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Employee Recognization Platform
Employee Recognization Platform
Employee Recognization Platform
Lokum is a platform for employee experience that helps recognize notable achievements and encourages employees to thank each other. It aims to boost a culture of recognition and interaction within companies.
Lokum is a platform for employee experience that helps recognize notable achievements and encourages employees to thank each other. It aims to boost a culture of recognition and interaction within companies.
Lokum is a platform for employee experience that helps recognize notable achievements and encourages employees to thank each other. It aims to boost a culture of recognition and interaction within companies.
Timeline
Timeline
Timeline
March 2023- Ongoing
March 2023- Ongoing
March 2023- Ongoing
Role
Role
Role
User Research, Branding, Interaction Design, Visual design
User Research, Branding,
Interaction Design, Visual design
User Research, Branding, Interaction Design,
Visual design
Tools
Tools
Tools
Figma, Photoshop, Illustrator
Figma, Photoshop, Illustrator
Figma, Photoshop, Illustrator
Overview
Overview
Overview
Lokum, which means Turkish Delight in Turkish, is a recognition platform that aims to boost employee morale, communication, and unity by allowing employees to express appreciation to each other through virtual Turkish Delights and celebrate both small and significant achievements.
Employees can earn points with the Lokums they send and collect, and with these points, they can acquire the gifts or gift cards determined by the company. Moreover, thanks to the advanced admin panel, companies can conduct various surveys related to employees and gather feedback from them.
I am responsible for the designs of the mobile and web applications, admin panel, and landing page for this ongoing project. Throughout this comprehensive work, I am accompanied by a team of 10 engineers (3 backend developers, 2 full-stack developers, 2 front-end developers, 1 AI developer) and a product manager. We closely collaborate with the Human Resources, Corporate Communication, and Artificial intelligence teams in the project.
Lokum, which means Turkish Delight in Turkish, is a recognition platform that aims to boost employee morale, communication, and unity by allowing employees to express appreciation to each other through virtual Turkish Delights and celebrate both small and significant achievements.
Employees can earn points with the Lokums they send and collect, and with these points, they can acquire the gifts or gift cards determined by the company. Moreover, thanks to the advanced admin panel, companies can conduct various surveys related to employees and gather feedback from them.
I am responsible for the designs of the mobile and web applications, admin panel, and landing page for this ongoing project. Throughout this comprehensive work, I am accompanied by a team of 10 engineers (3 backend developers, 2 full-stack developers, 2 front-end developers, 1 AI developer) and a product manager. We closely collaborate with the Human Resources, Corporate Communication, and Artificial intelligence teams in the project.
Lokum, which means Turkish Delight in Turkish, is a recognition platform that aims to boost employee morale, communication, and unity by allowing employees to express appreciation to each other through virtual Turkish Delights and celebrate both small and significant achievements.
Employees can earn points with the Lokums they send and collect, and with these points, they can acquire the gifts or gift cards determined by the company. Moreover, thanks to the advanced admin panel, companies can conduct various surveys related to employees and gather feedback from them.
I am responsible for the designs of the mobile and web applications, admin panel, and landing page for this ongoing project. Throughout this comprehensive work, I am accompanied by a team of 10 engineers (3 backend developers, 2 full-stack developers, 2 front-end developers, 1 AI developer) and a product manager. We closely collaborate with the Human Resources, Corporate Communication, and Artificial intelligence teams in the project.
Within the first 6 months of launching the platform, employees sent a total of 9297 'Lokum' to each other. According to the employee recognition survey, there
was a 32% improvement in these 6 months.
Within the first 6 months of launching the platform, employees sent a total of 9297 'Lokum' to each other. According to the employee recognition survey, there
was a 32% improvement in these 6 months.
Within the first 6 months of launching the platform, employees sent a total of 9297 'Lokum' to each other. According to the employee recognition survey, there
was a 32% improvement in these
6 months.
Understanding the problem
Overcoming Recognition Challenges in the Corporate Landscape
Understanding the problem
Overcoming Recognition Challenges
in the Corporate Landscape
Understanding the problem
Overcoming Recognition Challenges in the Corporate Landscape
Employee recognition and appreciation deficiency is a significant problem in the business world.
Many professionals feel disappointed and undervalued because their hard work and efforts go unnoticed and unappreciated. This situation affects them negatively and leads them to seek new career opportunities.
At my company, Softtech, which has 1,700 employees, a similar problem was discovered when looking at feedback that the Human Resources and Employee Experience departments regularly collect from employees. There was no defined recognition program or platform in the company.
Employee recognition and appreciation deficiency is a significant problem in the business world.
