create a dynamic and mobile-friendly platform for sharing company news, announcements, and resources.
- Targeted content delivery: Segment your employee base and deliver content relevant to specific teams or departments.
- Employee-generated content: Encourage employees to contribute content, fostering a sense of community and ownership.
- Employee advocacy champion: Sociabble empowers employees to become brand ambassadors:
- Social media integration: Seamlessly integrate with social media platforms for employee advocacy initiatives.
- Content curation and amplification: Provide employees with curated content to share and amplify brand messages.
- Analytics and measurement: Track the reach and impact of employee advocacy efforts.
Mass Personalization in Sociabble
Sociabble offers personalization through content delivery and targeting features:
- Content segmentation: Personalize the employee experience by delivering targeted news, announcements, and content based on demographics, departments, or interests.
- Employee-generated content: While employees can contribute content, the level of personalization for individual content creation might be limited.
Who Can Benefit From Sociabble?
Sociabble can be a valuable asset for companies that:
- Want to improve internal communication through a centralized, mobile-friendly platform.
- Value the ability to personalize content delivery based on employee roles or interests.
- Prioritize employee advocacy and want to empower employees to become brand ambassadors.
Final Thoughts
Sociabble offers a platform specifically designed for internal communication and employee advocacy. While the level of personalization for employee-generated content might be limited, its ability to segment audiences and deliver targeted content can significantly enhance communication effectiveness and employee engagement.
10 More Employee Engagement Software Options
#11 Motivosity
Motivosity offers a powerful platform for employee recognition and rewards, with mass personalization at its core. While it might not encompass comprehensive performance management features, its ability to create personalized and meaningful recognition experiences can significantly enhance employee engagement and overall company culture.
Consider Motivosity for its powerful, personalized recognition platform that boosts engagement and culture, even if it lacks full performance management features.
#12 WorkTango
WorkTango offers a powerful platform for employee recognition and engagement, with a strong focus on mass personalization. Though lacking comprehensive performance tools, personalized recognition fosters deeper engagement and a stronger culture.
Consider WorkTango if a strong recognition program with personalization capabilities is a priority, but explore additional platforms if performance management features are also crucial for your needs.
#13 HiBob
HiBob offers a user-friendly and comprehensive HR platform with some built-in personalization features. However, for companies seeking in-depth features in specific areas like recognition or analytics, HiBob might not be the best solution for your needs.
Consider HiBob if a user-friendly platform with a balance between core HR functions and some level of personalization aligns with your needs.
#14 Workleap Officevibe
Workleap Officevibe offers a comprehensive platform with a focus on personalization to address both employee development and engagement needs. While personalization for onboarding experiences might be limited, its ability to tailor development plans and recognition can significantly enhance the employee journey.
Consider Workleap Officevibe if you want a platform that integrates talent development with features to boost engagement and foster a culture of personalized growth.
#15 ThriveSparrow
ThriveSparrow offers a user-friendly platform for communication, recognition, and fostering a positive work environment. While information about mass personalization features is limited, it might offer some level of personalization for content curation, notifications, and recognition messages.
Consider ThriveSparrow if communication, social interaction, and basic recognition are your main priorities.
#16 ClearCompany
ClearCompany offers a powerful platform for talent management with a focus on data-driven personalization. While a learning curve might be involved, ClearCompany can empower organizations to build a high-performing workforce by providing personalized learning and development opportunities, setting clear goals, and offering targeted feedback.
Consider ClearCompany if a comprehensive talent management solution with data-driven personalization capabilities aligns with your needs.
#17 Quantum Workplace
Quantum Workplace’s recognition software provides a personal touch through features like photo and GIF support. However, the extent of personalization across their entire platform remains unclear. If extensive personalization is a top priority, rather consider platforms known for this strength.
#18 Trakstar
Trakstar offers a comprehensive talent management suite with the potential for personalization through features like learning management system (LMS) integration and data-driven insights. However, the level of built-in personalization is seemingly limited compared to dedicated platforms. Carefully evaluate the functionalities, level of integration required, and potential customization burden before making a decision.
#19 Beekeeper
Beekeeper offers a mobile-first platform for communication and content management within a frontline workforce. While information about personalization features is limited, the platform has the potential for content targeting and user experience customization. If clear communication and content delivery are your top priorities, Beekeeper might be a good fit. However, if extensive personalization is crucial, consider platforms known for this strength and reach out to Beekeeper for clarification on their personalization capabilities.
#20 Sift
Sift excels at promoting transparency and facilitating connections within organizations. It offers a central location for employee information, powerful search functionalities, and customizable profiles. While information about advanced personalization features is limited, the platform has potential for future development in this area.
The Most Important Features of Employee Engagement Software
The best employee engagement software steps up to the challenge, offering a diverse arsenal of tools to transform satisfied employees into high performers. But with so many options vying for your attention, choosing the right one can feel — and often is — overwhelming.
Let’s check some essential features that make up a powerful employee engagement software suite. This might help you make the right choice for your organization.
1. Personalized Communication
Gone are the days of one-size-fits-all communication. Effective engagement hinges on personalization. Look for software that allows you to:
- Segment your audience: Tailor messages to specific groups based on demographics, roles, or performance.
- Deliver through preferred channels: Reach employees where they are with SMS, email, or other communication methods they prefer.
- Personalize content: Craft messages that resonate with individual needs and preferences. Imagine sending video snippets or including employee names for a more engaging touch.
