The modern workplace is evolving rapidly. As businesses shift toward digital, remote, and hybrid models, the need to keep employees engaged, productive, and motivated has become more important than ever. In response to this challenge, Xendit—a leading financial technology company—introduced a bold and creative approach: gamification in the workplace.
This innovative strategy took center stage at the Xendit Work Gamification Summit, a multi-day event that brought together professionals, leaders, and thinkers from across industries to explore how the principles Game design principles are reshaping how people connect, perform, and find purpose in their daily work.
This article explores the summit in detail—its purpose, content, impact, and how gamification is shaping the future of work.
What Is Gamification?
Before diving into the summit, it’s helpful to understand what gamification actually means.
Gamification is the process of applying elements of game design—like points, levels, badges, challenges, and leaderboards—to non-game contexts. In the workplace, this means using game mechanics to make tasks more engaging, collaborative, and rewarding.
The goal is to make work feel less like a chore and more like a meaningful, goal-oriented experience. When done right, gamification taps into human psychology to increase motivation, participation, and satisfaction.
Why Xendit Adopted Gamification
Xendit’s journey with gamification began as a response to a problem many companies face: how to keep employees energized and connected, especially in a remote or hybrid work environment.
As the company grew, so did its complexity. Teams were working from different locations, onboarding new members virtually, and trying to maintain high levels of performance across all functions. Traditional methods of engagement—emails, reports, meetings—were not always effective.
Gamification offered a new way forward. It allowed Xendit to create a more dynamic work environment where progress was visible, achievements were celebrated, and collaboration felt fun and purposeful. Based on positive internal results, Xendit decided to share its experiences and learnings through the Work Gamification Summit.
Overview of the Xendit Work Gamification Summit
The summit was designed to showcase how gamification can be used not just in theory, but in real workplace settings. It was structured over several days, each focusing on different aspects of gamification and how to apply it in everyday work.
Key Goals of the Summit:
- Educate professionals on the principles of gamification
- Demonstrate how to implement game elements in business operations
- Share Xendit’s real-life use cases and outcomes
- Promote a culture of innovation and experimentation
Attendees included HR professionals, product managers, engineers, team leaders, and company executives from various sectors.
Day-by-Day Breakdown
Day 1: Understanding the Fundamentals
The first day focused on the basics:
- What is gamification?
- Why does it work?
- How does it align with business goals?
Experts in behavioral psychology and game design discussed how human motivation can be influenced by simple mechanics like rewards, progress tracking, and challenges. Attendees learned how intrinsic and extrinsic motivators work together to boost engagement.
Day 2: Practical Applications in the Workplace
This day explored how gamification can be integrated into real business functions such as:
- Sales and Customer Service
- Engineering and Product Development
- Human Resources and Onboarding
- Training and Learning & Development
Xendit team members presented case studies showing how specific mechanics (like points for completing tasks, digital badges for learning milestones, or team challenges for monthly goals) led to measurable improvements in performance and morale.
Workshops were also held where attendees could map out their own gamification strategies for their organizations.
Day 3: Technology, Ethics, and the Future
The final day looked ahead to the future of gamification in work:
- How can artificial intelligence personalize gamified experiences?
- What are the ethical considerations around tracking and rewards?
- How can gamification be inclusive and sustainable?
Attendees discussed both opportunities and risks—highlighting the need for transparency, opt-in participation, and avoiding over-competition or burnout.
Real-World Examples from Xendit
Xendit provided several internal examples that helped illustrate how gamification works in practice.
1. Sales Team Motivation
Xendit created a point system where salespeople earned points for completing tasks like updating CRM entries, closing deals, or attending training. Monthly leaderboards were introduced, and top performers received recognition and small prizes. This approach led to a significant increase in CRM usage and deal closing rates.
2. Customer Support Excellence
Support agents were awarded badges for resolving tickets quickly, receiving positive feedback from customers, or helping teammates. These badges were displayed in internal profiles and contributed to promotions and bonuses.
3. Developer Engagement
Engineering teams used “quests” and “sprints” as part of their workflow. Each completed feature or bug fix added points to a team’s dashboard. Mini-competitions during hackathons brought out creative solutions, and developers were rewarded for mentoring peers.
4. Onboarding New Employees
New hires went through a gamified onboarding journey. As they completed orientation sessions, met team members, or submitted their first tasks, they earned badges and leveled up. It accelerated onboarding while creating a sense of belonging and confidence for new team members from day one.
Key Gamification Elements Used
Here are some common elements used by Xendit and discussed during the summit:
| Element | Description |
|---|---|
| Points | Earned for completing tasks or behaviors |
| Badges | Awarded for achievements or milestones |
| Levels | Reflect experience or progress over time |
| Leaderboards | Rank individuals or teams based on performance |
| Quests/Challenges | Task groups that create short-term goals with clear rewards |
| Streaks | Encourage consistency by rewarding repeated behaviors over days/weeks |
| Progress Bars | Progress bars offer a clear visual journey, mapping how far someone has come—and how close they are to achieving their goal. |
| Unlockables | Access to new features, tools, or privileges after meeting criteria |
Each of these elements is designed to create a sense of purpose, progress, and reward—key drivers of motivation.
Benefits of Gamification at Work
The Xendit summit highlighted a range of benefits from using gamification in business environments:
1. Increased Engagement
Tasks become more interesting when they are tied to challenges, levels, and recognition. Employees are more likely to participate actively and consistently.
2. Better Performance Tracking
Gamified systems often include dashboards and metrics that make performance transparent and measurable—for both individuals and teams.
3. Faster Learning and Onboarding
Gamification makes training feel like an adventure rather than a chore, increasing retention and application of knowledge.
4. Stronger Team Collaboration
Team-based challenges encourage people to work together, celebrate wins, and support each other.
5. Higher Job Satisfaction
Recognition, visible progress, and a fun environment lead to higher morale and lower turnover.
Challenges and Ethical Considerations
While gamification offers many benefits, the summit also addressed potential downsides.
1. Over-competition
When spotlighted too heavily, leaderboards can shift from motivating tools to pressure cookers that discourage those still finding their stride.It’s important to balance competition with collaboration.
2. Burnout
Some game mechanics, like streaks, can pressure employees to constantly perform without breaks. Companies must prioritize well-being over constant productivity.
3. Data Privacy
Tracking progress and behaviors must be done transparently and ethically. Employees should know what is being monitored and how it’s used.
4. Inclusivity
Different people are motivated in different ways. A one-size-fits-all approach can leave some employees out. Offering multiple ways to succeed is key.
Takeaways for Other Organizations
For companies interested in applying gamification, here are some key takeaways from the summit:
- Start Small: Test gamification in one area before rolling it out widely.
- Know Your People: Understand what motivates your teams—some prefer recognition, others value rewards or learning.
- Keep It Voluntary: Let people opt-in, and avoid mandatory participation.
- Design with Purpose: Align game mechanics with real business goals and employee development.
- Measure and Adjust: Track outcomes and tweak the system based on feedback and results.
Conclusion
The Xendit Work Gamification Summit offered a fresh look at how companies can rethink work—not by adding more tasks or rules, but by introducing purpose, progress, and play. By sharing their own experiences and encouraging others to experiment, Xendit has positioned itself as a pioneer in the future of employee engagement.
Gamification is not just a buzzword. When applied thoughtfully, it can transform how people learn, collaborate, and thrive at work. Whether you’re in HR, sales, tech, or management, the insights from this summit are a valuable reminder: work can be both productive and fun.