Many professionals feel disappointed and undervalued because their hard work and efforts go unnoticed and unappreciated. This situation affects them negatively and leads them to seek new career opportunities.
At my company, Softtech, which has 1,700 employees, a similar problem was discovered when looking at feedback that the Human Resources and Employee Experience departments regularly collect from employees. There was no defined recognition program or platform in the company.
Employee recognition and appreciation deficiency is a significant problem in the business world.
Many professionals feel disappointed and undervalued because their hard work and efforts go unnoticed and unappreciated. This situation affects them negatively and leads them to seek new career opportunities.
At my company, Softtech, which has 1,700 employees, a similar problem was discovered when looking at feedback that the Human Resources and Employee Experience departments regularly collect from employees. There was no defined recognition program or platform in the company.
As the innovation team, we came together with the Human Resources and Employee Experience team and organized stakeholder interviews to detail this problem and see potential opportunities.
Herzberg’s Two-Factor Theory
As the innovation team, we came together with the Human Resources and Employee Experience team and organized stakeholder interviews to detail this problem and see potential opportunities.
Herzberg’s Two-Factor Theory
As the innovation team, we came together with the Human Resources and Employee Experience team and organized stakeholder interviews to detail this problem and see potential opportunities.
Herzberg’s Two-Factor Theory
In parallel with the sessions, I conducted desk research, exploring various industries and competitors. Additionally, I discovered different theories focusing on the workforce and motivation, one of which was Herzberg's Two-Factor Theory. This theory is based on two factors: Motivators and Hygiene Factors.
In parallel with the sessions, I conducted desk research, exploring various industries and competitors. Additionally, I discovered different theories focusing on the workforce and motivation, one of which was Herzberg's Two-Factor Theory. This theory is based on two factors: Motivators and Hygiene Factors.
Improving the hygiene factors of new-generation employees will not keep them in the company. Employees who only have good hygiene factors such as money and status, experience difficulty in being motivated after a while and need more internal motivation factors such as recognition, success and growth.
Improving the hygiene factors of new-generation employees will not keep them in the company. Employees who only have good hygiene factors such as money and status, experience difficulty in being motivated after a while and need more internal motivation factors such as recognition, success and growth.
Gathering Insights
Gathering Insights
Gathering Insights
After stakeholder meetings, I organized user interviews to better frame the problem and gain deeper insights into the needs and motivations of employees. I approached the issue of recognition in a general sense and extended it beyond the context of Softtech by including not only employees of Softtech but also interviewees from different companies. I interviewed 16 employees from different companies, different departments, and various age groups, asking them open-ended questions related to context.
After collecting the insights from the user interviews, I conducted affinity mapping to synthesize the pains identified. I grouped these problems under common themes and features.
After stakeholder meetings, I organized user interviews to better frame the problem and gain deeper insights into the needs and motivations of employees. I approached the issue of recognition in a general sense and extended it beyond the context of Softtech by including not only employees of Softtech but also interviewees from different companies. I interviewed 16 employees from different companies, different departments, and various age groups, asking them open-ended questions related to context.
After collecting the insights from the user interviews, I conducted affinity mapping to synthesize the pains identified. I grouped these problems under common themes and features.
Persona
Developing empathy with employees
Persona
Developing empathy with employees
Persona
Developing empathy with employees
Based on our research, we identified three primary users from different companies and age groups, focusing on the problems our product addresses, and created personas.
Based on our research, we identified three primary users from different companies and age groups, focusing on the problems our product addresses, and created personas.
I conducted an ideation session to synthesize our research with opportunity areas and brainstorm about platform features. We emphasized the intersections between our assumptions and research findings during this session.
I conducted an ideation session to synthesize our research with opportunity areas and brainstorm about platform features. We emphasized the intersections between our assumptions and research findings during this session.
The product vision
The product vision
The product vision
As a product, we position ourselves as the employee recognition platform with 3 key focus areas:
Recognition and Appreciation: We aim to enhance visibility and boost motivation within the company by enabling employees to appreciate and thank each other through an open platform accessible to the entire organization.
Communication and Feedback: We want to establish continuous and real-time communication with employees, gather feedback, make announcements, and strengthen the connection between the employees and the company.
Points and Rewards: We want to gamify employee recognition and appreciation actions, turning them into a point system for rewards and incentives.
While focusing on these three areas, we examined competitors in the market, analyzed how they approached these topics. In addition to this, With support from the AI team, we identified how we could enhance our platform with AI.
