5 retail gamification ideas to consider in 2024

In response to the growing demand for experiential retail, brands are integrating gamification features across all levels of their omnichannel strategies.

In 2024, here are 5 gamification ideas to consider in order to increase engagement, enhance brand visibility and ultimately improve the bottom line.

 

1. Personalised Rewards Program

Implement a personalised rewards program that offers customers unique incentives based on their shopping habits and preferences.

It was revealed revently that more than 50% of consumers in the Middle East and Africa (MEA) favour discounts and offers alongside free products from their loyalty membership. Interestingy, brands are now focusing on creating lifestyle loyalty programmes by rewarding actions rather than purchases. At the ame time, consumers are becoming savvier, seeking added value from their regular purchases and membership schemes. This is forcing brands to adapt and deliver wide-ranging rewards, more prestigious membership status, enjoyable experiences and personalised services. By using data analytics to track customer behavior, retailers can create a gamified experience that encourages repeat purchases and brand loyalty.

 

2. Augmented Reality Shopping

Incorporate augmented reality technology into the shopping experience to create an interactive and engaging environment for customers. By allowing shoppers to virtually try on clothes, test out products, and explore different options, retailers can enhance the overall shopping experience and increase customer engagement.

For instance, Al-Futtaim Automotive reently enhanced its ‘phygital’ offering with the launch of an immersive and interactive virtual showroom through a special VR headset. developed in collaboration with Verse Estate, a Dubai-based VR-technology company. Inside the virtual showroom, customers immerse in a real automotive buying experience by surveying the entire virtual space, seeing all the models displayed inside and out, exploring each car’s details and features – and even going to the extent of customising the car on display to a certain extent.

 

3. Interactive In-Store Experiences

Create interactive in-store experiences that blend the physical and digital worlds to engage customers and drive foot traffic. From interactive displays and games to virtual reality experiences, retailers can create a fun and immersive environment that encourages customers to spend more time in-store and make purchases.

Last month, Mall of America  unveiled its latest concept in a bid to drive foot traffic by creating more unique on-site experiences. Through a new physical on-site gameshow studio guests can experience all the thrills of a popular televised gameshow. By providing live entertainment experiences traditional brick-and-mortar stores can peak the interest of the consumer in a less traditional manner, helping to counter the great shift to e-commerce that has taken place over the last few years.

 

4. Gamified Loyalty Program

Revamp traditional loyalty programs by incorporating gamification elements such as challenges, competitions, and leaderboards. By adding a competitive element to loyalty programs, retailers can incentivise customers to engage more with their brand and increase their likelihood of making repeat purchases.

A recent example comes from beauty retialer Sephora, which offered its Beauty Insider loyalty program members the chance to earn more points through gamified experiences. Through a new first-of-its-kind feature called “Beauty Insider Challenges,” it introduced a range of tasks tasks, some which require purchases and some which do not. they’re available to all membership tiers. For instance, this includes checking out with buy-online, pick-up in-store; signing up for Sephora text alerts; adding samples at online checkout; and trying Sephora’s in-store shade-matching tool, Color iQ.

 

5. Social Media Contests and Challenges

Leverage social media platforms to create gamified contests and challenges that encourage customers to interact with your brand online. By offering prizes, discounts, and exclusive offers to participants, retailers can increase brand awareness, drive social media engagement, and attract new customers to their stores.

In a new concept, grocery retailer 7-Eleven’ recently challenged consumers to use clues revealed on 7-Eleven’s social channels to find 7-Eleven branded cars across a series of custom Fortnite islands, bridging the gap between social media and the Metaverse. These could then be used to unlock a special 7-Eleven map and virtual car meet up enhancing engagment by tapping into customers’ passion points.