2. Meaningful Recognition & Rewards
Recognition is a powerful motivator. The right software empowers you to:
- Go beyond traditional points and badges: While points-based systems have their place, consider offering more diverse reward options to cater to different preferences. This will certainly get a reaction from employees.
- Provide timely and specific recognition: A heartfelt “thank you” for a job well done goes a long way. Look for software that facilitates quick and easy recognition of achievements big or small.
- Make recognition social: Public recognition can and does boost team spirit and encourage healthy competition.
Download our FREE Guide on How to Choose the Best Employee Comms Software
3. Surveys & Pulse Checks
Staying in tune with employee sentiment is vital. Look for a platform that allows you to:
- Run regular pulse surveys: Gather real-time feedback on employee experience, morale, and potential roadblocks. It will pay dividends.
- Conduct anonymous surveys: Encourage honest feedback by ensuring anonymity. And remember to act on the feedback you get.
- Analyze data and take action: Turn survey insights into actionable steps to improve employee engagement.
4. A User-Friendly & Engaging Experience
The software itself should be engaging! Choose a platform that is:
- Easy to use: A user-friendly interface ensures high adoption rates across all employee demographics.
- Mobile-friendly: Today’s workforce is on the go. Make sure the software you choose will be accessible from any device.
- Visually appealing: A clean and intuitive interface keeps employees engaged with the platform.
The Future of Employee Engagement Platforms
Employee engagement platforms are evolving incredibly rapidly. They are moving beyond basic communication tools to become strategic hubs for a truly connected and thriving workforce.
Here’s a glimpse into what the future might hold.
Hyper-Personalization with AI
Gen AI is poised to take personalization to the next level. Imagine software that suggests micro-learning modules based on individual skill gaps or delivers recognition tailored to an employee’s preferred communication style. It’s already happening. For instance, AI can analyze vast amounts of data to create a truly individualized experience for each employee.
What’s particularly interesting is the growing link between AI and hyper-personalization. In its State of the Sector 2022/23 survey, Gallagher found that 55% of respondents believed hyper-personalization would be impactful, while only 40% ranked AI. But there has been a shift in focus, as the 2023/24 survey shows. Asked to rank the impact of technology over the next five years, 68% ranked AI as being highly or very highly important, and 48% ranked hyper-personalization this high. Other technologies aren’t seen by many to be important: gamification 22%, immersive technology and the Metaverse 16%, and augmented reality only 10%. This shows that AI and hyper-personalization together play an enormously beneficial role.
The Rise of the Employee Experience Platform
Employee engagement software will merge with broader employee experience (EX) platforms, offering a holistic view of the employee journey. Imagine a platform that integrates onboarding, performance management, well-being resources, and career development tools — all in one place. Stop imagining and take action to make it real.
Wellbeing Takes Center Stage
Employee well-being will be a top priority. We know how important it is already. But soon, platforms will integrate with wearable devices and health apps, offering personalized recommendations for stress management, healthy habits, and mental health support.
Predictive Analytics for Proactive Engagement
Advanced analytics will predict potential engagement issues. Imagine the platform identifying an employee at risk of burnout and prompting a manager to intervene with personalized support or a lighter workload. When this happens, stress levels will decrease too.
The Voice Revolution
Voice-activated interfaces and chatbots will revolutionize communication. Employees will be able to access information, complete tasks, and even submit feedback using voice commands or chatbots, making interaction with the platform even more seamless.
The Power of Purpose
Software platforms will help companies connect employees to the organization’s mission and purpose. Imagine features that showcase the company’s social impact or allow employees to contribute to causes they care about, fostering a deeper sense of connection and meaning in their work.
Why Cerkl Broadcast?
While there are a lot of solutions available in the market, Cerkl Broadcast has emerged as one of the leaders in the field of internal communication and employee engagement. Some of the reasons for this include:
Broadcast Stands Out In a Crowded Field
Unlike recognition and reward platforms, Cerkl Broadcast emphasizes personalized communication, a key differentiator in today’s employee engagement landscape.
Tailored Messages
Broadcast lets you segment audiences and personalize messages based on demographics, roles, or performance. Imagine sending video snippets or including employee names for a more engaging touch. Don’t imagine it — do it with Broadcast.
Multiple Channels
Reach employees where they are with newsletter, email, mobile app, or integrations with their preferred communication tools like Slack or Microsoft Teams.
Improved Engagement
Personalized communication fosters a sense of connection and value, potentially leading to higher employee engagement.
Enhanced Information Flow
Targeted messages ensure employees receive the most relevant information, improving knowledge sharing and overall communication effectiveness.
Streamlined Communication
Cerkl Broadcast offers drag-and-drop email creation and real-time analytics, potentially saving time and resources compared to manual communication efforts.
What’s Next?
Convinced? Want to know more? Either way, we’d like you to talk to us to find out how Cerkl Broadcast can help your employee engagement strategies.
We can also help you assess the effectiveness of your existing internal communications plan.
FAQ
Employee engagement software is a kind of digital toolbox that helps companies improve employee satisfaction, feedback, and overall workplace experience.
The most important capability is likely the ability to collect and analyze data on employee sentiment, guiding data-driven decisions to boost engagement. At the same time, personalization is absolutely a crucial capability for employee engagement software. By tailoring the experience to individual needs and preferences, it can significantly boost employee engagement.
The ideal employee engagement tools depend on your company’s specific needs and budget. Consider features and user reviews to find the best fit.