As a product, we position ourselves as the employee recognition platform with 3 key focus areas:
Recognition and Appreciation: We aim to enhance visibility and boost motivation within the company by enabling employees to appreciate and thank each other through an open platform accessible to the entire organization.
Communication and Feedback: We want to establish continuous and real-time communication with employees, gather feedback, make announcements, and strengthen the connection between the employees and the company.
Points and Rewards: We want to gamify employee recognition and appreciation actions, turning them into a point system for rewards and incentives.
While focusing on these three areas, we examined competitors in the market, analyzed how they approached these topics. In addition to this, With support from the AI team, we identified how we could enhance our platform with AI.
As a product, we position ourselves as the employee recognition platform with 3 key focus areas:
Recognition and Appreciation: We aim to enhance visibility and boost motivation within the company by enabling employees to appreciate and thank each other through an open platform accessible to the entire organization.
Communication and Feedback: We want to establish continuous and real-time communication with employees, gather feedback, make announcements, and strengthen the connection between the employees and the company.
Points and Rewards: We want to gamify employee recognition and appreciation actions, turning them into a point system for rewards and incentives.
While focusing on these three areas, we examined competitors in the market, analyzed how they approached these topics. In addition to this, With support from the AI team, we identified how we could enhance our platform with AI.
The Framework
Setting the design direction
The Framework
Setting the design direction
The Framework
Setting the design direction
Anticipating the future possibility of our platform transforming into an HR Super App, our vision, which began with a broad perspective, started to take a tangible form. Given the various areas we needed to concentrate on, including web, mobile, and admin panel, we decided to focus on the Lokum sending flow during the MVP phase.
Anticipating the future possibility of our platform transforming into an HR Super App, our vision, which began with a broad perspective, started to take a tangible form. Given the various areas we needed to concentrate on, including web, mobile, and admin panel, we decided to focus on the Lokum sending flow during the MVP phase.
Concept and branding
Concept and branding
Concept and branding
Creating a visual representation for all facets of the Lokum brand, including the product, marketing, and more, involved establishing a foundational branding that highlighted essential elements of its visual language. The use of mainly purple and pink colors infused the screens with a lively and dynamic feel. Implementing straightforward button states and clear iconography aimed to enhance the user experience, making the cards more user-friendly.
We named the platform 'Lokum,' meaning Turkish delight, a traditional sweet in Turkish cuisine. Instead of using words like 'thank you' or 'recognition,' we decided to symbolize these expressions with the iconic Lokum, encouraging users to send it to one another. This approach was designed to foster a stronger connection to the platform. Taking inspiration from this idea, we created a set of Lokum characters that shaped the visual language of the platform. And, by using these characters, we aimed to maintain a consistent visual language.
Creating a visual representation for all facets of the Lokum brand, including the product, marketing, and more, involved establishing a foundational branding that highlighted essential elements of its visual language. The use of mainly purple and pink colors infused the screens with a lively and dynamic feel. Implementing straightforward button states and clear iconography aimed to enhance the user experience, making the cards more user-friendly.
We named the platform 'Lokum,' meaning Turkish delight, a traditional sweet in Turkish cuisine. Instead of using words like 'thank you' or 'recognition,' we decided to symbolize these expressions with the iconic Lokum, encouraging users to send it to one another. This approach was designed to foster a stronger connection to the platform. Taking inspiration from this idea, we created a set of Lokum characters that shaped the visual language of the platform. And, by using these characters, we aimed to maintain a consistent visual language.
User Interface
User Interface
User Interface
Lokum sending flow
A Lokum user can see the number of Lokum and points they have on the homepage. Each received and sent Lokum is worth 10 points. Additionally, writing a message and adding at least 1 tag is mandatory for each Lokum sent. By tapping the Lokum icon in the middle of the bottom navigation, the user can view the list of all employees in the company, find the desired person, and access the Lokum sending page. Then, all they need to do is write their message and select the desired tags.
Surveys
Creating and publishing surveys was a crucial feature in the initial phase of our product development process. We conducted extensive research and built our own survey infrastructure for this purpose. Following this development, our company decided to conduct surveys for the entire company through Lokum, which was a significant success for us.
The Human Resources and Corporate Communications departments can now create and publish surveys on the Lokum platform through the admin panel. The platform also has the infrastructure to archive or report survey results. Currently, Lokum is frequently used for instant single-question mood surveys and multi-question classical surveys.
Surveys
Creating and publishing surveys was a crucial feature in the initial phase of our product development process. We conducted extensive research and built our own survey infrastructure for this purpose. Following this development, our company decided to conduct surveys for the entire company through Lokum, which was a significant success for us.
