Gaming Innovation in HR: the Evolution of Online Team Building

In 2020-2021, virtual platforms for remote teams were actively developing, helping to maintain the working mood and motivation of employees. Online team building activities - presentations and quizzes - not only entertained employees, but also created a positive atmosphere. Answering questions helped people to communicate with each other in an informal atmosphere.
New projects appeared, such as Donut on the Slack platform, which automatically formed pairs for virtual meetings, facilitating friendly interaction. However, this format wasn't always effective for employees who hadn't yet formed strong bonds.

According to a report published by Allied Market Research, the U.S. corporate events market was valued at $95.3 billion in 2020 and was expected to reach $510.9 billion by 2030. The conference/seminar segment accounted for the major share of 53.2% in 2020. Thus, there was a need for socializing on online platforms.

In 2021, when remote working format became the norm, virtual team building platforms grew rapidly - statistics show this. The global online events market size in 2021 was valued at USD 110.21 billion , and is projected to reach USD 617.33 billion by 2030, at a compound annual growth rate of 21.1% from 2022 to 2030.

Online team building service GatherTeam.Online also started with quizzes. The Time Machine quiz, which focused on the culture of the 80s and 90s, brought employees together through teamwork. It had limited gamification, but served as a good starting point for development in online conferencing.

As an alternative for better interaction within the team, GatherTeam.Online created online travel. Our goal was to guide team building participants through interesting places they wanted to visit in another country. In real time, employees were immersed in the atmosphere of the city together with the team and the guide. Without leaving home, they could visit Singapore, Tokyo, Barcelona, or Prague. In this way, employees had positive emotions and new experiences together. They were energized, which they channeled into achieving their work goals.

Between 2022-2023, HR professionals started using online team building platforms with deeper gamification. Mentimeter, for example, added elements of competition and engagement. The main drawback was the limited team mechanics. Choosing the correct answer did not hold the audience's attention or improve communication.

According to the study, the demand in the global virtual corporate events market was valued at around USD 115.37 billion in 2022 and was expected to reach USD 182.82 billion in 2023. Entertainment accounted for the largest share of 35.78% in 2022 and was valued at USD 28.17 billion.

From 2023, the format of events underwent a change with the emergence of online team building events based on gaming platforms such as Minecraft. However, not all employees perceived them as a means of strengthening business relationships, which revealed a need for refinement. GatherTeam.Online also used Minecraft to keep the team engaged through online team building. This way of communicating was not suitable for everyone, as games were more associated with recreation.

The rise of remote working has led to the emergence of complete online team building solutions. Corporate metavillages - spaces where employees could interact in a virtual environment - had enhanced gamification. Such platforms undoubtedly demonstrated high levels of engagement among audiences, but were not always easy to integrate for conventional PCs.
Companies are increasingly realizing the benefits of remote working, such as reduced costs, access to a wider range of employees, and improved work-life balance. However, there are also challenges, such as feelings of isolation and lack of belonging in teams. Online team building activities address these issues by improving the quality of teamwork, which ensures the overall success and growth of companies.

The market for online team building products is growing, as proven by statistics. Live Event segment is the largest, valued at USD 2759.70 million in 2024, and is expected to grow at a significant rate. Virtual Conferencing sphere accounts for USD 1,582.28 million in 2024, gaining popularity due to its cost-effectiveness.

We offer games and online travel at GatherTeam.Online, which not only helps in maintaining work and friendship bonds between employees, but also increase employee engagement. Our online team building events improve team productivity because people are happy to work for a company that cares about them.

According to research by Shawn Encore in his book, The Happiness Dividend, “Happiness improves virtually all business and educational outcomes: a 37% increase in sales, a 31% increase in productivity, and a 19% increase in task accuracy, as well as a host of health and quality of life improvements.” Online team building activities offered by our service bring employees together and increase the enjoyment of work.