BRINGING PLAY INTO WORK: HOW THE GAME ZONE IS HELPING US RETHINK WORKPLACE CULTURE AT WEZMART

At Wezmart, one of our core beliefs is simple but ambitious: to deliver digital innovations that improve the way professionals work and live. It’s a vision that pushes us to explore new ways of making work not only more efficient, but also more engaging, meaningful, and human.

That’s the spirit behind The Game Zone — our newly launched, in-house developed gamification feature built into our bpoSA360 platform. It’s an early experiment, with much room to grow. But it represents an important shift: moving away from traditional models of workplace motivation and towards a culture where progress, collaboration, and learning can happen through more dynamic, interactive experiences.

Why Gamification? Why Now?

Gamification in the workplace isn’t a passing fad. It reflects a larger shift in how today’s workforce engages with technology, motivation, and learning.

Many of us grew up in a world filled with games — console games, mobile apps, interactive platforms. These experiences are no longer "just for fun." They’ve influenced how we approach learning, achievement, and even relationships. The same mechanics that drive us to complete daily quests in apps or strive for leaderboard rankings can inspire us to take action at work — if designed thoughtfully.

At Wezmart, we saw gamification not as a gimmick, but as an opportunity. We didn’t want to bolt on a flashy system that fades after a month. Instead, we wanted to carefully embed game elements into the way we work, to support positive habits, build community, and make professional growth more visible and rewarding.

And thus, The Game Zone was born.

Building The Game Zone — An Inside-Out Approach

One thing we knew from the start: this needed to be our system. Many off-the-shelf gamification tools focus on surface-level rewards. But our vision was different. We wanted an experience tailored to Wezmart’s unique culture and evolving workflows.

So we developed The Game Zone in-house, integrating it directly with our bpoSA360 ecosystem. This allowed us to start small, test early ideas, and refine continuously — without locking ourselves into a rigid structure.

At this initial stage, The Game Zone introduces a series of achievement-based activities across several dimensions of work:

• Milestones & Achievements: Recognizing consistent contributions and long-term progress.

• Quests & Challenges: Encouraging friendly competition and engagement on key initiatives.

• Reward Mechanisms: Issuing WezTokens that can be redeemed for perks both practical and fun.

All of this is wrapped in a light, playful layer led by our digital persona, Wezzie the Gamemaster, who adds personality to the experience and keeps energy high across the platform.

Facing Challenges & Learning Along the Way

Of course, with any new initiative — especially something as unfamiliar as workplace gamification — there are real challenges.

Not everyone feels comfortable with it. Some colleagues have quietly asked:

"Does this mean the company is forcing us to play? What if I don’t like games — will it affect my performance?" "Playing games at work… won’t it look fake or childish? I’m not sure this is for me."

These are fair concerns. And as leaders, we are listening.

It’s important to be clear: The Game Zone is not mandatory, nor is it designed to replace genuine performance measures. It’s a layer of engagement — a tool to enhance, not dictate, the work experience.

Our aim is to create space where those who enjoy this type of interaction can find extra motivation and recognition, while others can opt in gradually, in ways that feel authentic to them. We respect individual differences. No one should feel that they have to "perform" in a way that is uncomfortable or unnatural.

We are also mindful of tone. Gamification should never become a gimmick, or worse, a burden. It should feel meaningful, not forced.

Why We Still Believe in the Potential

Despite early challenges, the why behind this initiative remains strong.

Gamification, when designed with care, can:

• Support professional development

• Encourage cross-team collaboration

• Make invisible contributions more visible and appreciated

• Inject moments of fun and connection into the workday

• Help us align with our vision of making work more human and rewarding

We’re not here to "turn work into a game." We’re here to explore how game dynamics can make work life better — bit by bit, quest by quest.

And in doing so, we are staying true to our vision: delivering digital innovations that improve the way professionals work and live — ourselves included.

The Road Ahead

Right now, The Game Zone is still at an early stage. Much of its potential lies ahead. We are gathering feedback, making adjustments, and learning what works for our culture.

This is a journey — not a quick fix. It will evolve through dialogue, experimentation, and trust.

Our goal is not transformation overnight, but gradual cultural enrichment. We want to foster an environment where growth, collaboration, and well-being are celebrated — not only through formal systems, but also through simple, human moments of progress and joy.

Final Thoughts: A New Way Forward

Before closing, I must take a moment to express deep appreciation to the incredible team who brought The Game Zone to life.

This was an in-house development project, not an outsourced product. Our dedicated IT team, led by Wong Fu Nian, with strong support from TJ Hoo, Looi Suk Peng, and the IT team, worked tirelessly to build this feature on top of bpoSA360.

And a special thank you to Bruce Leong and Andrew Teng — though gamification was completely outside their usual scope of work, they proactively offered their time and creativity to help shape the concept and implementation. Their spirit of collaboration truly embodies the culture we aspire to build.

We know this is just the beginning. There will be continuous improvements, more listening, and more learning. But most of all, we hope all staff will find enjoyment, inspiration, and new connections through The Game Zone — at their own pace, in ways that feel genuine.

Let’s build this new chapter together. And most importantly — let’s have some fun along the way.

Together, we innovate for impact!