The Human Resources and Corporate Communications departments can now create and publish surveys on the Lokum platform through the admin panel. The platform also has the infrastructure to archive or report survey results. Currently, Lokum is frequently used for instant single-question mood surveys and multi-question classical surveys.
Announcements & Leaderboard & Gifts
On the leaderboard screen, employees with the highest points collected weekly, monthly, and all-time are displayed. The company can define special gifts for the leader of the week or month at certain intervals. Additionally, Everyone can request a gift from the gift screen during certain periods based on the points they have earned.
Announcements, along with surveys, were one of the prioritized features for the initial phase. Just like in surveys, the relevant departments of our company decided to use Lokum as a communication channel for announcements instead of the company portal.
Announcements & Leaderboard & Gifts
On the leaderboard screen, employees with the highest points collected weekly, monthly, and all-time are displayed. The company can define special gifts for the leader of the week or month at certain intervals. Additionally, Everyone can request a gift from the gift screen during certain periods based on the points they have earned.
Announcements, along with surveys, were one of the prioritized features for the initial phase. Just like in surveys, the relevant departments of our company decided to use Lokum as a communication channel for announcements instead of the company portal.
Merlin & Lokum Asisstance
In the second phase of our product development process, we focused on AI and organized ideation sessions on how to enhance the product with AI. With the support of the AI team, we worked on two features.
Merlin: We created an AI character named Merlin that performs character analysis based on the messages and tags employees send to each other. Merlin analyzes the received Lokums each month and provides users with a monthly analysis.
Lokum Assistance: Lokum Assistant is an intelligent chatbot that answers employees' questions about company tools, documents, and processes.
Merlin & Lokum Asisstance
In the second phase of our product development process, we focused on AI and organized ideation sessions on how to enhance the product with AI. With the support of the AI team, we worked on two features.
Merlin: We created an AI character named Merlin that performs character analysis based on the messages and tags employees send to each other. Merlin analyzes the received Lokums each month and provides users with a monthly analysis.
Lokum Assistance: Lokum Assistant is an intelligent chatbot that answers employees' questions about company tools, documents, and processes.
Desktop Version
During the design process of the platform's web version, I placed emphasis on critical aspects such as responsive design, user habits, navigation, and brand consistency. To ensure the highest quality user experience, I conducted thorough user testing.
Desktop Version
During the design process of the platform's web version, I placed emphasis on critical aspects such as responsive design, user habits, navigation, and brand consistency. To ensure the highest quality user experience, I conducted thorough user testing.
Admin Panel
Users or departments have access to comprehensive statistics on the dashboard screen. Utilizing the options available on other pages in the sidebar, they can generate notifications, define custom tags, and create user groups, surveys, and announcements.
Admin Panel
Users or departments have access to comprehensive statistics on the dashboard screen. Utilizing the options available on other pages in the sidebar, they can generate notifications, define custom tags, and create user groups, surveys, and announcements.
Results and takeaways
Results and takeaways
Results and takeaways
Our main goal was to launch the platform within the company and improve employee and departmental adaptation. In this process, we received feedback and made some improvements.
An early success was our HR department deciding to use Lokum for communication and recognition after examining it instead of purchasing an external product. Following this, the development team expanded to 18 members.
With this decision, both the web and app versions became widely used by all employees. After the initial 6 months, there was a 32% improvement in employee satisfaction and recognition compared to the previous year. Key factors contributing to satisfaction were;
Quick access to company documents through the virtual assistant.
Successful implementation of the idea of expressing appreciation and thanks through Lokum sending.
Faster and easier creation of announcements and surveys by the HR and Corporate Communications departments compared to before.
As the Lokum team, another significant achievement was selling the product to 3 different companies 8 months after launch. In this process, In addition to product tasks, I also supported design-related tasks such as marketing visuals, social media posts, and pitch deck presentations.
Takeaways
Involving engineering from the beginning is always beneficial in determining your design strategy. Knowing technical infrastructure and constraints when making design decisions and creating the flow saves time.
Prioritize user needs and usability over specific feedback or requests from potential customers. This helps deal with out-of-scope requests that could potentially derail the project and ensures the delivery of a quality product on time.
When there are different areas to focus on, such as an admin panel, web, and app, creating a strategic plan for MVP and prioritizing tasks correctly is critical.
What's Next for Lokum?
We have succeeded in interaction, recognition, and internal communication, which were the initial goals of the platform. Now, we have shifted our focus and are concentrating on the social network feature, our second goal that has been in our backlog for a while. With this, we aim to create a sharing culture, going beyond sending Lokum, where users will share posts together.
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