Applauz CEO Francois Fortier On How HR Tech And Data Analytics Boost Employee Engagement

Every company, regardless of industry or size, is struggling with retaining top talent.

Competitive remuneration packages are a good start but unfortunately not enough, whereas fostering a positive work culture has become crucial.

With thousands of clients across North America, Applauz was nominated as the Best Employee Engagement Software as well as the best Employee rewards and recognition software for 2 years in a row.

Francois Fortier, CEO of Applauz joined Website Planet to explain exactly how Applauz employee engagement software enhances the workplace culture and drives productivity to help companies make a happier workplace.

What are the key challenges in your industry right now?

No matter the industry or the size, every company is currently struggling with retaining top talent, maintaining high levels of employee engagement, and adapting to the changing dynamics of remote and hybrid work environments.

Additionally, ensuring inclusivity and diversity within workplace culture remains a significant concern.

“Since using Applauz we’ve had fewer complaints from our clients about hold times. We’ve had less stress among our employees because there were more people there to help. It was worth every single penny.”

Dan Kilday, Director of Employee Engagement at TAS United

How are people trying to solve these issues, and why are these solutions not ideal?

Many companies try to tackle these challenges with one-time or manual processes, but they often fall short because they overlook the fact that engagement and culture are ongoing efforts. It’s crucial to recognize that significant changes in engagement levels take time and consistent effort.

This is where HR technology becomes essential. It helps automate, remind, measure, and sustainably improve employee engagement. Companies that fail to leverage technology to understand their employees’ unique needs and preferences often end up with generic and ineffective solutions.

📊 Only 27% of employees feel like their workplace is great… And replacing an employee can cost anywhere between 30-400% of what you were paying your leaving employee.

How do you solve these problems in a better way?

At Applauz.me, we understand the limitations of manual approaches and rely on technology to offer comprehensive solutions that address the human aspects of engagement.

Our platform provides advanced features such as real-time feedback gathering, peer-to-peer recognition, milestone celebrations, and reward incentives. These features are designed to target the root causes of employee disengagement.

By harnessing the power of technology, we empower companies to create inclusive, collaborative, and fulfilling work environments. This ultimately leads to higher levels of employee satisfaction and productivity.

What new challenges and opportunities do you see coming in the future?

As the CEO of Applauz.me but also as a founder-operator, I foresee several new challenges and opportunities on the horizon.

One significant challenge is the ongoing evolution of remote and hybrid work models, which will require innovative solutions to support effective collaboration and employee engagement across distributed teams. Additionally, the increasing focus on diversity, equity, and inclusion in the workplace presents both a challenge and an opportunity to create more inclusive and supportive environments for all employees.

On the flip side, I see tremendous opportunities in the continued advancement of HR technology and data analytics. By leveraging emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence and machine learning, we can develop more sophisticated tools to understand employee sentiment, predict trends, and personalize the employee experience.

Furthermore, the growing emphasis on employee well-being and mental health opens up opportunities to integrate more wellness initiatives and support services into our platform, enhancing overall employee satisfaction and productivity.

How do you plan to adapt to these changes?

We will remain agile and responsive to market trends and customer feedback. This includes continuously updating and enhancing our platform to meet the evolving needs of remote and hybrid work environments, as well as prioritizing diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives to foster the sense of appreciation and belonging. Additionally, we will invest in research and development to leverage emerging technologies and data analytics, enabling us to deliver more personalized and impactful solutions to our clients. Through proactive collaboration with industry partners and thought leaders, we aim to stay ahead of the curve and position Applauz.me as a leader in the employee engagement space.