THE PROBLEM

Shifting from in-person to virtual work environment

Mapbox faced substantial hurdles as it transitioned from an in-person to a virtual work environment during COVID, challenging the company’s ability to maintain its vibrant and collaborative culture. The global nature of its workforce made it imperative to find a recognition system that could bridge geographical divides while catering to diverse preferences.

“It’s hard to recognize and reward people virtually. The challenge was defining how employee engagement could look like in the new era with a remote global team.”

The shift was not just about changing the workspace, but also transforming how the company engaged with and motivated its team. There was no single platform that all employees were using, which made universal engagement and recognition difficult.

“We needed to find something that would grow with us as we evolved programming, and we needed to have a program to showcase our values.” 

The primary challenge was to find a solution that could offer a variety of reward options suitable for a global team. The company needed a system scalable and flexible that could not only accommodate different time zones and languages but also offer rewards that were relevant and appealing to people from various cultural backgrounds.

THE SOLUTION

Implementing PerkUp for flexible, global rewards

To address these challenges, Mapbox adopted PerkUp, a platform known for its versatile reward options, including spot rewards, on-demand swag, and global gifting. This solution allowed Mapbox to provide its employees the power of choice, enabling them to select rewards that were personally meaningful and useful. PerkUp’s gift card system was particularly valuable, as it was flexible enough to align with the diverse needs and preferences of a global workforce.

“PerkUp's flexibility to give gift cards or assign rewards is what attracted us to the platform. Early on, and still today, we've built programs around PerkUp's capabilities, creating awards and recognition programs that align with our company's foundation."

Mapbox leveraged PerkUp’s capabilities to create custom programs, such as the quarterly Mapbox Awards—an internal award program inspired by the company’s core services and values. These tailored programs not only streamlined the rewards process across different departments but also built a foundation for expanding the system to allow managers to independently recognize and reward their teams in the future.

Furthermore, the ability to integrate on-demand swag into the rewards system facilitated the elimination of logistical issues associated with storing and distributing physical items across various locations.

“Having the ability to print on-demand and ship internationally to anyone in our company is a pretty cool feature that I don't think ever existed until now.”

THE RESULT

Enhanced engagement and streamlined operations

The implementation of PerkUp led to significant improvements in employee engagement and operational efficiencies at Mapbox. Employees expressed greater job satisfaction and motivation due to the personalized and varied rewards options available. The on-demand swag feature proved especially popular, allowing employees to choose items that resonated with them personally, which not only saved the company storage and shipping costs but also ensured that employees received items they truly valued.

“It's a surprise and delight when we get feedback like, 'thank you, this was such a surprise.' People find it easy to use, and it's a pleasure for them.”

Various departments within Mapbox highlighted PerkUp’s effectiveness in enhancing remote recognition culture. The ongoing improvements to PerkUp ensured it met Mapbox’s evolving needs, cementing its value as a long-term solution for employee recognition and engagement.

“Its ability to scale while being easy to use for both the end user and the administrator is the really great thing about PerkUp. Plus, it keeps it fun and fresh, which allows us to think about the employee experience differently every time.”