The French Companies Betting on ‘Gamification’ to Improve Productivity

Last September, the atmosphere was electric in the open-plan office where Julien*, a salesperson at a software company, works. Around the coffee machine, conversations kept returning to one subject: a challenge rewarding those who “make the fastest progress toward their annual goals.” The prize was a bonus worth several thousand euros. A significant “carrot” for this competitive 30-something.

He got caught up in the game. Using a tool, he entered the number of clients contacted, contracts signed, deal values, and more. The numbers climbed—and so did the pressure. When the results finally came in, Julien was among the winners.

“I think it’s great because it’s a real game,” he says with a smile.

The mechanism became almost addictive: “Every month, if I sell this or that product, I get paid more,” he explains, won over by the method. “If I land a certain contract, I get a bonus.”

“I earned €2,500 more this month,” he recalls.