The People Leader’s Guide to Choosing an Employee Experience Platform

Fostering a positive employee experience is more crucial than ever. For people leaders, finding the best employee experience platform (EXP) can be a game-changer when it comes to boosting engagement, enhancing productivity, and retaining top talent.

This technology offers comprehensive solutions for managing everything from onboarding to employee feedback, wellness programs, and professional development. Selecting the right platform is essential because it can streamline people processes, create a more cohesive and supportive work environment, and ultimately contribute to the overall success of the organization.

And as companies increasingly recognize the importance of employee satisfaction, the role of people leaders in choosing the right technology becomes a strategic priority.

In this article, I’ll take you on a tour of the essential features of an effective EXP, explore the importance of finding the right partner, and offer tips for helping you compare your options.

Key features

Most searches for people technology begin here, with a look at what different solutions can actually do. If you’re transitioning from another EXP or disparate solutions, you might already have a wishlist of features you want access to. If you’re still unsure, start by taking a look at your employee experience goals and thinking about what types of features would help you tackle your biggest challenges.

The best employee experience platforms provide a wide range of features in a single solution. By integrating varied aspects of your employee engagement strategy on a single platform, you can more effectively manage and track the results of your efforts. On top of that, a unified platform means less mental hopscotch for your People team and the rest of your employees – because learning how to use one new platform is infinitely less work than keeping track of multiple logins, remembering what functions happen where, and navigating different user interfaces. When everything is on one platform, life gets just a little easier!

Key features and capabilities to look for include:

• Awards and recognition
• Employee feedback tools (e.g. surveys, polls, etc)
• Communication tools like intranet pages, email blasts, and text updates
• Employee directory with profiles and bio options
• Built-in translation for managing a global workforce
• Text and audio chat options to support collaboration
• Data analytics and reporting
• Mobile app for inclusivity and easy access

Partner fit

In addition to making sure the solution you choose can do what you need it to do, it’s crucial to partner with a vendor that can be part of your employee experience team.

Here are some important characteristics to consider:

• Industry experience and reputation: Read online reviews and consult with industry analyst sites like Gartner and Forrester.
• Proven customer success and testimonials: Look on the company website and ask sales reps to share customer stories.
• Commitment to ongoing tech development: Ask for information about technology development roadmaps.
• Transparent privacy and security strategies: Ask about security certifications, testing, and support.
• Understands and supports your employee experience goals: Gauge how an EXP vendor responds to your needs. (Are the responses consistent no matter who you talk to?)
• Friendly, available support for technical assistance, strategy guidance, and more: Check into each vendor’s technical support offerings (hours of availability, methods of contact, response times) and learn about ongoing account support processes.

No matter how many features from your wishlist a vendor offers, the real value of the solution stems from the quality of your relationship. The right partner for your company will be one you can trust, who offers the support and expertise you need to advance your employee engagement strategies and help realize a better day-to-day experience for all your employees.

Evaluating EXP solutions

After reviewing each vendor’s features and company characteristics, you’ll likely be able to narrow down your choices to just two or three top contenders.

Every people leader we know is committed to making the best possible choice for their company’s current and future needs, so there’s a fair amount of pressure on this part of the journey.

But there’s no need to lose sleep!

Here are three important steps you can take to complete your evaluation of EXP partners and choose a winner.

1. Conduct in-depth demos

By this point in your process, you’ve likely viewed some demo videos and perhaps even had a quick walkthrough with a sales rep. Once you’ve narrowed your list down to your final selections, request detailed demonstrations and pay close attention to user interface, functionality, ease of use, and integration options.

Optional: Arrange a pilot project where the vendor implements a small-scale version of the solution for testing with a single team or department. This gives you a chance to ‘test drive’ the solution and assess its effectiveness for your needs.

2. Evaluate references

After reading customer testimonials and case studies, you may wish to speak to current or past clients of the vendors you’re considering. Ask about their experiences, reliability of the solution, support quality, and the success of the implementation process.

While no two companies have the same needs, current and past clients can help shed light on some of the less tangible aspects of an EXP partnership.

3. Assess the total cost and contract terms

Obviously, budget is always a factor when deciding on a new technology solution. Consider all costs associated with the migration, including the initial purchase, implementation, training, support, and ongoing maintenance or upgrades. 

Some vendors offer a lower upfront cost but have higher long-term costs, so be sure you understand the big picture before making a decision. 

It’s also crucial to carefully review the terms and conditions of the contract, including service level agreements (SLAs), support and maintenance terms, data security and privacy policies, and exit strategies. Make sure the contract aligns with your company’s needs and offers the protection you deserve.

Following these steps can help people leaders make a well-rounded and well-informed decision based on practical experience with the technology, feedback from existing clients, and a clear understanding of costs and contractual obligations.

Choosing your ideal EXP partner

By carefully evaluating features, partner fit, and overall costs, people leaders can make confident choices about the best EXP for their company and its workforce.

This thoughtful approach ensures that the chosen solution not only meets current needs, but also supports long-term goals for employee engagement and satisfaction, so your company doesn’t outgrow your EXP’s capabilities.

With the right platform in place, companies can create a more positive and productive work environment, driving success and growth.