How Leading Technology Companies Leverage Non-Cash Rewards and Recognition Strategies

This series of research studies by the Incentive Research Foundation highlight the incentive, reward, and recognition practices of top-performing companies in various industries.

Click here to subscribe to RRN weekly, and here for an RRN media kit.

The Incentive Research Foundation’s 2025 Top Performers Study reveals that leading technology companies treat reward and recognition programs as strategic tools, not routine initiatives. They emphasize collaboration, executive alignment, and a strong participant focus—prioritizing flexibility, perceived value, and personal relevance. Rewards such as merchandise, gift cards, and incentive travel are tailored to preferences and designed to create memorable, emotionally engaging experiences that strengthen motivation and retention.

These findings highlight this latest IRF research study on effective practices. The 2025 Top Performers Study surveyed 600 reward and recognition decision-makers, including 109 from the technology sector. Respondents hold significant influence over the design, funding, and execution of their organization’s programs. They represent technology companies reporting annual revenues of $100 million or more, with 88% employing 500 or more people. Employee programs were the most commonly offered, included at 94% of companies. Sales incentive programs (78%) and channel partner initiatives (66%) were also frequently provided.

The study compares the activities of top performers, those respondents that indicate their organizations are in a growth mode, against those of other respondents.

The study finds that top performers broaden earning opportunities through inclusive criteria, discretionary recognition, milestone rewards, and fast-start or uncapped incentives, helping participants engage early and sustain high performance. Their intentional reward allocation directs greater value to roles driving the highest impact—especially sales and channel programs—ensuring that investments maximize motivation, reinforce key behaviors, and deliver measurable business results.

Other study highlights:

Collaboration and alignment drive success. Top performers foster strong cross-department collaboration and executive support in program design—94% report strong collaboration and 76% strong leadership backing.

Participant-centric design. Top performers emphasize participant experience, prioritizing flexibility, perceived value, and emotional connection over cost. They tailor rewards to participant preferences, particularly in merchandise, gift cards, and incentive travel, creating experiences that are personally meaningful and memorable.

Strategic value and impact measurement. These companies maximize impact by allocating budgets where performance returns are highest, particularly in sales and channel programs. Average incentive travel rewards for sales participants exceed average performing company programs by over $4,000. The study further correlates reward strategies with revenue growth, customer expansion, and talent retention—defining Top Performers by these outcomes rather than perception alone.

Enterprise Engagement Alliance Services

Celebrating our 15^th year, the Enterprise Engagement Alliance helps organizations enhance performance through:

1. Information and marketing opportunities on stakeholder management and total rewards:
ESM Weekly on stakeholder management since 2009; click here for a media kit.
RRN Weekly on total rewards since 1996; click here for a EEA YouTube channel on enterprise engagement, human capital, and total rewards insights and how-to information since 2020.

2. Learning: Purpose Leadership and Stakeholder

Management Academy to enhance future equity value and performance for your organization.

3. Books on implementation: Enterprise Engagement for CEOs and Enterprise Engagement: The Roadmap.

4. Advisory services and research: Strategic guidance, learning and certification on stakeholder management, measurement, metrics, and corporate sustainability reporting.

5. Permission-based targeted business development to identify and build relationships with the people most likely to buy.

6. Public speaking and meeting facilitation on stakeholder management. The world’s leading speakers on all aspects of stakeholder management across the enterprise.