Employee engagement has become more than just a buzzword—it's a crucial factor in ensuring a motivated, productive workforce. Companies that invest in employee engagement reap the benefits of higher productivity, lower turnover, and better overall workplace satisfaction, especially when considering that disengagement can cost a median-size S&P 500 company between $228 million and $355 million annually. In this guide, we'll explore what employee engagement software is, why your company needs it, and how to choose the best platform for your organization.

What is employee engagement software?

Employee engagement software is a digital platform that measures, tracks, and improves how connected and motivated employees feel at work. These tools combine surveys, feedback systems, recognition programs, and analytics to help organizations boost productivity and retention.

Key Features and Benefits:

• Surveys and Feedback: Regularly gather employee opinions and gauge morale. These insights can help you identify areas of improvement and address issues before they escalate.

• Recognition Programs: Celebrate employee achievements to boost morale. Recognizing hard work and accomplishments fosters a positive work environment and encourages continued high performance, and since 70% of team engagement is attributable to the manager, these recognition programs are a powerful tool for leaders.

• Analytics: Measure engagement levels and track improvements over time. Advanced analytics can provide actionable data, enabling you to make informed decisions that enhance job satisfaction and productivity.

• Integration: Seamlessly integrate with existing human resources systems and communication tools. This ensures that employee engagement efforts are streamlined across platforms, reducing the need for manual data entry and improving overall efficiency.

Why your company needs an employee engagement tool

Investing in an employee engagement tool isn't just a nice-to-have—it's a strategic necessity. Engaged employees are more productive, more satisfied with their jobs, and more likely to stay with the company; in fact, research shows that workers who are satisfied with their experience at work are approximately 2 times more productive. In fact, companies with high employee engagement even see an increase in profitability and a reduction in absenteeism.

Benefits for Businesses:

Employee engagement tools deliver measurable business impact through improved workforce connection and motivation:

• Increased Productivity: Engaged employees are committed to their work and deliver better results, which is critical when low engagement is costing the global economy an estimated $438 billion in lost productivity.

• Higher Retention Rates: Companies with engaged workforces see 40% lower turnover rates.

• Better Team Dynamics: Enhanced internal communication and collaboration across all departments.

Key features to look for in employee engagement software

Choose employee engagement software with these essential capabilities:

• Survey and feedback tools: Customizable pulse surveys, annual assessments, and anonymous feedback channels for honest sentiment tracking.

• Recognition and rewards: Peer-to-peer recognition, manager rewards, and milestone celebrations that reinforce positive behaviors.

• Analytics and reporting: Real-time dashboards with demographic segmentation to uncover organizational insights.

• Integration capabilities: Seamless connections with HRIS (Workday, BambooHR) and communication tools (Slack, Teams).

Types of employee engagement software

Employee engagement software falls into three main categories:

Pulse survey platforms

These tools focus on gathering frequent, lightweight feedback through short, recurring surveys. They are excellent for tracking sentiment in real-time and quickly identifying emerging issues before they become larger problems.

Recognition and rewards platforms

Centered on fostering a culture of appreciation, these platforms provide a centralized system for employees and managers to give and receive recognition. Many include a points-based system that can be redeemed for rewards.

Comprehensive engagement suites

These all-in-one platforms combine surveys, feedback, recognition, performance management, and goal-setting features. They offer a holistic view of the employee experience and are often best suited for mid-sized to large enterprises.

Top 10 employee engagement platforms for 2024

1. Culture Amp

Source: Culture Amp

• Key Features: Comprehensive employee surveys, powerful analytics, and action planning tools.

• Pricing: According to Culture Amp's pricing page, pricing varies depending on your number of employees, which product you choose, and more.

• Pros: Deep analytics capabilities, actionable insights, strong focus on diversity and inclusion.

• Cons: Higher cost, some features require add-ons.

2. 15Five

Source: Capterra

• Key Features: Continuous feedback, one-on-one meeting templates, OKR tracking, and engagement surveys.

• Pricing: Starts at $4 per user per month (basic plan); premium plans available.

• Pros: User-friendly, integrates with various HR systems, strong support for goal setting and performance management.

• Cons: Limited customization in lower-tier plans.

3. Officevibe

Source: Capterra

• Key Features: Pulse surveys, anonymous feedback, and a focus on team dynamics.

• Pricing: Free plan available; premium starts at $3.50 per user per month.

• Pros: Intuitive interface, excellent for team-level insights, affordable.

• Cons: Less suited for large enterprises, limited advanced features in the free version.

4. TINYpulse

Source: Capterra

• Key Features: Employee surveys, anonymous feedback, recognition, and suggestions.

• Pricing: Pricing available upon request—contact for quote.

• Pros: Strong focus on anonymity, simple to use, great for small to mid-sized companies.

