Configuring Gamification Levels

When gamification is enabled, administrators can create custom gamification types with unique rank progressions, earnings thresholds, and badge images. Gamification transforms reward programs into engaging, competitive experiences by recognizing user achievements through visual badges and leaderboard rankings that motivate continued participation and progression.

Requirements

To configure gamification levels, users must be assigned a security role with one of the following permissions:

• Administrator System Role
• Additional Settings: Access Rewards Enabled

Before You Begin

Before creating gamification types and levels, consider the following:

• Determine the theme or naming convention for ranks that aligns with your organizational culture or program objectives (e.g., Partner Levels: Bronze/Silver/Gold/Platinum, Sales Champions: Scout/Explorer/Pioneer/Pathfinder, Learning Journey: Apprentice/Adept/Wizard/Master)
• Analyze typical user reward earning patterns to establish achievable threshold values
• Prepare or design badge images (recommended size: 250px by 250px) that visually represent each rank level
• Decide how many rank levels provide meaningful progression without being overwhelming (typically 4-7 levels)
• Consider whether different programs need different gamification themes (channel programs vs. customer programs vs. employee programs)

Understanding Gamification Types

Gamification Types:

• Organizations can create multiple gamification types to support different program themes and audiences
• Each gamification type has a unique name and contains its own set of ranks with associated thresholds and badges
• Each reward program can be assigned one gamification type
• Different programs can use different gamification types simultaneously (e.g., "Partner Excellence" for channel programs, "Customer Champions" for customer programs)
• A default gamification type can be set in Reward Program General Settings to apply to all programs unless overridden

Gamification Ranks:

• Each gamification type contains multiple ranks representing progression levels
• Ranks are defined by:
  • Rank Name: The title displayed to users (e.g., Bronze, Silver, Gold)
  • Earnings Threshold: The minimum points or cash required to achieve the rank
  • Badge Image: Visual representation of the rank achievement
• Users automatically progress through ranks as their accumulated rewards reach defined thresholds
• Ranks should be arranged in ascending order with progressively higher thresholds

Rank Progression:

• Users advance to higher ranks automatically when their points or cash balance reaches the next threshold
• Rank calculations use the ranking period defined in Reward Program General Settings (Last 60/90/180/365 days or All Time)
• If thresholds are modified, all user ranks automatically adjust to reflect the new values
• Users enrolled in multiple programs see program-specific ranks and badges, not profile-level gamification

To access gamification type management:

1. In the Setup Home page, click Create > Rewards.

2. Click Settings.

3. In the Gamification Settings pane, click Click to manage your gamifications levels.

This navigates to the Reward Gamification Types home page where you can create, edit, and delete gamification types.

To create a new gamification type:

1. From the Reward Gamification Types home page, click New.

2. In the Reward Gamification Type page, configure the following:

   Type Name

   • Enter a descriptive name for the gamification type
   • The type name helps administrators identify which gamification system to assign to programs
   • This name is not shown to end-users; only rank names are visible to users
   • Use names that clearly indicate the program theme or audience
   • Examples: "Partner Excellence Program", "Customer Loyalty Tiers", "Sales Performance Levels", "Learning Achievement Ranks"
   • Keep names descriptive yet concise for easy selection when configuring programs

3. Add gamification levels:

   To add a rank level, click Add Level.

4. Configure the rank level in the Rank Details dialog:

   Rank Name

   • Enter the name of this gamification rank
   • This is the rank title displayed to users on leaderboards and in their program dashboards
   • Use names that resonate with your audience and program theme
   • Examples: Bronze/Silver/Gold/Platinum, Apprentice/Adept/Wizard/Conjurer/Enchanter, Scout/Explorer/Pioneer/Pathfinder, Member/Contributor/Champion/Legend
   • Rank names should suggest progressive achievement and increasing status
   • Avoid using rank names in all caps for better readability
   • Recommendation from help text: "Rank name such as: Bronze, Silver and Gold, don't write it in all caps"

   Earnings

   • Enter the starting value of points or cash earnings required to achieve this rank
   • This is the minimum threshold users must reach to attain the rank
   • Enter only whole numbers; currency signs or digit separators are not required
   • The first rank typically starts at 0 to include all users from program enrollment
   • Each subsequent rank should have a higher threshold than the previous rank
   • Consider user earning patterns when setting thresholds:
     • Too low: Users advance too quickly, diminishing achievement value
     • Too high: Users become discouraged by seemingly unattainable goals
     • Optimal: Regular progression opportunities that reward sustained engagement
   • Example progression: 0, 5000, 10000, 40000, 60000

