This past week, recognition software provider Blueboard suddenly announced that it was ceasing operations.
It’s never good to see a company shut down, and the announcement appears to have taken many employees, customers, and others in the HR and tech communities by surprise. Our heart goes out to those affected.
Like Guusto, Blueboard sought to do something different in the recognition space, offering experienced-based rewards as opposed to the traditional points and catalogue systems other platforms use. We admired their innovative approach and the value it created for customers and their employees.
We also had the pleasure of meeting many members of the Blueboard team at some recent From Day One events we attended, and can attest to how bright, hard-working and capable their employees are. We’d like to take this opportunity to wish them all the best in their future careers, from everyone at Guusto.
If you're a customer that’s been affected by the Blueboard shutdown, we’re hoping this post will provide some additional clarity and advice about the situation, as well as some information for those looking to transition their program to another provider.
What does the Blueboard shutdown mean for customers who have already paid for recognition?
We’ve gathered that the Blueboard shutdown happened quite abruptly, and that several customers are understandably concerned about what this means for their programs, particularly those who have already paid for rewards from the platform.
While these aren’t questions we can answer ourselves, we have noted that Blueboard’s former CFO Scott Broomfield has taken it upon himself to provide some clarity on LinkedIn, including information about the process for creditors and some additional insights into the circumstances surrounding the situation.
Advice for Blueboard customers looking for alternative recognition programs
The good news for former Blueboard customers is that there are a lot of great alternatives out there to fulfil your needs, with several companies doing great things in the recognition space. Review sites like Capterra can also give you a sense of which programs are resonating with other customers, and what their pros and cons are.
Of course, no recognition program is perfect for every company (even Guusto!), and you might need to do some research to find the right solution for your needs. Here’s a few questions you should ask yourself:
- Does the program offer enough variety and choice of rewards for my employees?
- Does it work for all my staff (frontline workers, office staff, remote employees, etc.)?
- What kind of program options do they offer (top-down recognition, peer-to-peer programs, milestones)?
- How much flexibility is there to tailor a program to my needs?
- What kind of contractual obligations am I tied to (minimum durations, funding amounts, user subscriptions)?
- What kind of customer service will they provide?
You may also need to look at your internal budget, particularly if you’ve already committed some funding to a Blueboard program and are awaiting resolution.
Another important aspect to consider is how quickly you need to get up and running. If your employees are now seeing that rewards they’ve accumulated in your old program are no longer valid, they may be anxious for you to find an alternative. At the same time, you don’t necessarily want to rush into a commitment with a new provider that may not be right for you.
How Guusto might help
While Guusto does not offer exclusively experiential rewards like Blueboard, some aspects of our program make it an interesting alternative for former customers seeking a new platform. We offer:
- Flexible gift cards for over 60,000+ global merchant locations, including retailers, restaurants, streaming services, and other attractions and experiences
- Charity donations, swag, and custom reward options
- 100% credit back on unclaimed gifts
- No markups, shipping costs, minimums, or hidden fees
- 1 day of clean water donated for every gift sent
However, perhaps one of the greatest strengths that we offer is the ability to start small and pilot our program before you scale up. We know that it can be tricky to transition right away to another program, and you might be reluctant to go ‘all in’ from the get-go with a different system that may or not be a fit for your company.
Guusto gives you the option to get started quickly, without having to commit to any long contracts or minimum spends. You can start with a free account, and send unlimited rewards. After that, you could run a small pilot program by giving a few managers or other leaders budgets to send rewards, and then roll it out to your whole team when you’re ready.
If you’re interested in finding out more, click here to book a call with one of our Client Collaborators:
Alternatively, you can create your account and try Guusto for yourself right away:
