When organizations adopt AI tools like Microsoft Copilot, the biggest challenge isn’t access, it’s engagement. Getting users to try it once is easy. Getting them to use it daily, confidently, and creatively? That’s where New Era’s gamification strategy makes all the difference.
At New Era, we believe the key to successful AI adoption lies in tapping into human motivation, not just technology training. Our gamification approach transforms enablement into an energizing, interactive experience that builds habit, drives ROI, and sparks cultural momentum.
The Problem: Low AI Usage After Deployment
Despite the promise of AI tools, most deployments struggle with:
- Low daily active usage
- Unengaged middle adopters and laggards
- Unclear business impact
- Minimal peer-to-peer learning
Even when the tools are powerful, users often don't know where to start, what’s possible, or how to use it in their day-to-day work.
The Solution: A Gamified, People-First Approach
New Era’s strategy uses gamification to make adoption sticky, fun, and visible. Our approach combines learning, social engagement, and recognition to turn AI curiosity into lasting capability.
🔹 Daily Challenges
We launched a series of daily Copilot challenges tailored to different personas and workflows (e.g., summarize a meeting, draft a client email, create a project plan using prompts). These helped users experiment in low-stakes ways and build prompt fluency quickly.
🔹 Viva Engage Integration
We embedded these challenges and success stories into Viva Engage, where users posted screenshots, shared prompts, and learned from each other. This created a living, breathing Community of Excellence - run by users, not just IT.
🔹 Leaderboards & Recognition
We introduced leaderboards to celebrate top contributors, creative prompt authors, and departments showing the biggest gains. Recognition posts from leaders added credibility and motivation.
🔹 Badges & Milestones
Participants earned digital badges for completing challenges, sharing insights, or helping others. Milestones (like “10 Prompts in 10 Days” or “First Peer Tip Shared”) offered immediate, tangible progress feedback.
The Results
- 300 users activated in 4 weeks, across four adoption waves
- Viva Engage engagement tripled during the challenge period
- Laggard group reduced by 40% after gamification incentives launched
- Leaders cited gamification as a key enabler of cultural shift and confidence
Most importantly, users moved from hesitation to experimentation, and from there, to daily productivity.
Why It Works
New Era’s gamification approach aligns to what motivates people most:
- Clarity: Small, concrete actions with clear outcomes
- Progress: Visible accomplishments and growth
- Recognition: Public praise and social reinforcement
- Belonging: Shared learning and momentum with peers
- Empowerment: Confidence to try, share, and innovate
The Takeaway
AI adoption doesn’t have to feel like a corporate mandate, it can be a movement. With New Era’s gamification model, we’ve proven that empowered users are engaged users, and engaged users drive value.
If you're launching Copilot, ChatGPT, or any AI productivity tool, don't just train your people, excite them, challenge them, and reward them.
Let’s make adoption fun, not forced.
Ready to bring AI to life in your workplace? Contact New Era to learn how.
