When it comes to incentive and recognition programs, an update or refresh is usually a good idea after a few years. At QIC, we counsel our existing clients through regular program reviews to see when it’s time to refresh or enhance their current program. Potential clients often come to us with legacy programs – whether it’s a program running on a provider’s platform (like QIC) or one they are managing internally. We then evaluate what’s working, what isn’t, and what could be improved and help them understand what a more effective solution would look like.
The Natural Evolution of Recognition Programs
This is a natural thing, especially with employee recognition. These programs often begin with the basic components: years of service, maybe some safety milestones, some onboarding points. That may work well. That may be exciting and new for a year or two. But then it’s time to enhance and refresh.
| Stage | What It Looks Like | Signal to Act |
|---|---|---|
| Launch | Years of service, safety milestones, onboarding points | Program feels new — engagement is high |
| Plateau | Same structure, novelty wears off, priorities shift | Engagement dips; awards don’t match business goals |
| Refresh | Realigned budget, new branding, updated communication strategy | Program feels current — for new and tenured employees alike |
We’re always in conversation with our clients, but we also have formal meetings during the year, where we discuss the performance metrics of their program. We also listen to them share what’s new in their business or industry and discover what priorities have changed.
Finally, we share best practices and what we’re seeing in the marketplace, which they always appreciate.
What We Look For in Program Health
During those calls, we’re looking at the health of their program. Point earning and redeeming tell part of the story — but the full picture includes:
This helps us see what’s working and what’s not. Sometimes the way points are being awarded doesn’t match what the current business priorities are. That means it’s time to refresh or replace what you’re doing to make sure it’s aligned with what you’re trying to drive as an organization.
Why Strategic Reviews Matter
It’s important to have these strategic calls a couple of times a year with your program provider. If not, all the work done on the front end to ensure positive ROI and desired business results becomes obsolete because you aren’t keeping up with current business objectives.
Things change, and we want to help our clients evolve their programs accordingly.
Refreshing Doesn’t Always Mean Spending More
We can see when or where engagement drops. Often, the solution is not investing more but changing the way clients allocate their budget, which comes as a surprise to many.
- A refocus and reallocation of existing budget — shift spend toward the behaviors that matter most right now
- New branding — make the program feel fresh and contemporary
- A new communication strategy — developed together, to re-engage participants and drive awareness
All of these things can help keep your program feeling contemporary, even if you’ve been with the same partner for years.
Long-Term Partnerships That Stay Fresh
We have client relationships that span decades, and their programs still feel fresh and new to their existing employees and their new ones.