• Cons: Limited integrations, basic reporting features.

5. Lattice

Source: Capterra

• Key Features: Engagement surveys, performance reviews, goal management, and 1:1s.

• Pricing: Starts at $11 per user per month.

• Pros: Comprehensive performance management features, robust reporting, strong customer support.

• Cons: Can be expensive for larger teams, some features require additional modules.

6. Glint

Source: Capterra

• Key Features: Employee engagement surveys, real-time analytics, and action planning.

• Pricing: Custom pricing based on organization size. Request a live demo for pricing information.

• Pros: Real-time insights, strong integration with LinkedIn, excellent customer support.

• Cons: Higher cost, tailored for larger enterprises.

7. Quantum Workplace

Source: Capterra

• Key Features: Engagement surveys, pulse surveys, goal tracking, and feedback tools.

• Pricing: Custom pricing based on organization size. Request a quote to receive pricing information.

• Pros: Comprehensive engagement and performance tools, detailed analytics, customizable surveys.

• Cons: Not as user-friendly as some competitors, limited third-party integrations.

8. Peakon (Workday)

Source: Capterra

• Key Features: Employee engagement surveys, predictive analytics, and performance insights.

• Pricing: Custom pricing based on company size and needs.

• Pros: AI-driven insights, strong focus on actionable data, integrates well with Workday.

• Cons: Tailored for large organizations, complex to set up.

9. Reward Gateway

Source: Capterra

• Key Features: Employee recognition, benefits, surveys, and communication tools.

• Pricing: Request demo for pricing information.

• Pros: Comprehensive employee engagement platform, strong focus on employee rewards and recognition.

• Cons: Higher cost, best suited for companies with a large budget for employee benefits.

10. Kudos

Source: Capterra

• Key Features: Peer-to-peer recognition, awards, and employee engagement surveys.

• Pricing: Starts at $3.50 per user per month.

• Pros: Easy to use, affordable, good for fostering a company culture of recognition.

• Cons: Limited features beyond recognition and basic surveys, some users report limited customization options.

These platforms represent a mix of different approaches to improving employee engagement, from recognition-focused tools to comprehensive survey and analytics platforms. Depending on your company's specific needs—whether it's real-time feedback, deep analytics, or a focus on employee recognition—there's a solution here that can help you boost engagement and satisfaction in your workplace.

How to choose the right employee engagement software

When selecting the right employee engagement software for your company, consider the following factors:

1. Company Size: Small businesses may need a more straightforward tool, while larger organizations might require advanced features and scalability. It's important to choose a platform that can grow with your business and accommodate an increasing number of users without compromising performance.

2. Budget: Determine your budget and find a platform that offers the best features within your price range. Be sure to consider not only the upfront cost but also any ongoing expenses for upgrades, support, or additional features that might be necessary as your company evolves.

3. Specific Needs: Identify the specific engagement challenges your company faces and choose a tool that directly addresses them. Whether you need to focus on improving communication, increasing employee recognition, or gathering more insightful feedback, select a software that aligns with your most pressing priorities.

4. Integration Capabilities: Ensure the software integrates well with your existing HR systems and other business tools. Seamless integration helps maintain workflow efficiency, reduces the need for manual data entry, and ensures that all relevant employee data is synchronized across platforms.

Implementing your employee engagement tool: Best practices

Successfully implementing an employee engagement tool requires careful planning and execution:

1. Start with a Pilot Program: Test the tool with a small group before rolling it out company-wide.

2. Train Your Team: Provide training sessions to ensure everyone knows how to use the platform effectively, especially for leaders, as research shows only 15 percent of managers feel comfortable managing remote and hybrid teams.

3. Encourage Participation: Motivate employees to engage with the tool by highlighting its benefits.

4. Regularly Review and Adjust: Continuously monitor the tool's performance and make necessary adjustments based on employee feedback.

Measuring the success of your employee engagement platform

To determine the effectiveness of your employee engagement software, track these key metrics:

1. Employee Participation Rates: Measure how many employees are actively using the tool.

2. Engagement Scores: Use the software's analytics to monitor changes in engagement levels.

3. Retention Rates: Compare employee turnover rates before and after implementing the tool.

Building a comprehensive engagement strategy with your AI source of truth

True employee engagement requires more than surveys—it needs trust, clarity, and empowerment, as less productive workers are twice as likely to encounter poor communication as a primary barrier to their work. When employees easily access the information they need, they feel more confident and connected to your mission.

This is where an AI source of truth becomes essential. By connecting all your company's information into a single, trusted brain, Guru ensures that every employee has access to verified, permission-aware answers right in their workflow. This reduces friction, eliminates confusion, and empowers your team to perform at their best. An engaged workforce is an informed workforce. To see how Guru creates a trusted layer of truth that powers both your people and your engagement strategy, watch a demo.