   Badge Image

   • Click the search icon to select a badge image for this rank level
   • Badge images provide visual representation of rank achievement
   • Recommended image size: 250px by 250px for optimal display
   • Use consistent visual design across all ranks within a gamification type
   • Consider progressive visual elements (color intensity, complexity, embellishments) that indicate increasing rank levels
   • Upload badge images to the system before configuring gamification levels
   • Badge images appear on user dashboards, leaderboards, and program pages

5. Click Apply to add the rank level.

6. Repeat steps 3-5 to add additional rank levels.

   Best practices for rank structure:

   • Create 4-7 rank levels for optimal progression experience
   • Fewer ranks (3-4) work well for shorter programs or limited earning opportunities
   • More ranks (6-7) suit longer-term programs with substantial earning potential
   • Arrange ranks in ascending order of difficulty
   • Ensure meaningful threshold differences between consecutive ranks
   • The gap between early ranks should be smaller to provide quick initial wins
   • The gap between higher ranks can be larger to recognize sustained excellence

7. Manage existing levels:

   To edit a rank level:

   • Click Edit next to the rank you want to modify
   • Update the Rank Name, Earnings threshold, or Badge Image
   • Click Apply to save changes
   • Remember that threshold changes automatically adjust all user ranks retroactively

   To delete a rank level:

   • Click Delete next to the rank you want to remove
   • Confirm the deletion
   • Users who previously held the deleted rank will be reassigned to the appropriate remaining rank based on their earnings
   • Use caution when deleting ranks from active programs as it affects existing user achievements

   To reorder rank levels:

   • Rank levels should be displayed in ascending order based on earnings thresholds
   • If reordering is needed, edit the earnings values to ensure proper progression
   • The system displays ranks based on threshold values, so proper numerical ordering is essential

8. Click Save Changes to create the gamification type with all configured rank levels.

To edit an existing gamification type:

1. From the Reward Gamification Types home page, click the gamification type name you want to edit.

2. On the Reward Gamification Type page, make your desired changes:

   • Update the Type Name if needed
   • Add new levels using Add Level
   • Edit existing levels by clicking Edit
   • Delete levels by clicking Delete
   • Modify rank names, earnings thresholds, or badge images

3. Click Save Changes to update the gamification type.

Important considerations when editing:

• Changes to gamification types affect all programs using that type
• Threshold modifications automatically recalculate all user ranks retroactively
• Users who previously achieved ranks may move up or down based on new thresholds
• Deleting ranks removes those achievement levels from all associated programs
• Consider communicating significant gamification changes to affected users
• Test threshold changes with current user data before broad deployment

To delete a gamification type:

1. From the Reward Gamification Types home page, click the gamification type you want to delete.

2. Click Delete (if available).

3. Confirm the deletion.

Important deletion considerations:

• Gamification types assigned to active programs cannot be deleted
• Remove the gamification type from all programs before deletion
• Deleting a gamification type removes all associated rank definitions
• User achievement history may be affected when gamification types are deleted
• Consider deactivating programs or reassigning them to different gamification types before deletion

Assigning Gamification Types to Programs

After creating gamification types, assign them to reward programs:

1. Navigate to Create > Rewards and select a reward program.

2. Click Edit.

3. In the Details tab, locate the Gamification Settings section.

4. In the Gamification Type dropdown, select the desired gamification type for this program.

   • If no selection is made, the default gamification type from Reward Program General Settings is applied
   • Each program can only have one gamification type assigned
   • Program-specific gamification type selections override the default setting

5. Click Save Changes.

Assignment best practices:

• Align gamification themes with program objectives and target audiences
• Use consistent gamification types for related programs to maintain user experience continuity
• Consider different gamification types for distinct user communities (partners vs. customers vs. employees)
• Document which programs use which gamification types for future reference

Monitoring and Optimizing Gamification

Analyzing Rank Distribution:

• Regularly review how users are distributed across rank levels
• Identify if too many users are concentrated in the lowest or highest ranks
• Adjust thresholds if progression is too fast or too slow for program objectives

Gathering User Feedback:

• Survey users about gamification appeal and motivational impact
• Ask if rank names resonate with target audience
• Determine if badge designs effectively communicate achievement levels
• Assess whether competition and leaderboards increase or decrease engagement

Testing Threshold Adjustments:

• Before modifying thresholds in active programs, analyze the impact on current user ranks
• Calculate how many users would move up or down with proposed changes
• Consider whether retroactive rank adjustments will be perceived positively or negatively
• Communicate threshold changes transparently to maintain trust

Iterative Improvement:

• Start with conservative threshold estimates for new programs
• Monitor progression rates during pilot phases
• Refine thresholds based on actual earning patterns before broad deployment
• Update rank names or badge designs if user feedback indicates confusion or lack of resonance

Best Practices and Recommendations

Meaningful Progression: Design rank structures that provide regular advancement opportunities without diminishing achievement value. Users should experience progression every few weeks or months depending on activity frequency and program duration.

