Thriving with Funifier’s Gamification Solutions

How Igor Radic, CEO of Funifier and his team are offering rich local knowledge to the gamification strategies that clients can benefit from during the pandemic. 

First of all, how are you and your family doing in these COVID-19 times? 

Igor Radic: So far, we are doing well. We are lucky that the ones in my family that caught COVID felt only minor cold symptoms. Also, overall, the moral is good. Thanks for asking.

Tell us about you, your career, how you founded Funifier.

Igor Radic: When I met my business partner Ricardo, our CTO, it was clear that the gamification platform he had created was aeons ahead of our time, back in 2010. So, I decided to jump on board, and we spun off Funifier from his Software Development studio – yeah, we know something about custom software and service delivery. Initially, gamification was a challenge to explain, and people could not understand to what extent it could influence them, their peers, customers, partners, etc. 

Today, it is effortless to demonstrate value to others. Gamification is not just about points, badges, leaderboards, scorecards, etc. This is just scratching the surface, and those results never last that long. Gamification is about creating meaningful, engaging experiences for the end-user. And that takes knowledge.

How does working with Funifier help?

Igor Radic: When a client decides to work with Funifier, they are not just buying product licenses; they are buying an experience for their target audience that drives specific results. They are also working with a full team of UI/UX designers, software and game developers, engagement strategists, etc.

We also partner with local experts to bring rich local knowledge to the gamification strategies that clients benefit from. 

How does the coronavirus pandemic affect your business finances?

Igor Radic: The supply chain issue affecting the economy globally has impacted the software industry, but compared to some sectors, we have been spared. Like every other company, we’ve had some delays, but as Funifier partners with our customers for the long term, it’s is a small bump in the road.  

With work from home WFH becoming the norm and gamification being a proven solution to engage with employees working remotely, we’ve benefited from increased sales. Also, we’ve seen strong traction in different industries, where the focus has shifted to engaging with customers and prospects online. The travel restrictions have awarded us with another opportunity to implement our gamification solution so peers and experts from different companies and countries can connect through virtual events. All this has also allowed us to bring on more customers.

Did you have to make difficult choices regarding human resources, and what are the lessons learned?

Igor Radic: We were one of the lucky companies, as we grew, and thus we had to choose carefully whom to hire and where. We do not advertise our open positions, but we do get folks reaching out simply because what we do aligns with their values. And these are the type of people we are looking for. 

How did your customer relations management change during the pandemic?

Igor Radic: As we partner with our clients, we seek to understand their business and help them achieve their goals or adapt to unexpected changes like this pandemic. We increased the frequency of our calls with our clients to understand their reality on a weekly basis – as, over the past year, things changed dramatically, all too often. This allowed us to respond to requests with a fast turnaround and provide the excellent customer service they are accustomed to, even during these unprecedented times.

Did you benefit from any government grants, and did that help keep your business afloat?

Igor Radic: While some companies needed the grants to keep afloat, we were one of the lucky ones that, having a global presence, did not need any support.

Your final thoughts?

Igor Radic: Pandemic or not, this is not the first time or last time that people will be forced to work remotely; therefore, remote work is no longer a perk. After more than a year into a new normal, people need to face the reality that our office and business relationships have experienced permanent change. We have to adapt. Feel free to read more on how gamification helps remote workers stay engaged, focused and connected.

Your website?

www.funifier.com