When trying to reward and recognize employees around the world, it is easy for programs to be all over the map. Enter Hallmark Insights, a Minneapolis-based wholly owned subsidiary of Hallmark Cards and provider of incentive solutions, to streamline planning. After successfully expanding its incentive processes through partnerships in Latin America and Europe, Hallmark Insights is aiming to add the Asia Pacific region to its roster later this year.
"Everyone wants a global solution. We work with over 60 of the Fortune 100 companies, and those clients come to us and say that they need a global solution," says Mary English, vice president of marketing for Hallmark Insights. "The biggest challenge that most multinational companies face is being able to provide the same type of reward system across the globe. Administration is also an issue. How does a company bill for the different currencies that come into play when doing these types of programs? The final piece is language. What languages are being offered in the program?"
Through the Hallmark Insights Integrated Rewards Incentive System (IRIS), multinational companies will be better able to break through common barriers that exist when operating programs across borders. Among the enhanced features and services of IRIS are access to better management of different currency and merchant offerings; the flexibility to integrate with human resources information systems, efficient administration, international reporting, market specific communications and personalized awards redeemable for gift cards and gift certificates to relevant retailers, catalogs, restaurants, travel providers, entertainment companies and more.
Hallmark Insights is already eyeing other incentive territories to explore around the world. After introducing IRIS to the Asia Pacific region in Q4, Hallmark Insights wants to focus on launching its health and wellness platform to new locales outside of the United States. "Even though you hear about European countries and socialized medicine, companies there are still looking for a way to incent the workforce to be healthy," English says. "People are recognizing the loss of productivity in Europe, when they never thought about it before. But it is really more about making employees healthy and keeping them well. Currently we are working with prospective clients on solutions that will exclusively focus on health and wellness."
RSS