Appropriate First Rank Threshold: Set the first rank threshold to 0 to immediately include all users upon program enrollment. This provides instant recognition and establishes the foundation for progression.

Strategic Gap Sizing: Create smaller gaps between early ranks to provide quick wins and build momentum. Use larger gaps between higher ranks to recognize sustained excellence and long-term commitment.

Culturally Appropriate Rank Names: Choose rank names that align with organizational culture and audience preferences. Traditional hierarchies (Bronze/Silver/Gold) work well for professional contexts. Creative themes (Explorer/Pioneer/Pathfinder) suit innovation-focused cultures. Test rank names with sample audiences before deployment.

Professional Badge Design: Use consistent visual design language across all badges within a gamification type. Progressive visual elements (color saturation, complexity, embellishments) should clearly indicate increasing rank levels. Ensure badges are recognizable at small sizes and on various backgrounds.

Regular Threshold Reviews: Schedule quarterly or semi-annual reviews of gamification thresholds and rank distributions. Adjust based on program maturity, user growth, and earning pattern changes. Communicate threshold adjustments clearly to users with adequate advance notice.

Multiple Gamification Types: Create distinct gamification types for different program categories rather than using a single type for all programs. This allows customization that resonates with specific audiences and program objectives.

Testing Before Launch: Test gamification configurations with pilot user groups before organization-wide deployment. Validate that thresholds create desired progression rates and that badge images display correctly across devices and browsers.

Troubleshooting Tips

Issue: Users are not seeing gamification ranks on their dashboards
Solution: Verify that gamification is enabled in Reward Program General Settings. Confirm that a gamification type is assigned to the program (either program-specific or default). Check that users have accumulated enough points or cash to reach the first rank threshold (typically 0). Ensure the ranking period includes the timeframe when users earned rewards. Remember that badges appear within program pages, not on user profiles.

Issue: All users are stuck at the lowest rank
Solution: Review the earnings threshold for the second rank. If the threshold is too high relative to typical earning patterns, reduce it to a more achievable level. Analyze average user earnings over the ranking period to determine appropriate threshold values. Consider whether the ranking period is too short to capture sufficient earning history.

Issue: Users are advancing through ranks too quickly
Solution: Increase the earnings thresholds for higher ranks to slow progression. Add additional intermediate ranks to create more progression steps. Extend the gaps between consecutive rank thresholds. Consider whether the ranking period should be shortened (e.g., from All Time to Last 365 days) to create more dynamic competition.

Issue: Badge images are not displaying correctly
Solution: Verify that badge images are uploaded to the system and accessible. Check that image files are in supported formats (JPG, PNG, GIF). Ensure images meet recommended size specifications (250px by 250px). Test badge display across different browsers and devices. Re-upload images if corruption is suspected.

Issue: Changing thresholds caused user rank confusion
Solution: When modifying thresholds in active programs, communicate changes to users in advance. Explain why adjustments are being made and how they affect current rankings. Provide transparency about which users will move up or down. Consider implementing threshold changes at natural program milestones (quarter end, year end) rather than mid-period.

Issue: Cannot delete a gamification type
Solution: Gamification types assigned to active programs cannot be deleted. Navigate to each program using the gamification type and either assign a different type or deactivate the program. After removing all program associations, the gamification type can be deleted. Consider whether editing the existing type would be preferable to deletion.

Issue: Rank names are not resonating with users
Solution: Gather user feedback through surveys or focus groups to understand preferences. Test alternative naming conventions with sample audiences. Consider cultural context and ensure rank names are appropriate for diverse user populations. Update rank names and communicate the changes as program improvements based on user input.

Issue: Gamification type dropdown is empty when configuring programs
Solution: Verify that at least one gamification type has been created in the Reward Gamification Types interface. Confirm that gamification is enabled in Reward Program General Settings. Check that the default gamification type is selected in global settings. If types exist but are not appearing, review user permissions to ensure access to gamification configuration.

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