Simpplr

08/12/2026

Recognition doesn't stick when it's occasional. It sticks when it's built into how a company runs. 🙌

Bay Federal Credit Union has had a recognition program for 20+ years. In 2025, they made it count differently — moving BayBucks from an occasional gesture to a daily, organizationwide practice powered by Simpplr Recognition & Rewards.

The shift:
→ 9,791 recognitions sent in 2025 (more than double 2024)
→ 96% of employees received recognition
→ 80% of employees sent recognition themselves

As Richard A. Roark, SVP/Chief Technology Officer, puts it: "BayBucks reinforces a culture where contributions matter, our values are lived every day, and employees are celebrated for the impact they make."

Congrats to the Bay Federal team — winner of Most Effective for Recognizing Employees in our 2026 Employee Experience Excellence Awards. 🏆

08/11/2026

Last week in AI x EX: what the data actually says about engagement, jobs, and where the gap still lives between AI access and AI value. 🤖

1️⃣ Employee engagement is flat, even as AI adoption accelerates
Gallup's mid-2026 numbers show engagement stuck at 31%, unchanged from last year. The takeaway: access to AI alone doesn't move the needle — clear expectations, a real implementation plan, and active manager support do.
🔗 https://www.gallup.com/workplace/712433/employee-engagement-remains-flat-adoption-accelerates.aspx

2️⃣ AI is reshaping jobs faster than companies are reshaping work
BCG surveyed 11,000+ workers across 14 markets and found frontline AI use has surged past 70%, but most organizations haven't redesigned the work around it — leaving real efficiency gains on the table.
🔗 https://www.bcg.com/press/3june2026-ai-reshaping-jobs-faster-than-companies-reshaping-work

3️⃣ Worried about AI and layoffs? Human talent still has the upper hand
G-P's 2026 AI at Work report finds nearly three-quarters of executives say AI ROI has fallen short of expectations, and most are recalibrating around a human-in-the-loop model rather than full automation.
🔗 https://americanbazaaronline.com/2026/07/28/worried-about-ai-and-layoffs-485323/

4️⃣ 6 ways AI in the workplace can drive real improvement
Our own breakdown of where AI actually moves the needle — productivity, HR, communications — and the myths still holding teams back from using it well.
🔗 https://www.simpplr.com/blog/ai-in-the-workplace/?utm_source=linkedin&utm_medium=or&utm_campaign=linkedin&utm_content=aiinworkplaceblog&utm_term=8_11_26

➕ Follow along for next month's roundup, and tell us: which of these tracks with what you're seeing at your org?

08/06/2026

AI didn't make software cheaper to build. It made speed cheaper. Those aren't the same thing. 💻
For 20 years, the default answer for IT leaders was to buy. AI-assisted development has genuinely broken that math — build timelines have compressed from quarters to weeks.
But the shift isn't uniform, and that's where a lot of the current build-vs-buy panic goes wrong.
Our latest blog breaks down:
→ Where the build vs. buy line has actually moved (and where it hasn't)
→ How vibe coding accelerates governance gaps
→ Why employee experience is the toughest test case for the "just build it" argument
Because successful software was never just the code.
👉Read the full breakdown: https://www.simpplr.com/blog/ai-build-vs-buy/?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=or&utm_campaign=facebook&utm_content=aibuildbuyblog&utm_term=8_6_26

Should you build it with AI software or buy a complete solution? Explore how AI shifts the build-vs-buy decision and why expertise, governance, and scale still matter.

08/05/2026

Three events, three cities, one fall packed with conversations for comms and EX leaders. 🍂

Yes, it's still a few months out — but tickets for in-person events like these tend to move fast, so we're getting this on your radar early.

Swipe through for what's coming up, and where to find a discount if you're joining us in person. →

🗓️Ragan's Internal Communications Conference
Oct 13–15 | Seattle, WA
The playbook for leading with clarity and credibility.
🎟️ Save $500 with code Simpplr500
🔗https://na.eventscloud.com/ereg/index.php?eventid=865930

🗓️Simpplr Frontline Connection Virtual Summit
Oct 21 | Virtual, half-day
When frontline comms break down, so does safety, trust, and retention.
🔗https://www.simpplr.com/the-frontline-connection-virtual-summit/?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=or&utm_campaign=facebook&utm_content=fall26eventroundup&utm_term=8_5_26

🗓️Ragan's Future of Communications Conference
Nov 11-13 | Austin, TX
Where trend-spotting turns into real business impact.
🎟️ Save $500 with code Simpplr500
🔗https://na.eventscloud.com/ereg/index.php?eventid=861329