Gamification is reshaping warehouse productivity
But there is only one solution allowing SAP supply chains to take advantage
By Geoff Gray, Head of Product, PreBilt
The role of the warehouse is undergoing one of the most significant shifts in decades. Labour shortages, rising attrition and increasing operational complexity are creating pressure on supply chain leaders to rethink how frontline work is trained, measured and supported. New data released this month from Gartner highlights exactly why this shift is accelerating and why gamification is becoming a decisive differentiator.
According to Gartner’s latest research, 40% of large warehouse operations will adopt gamification tools by 2028 as part of broader labour optimisation strategies. These tools integrate game design principles into daily operations to enhance performance and engagement. Think points, badges, progress dashboards and real time challenges. Their momentum is driven by two realities: persistent labour shortages and the growing demand from workers, especially younger generations, for meaningful development and recognition in their roles.
Gartner’s findings show that gamified simulations and interactive quizzes make learning more memorable, accelerating time to competency for new or seasonal staff. At the same time, embedded progress tracking dashboards give employees visibility into how they’re performing, building confidence and supporting continuous improvement. These capabilities are already being woven into warehouse management systems, robotics platforms and mobile applications creating real time, adaptive challenges that keep teams motivated without overwhelming them.
This is exactly where PreBilt comes in.
Bringing gamification directly into SAP EWM
PreBilt delivers SAP loved gamification natively inside SAP EWM turning day to day warehouse execution into an engaging, measurable, motivating experience for frontline teams. It’s loved so much by SAP it’s on display across their international experience centres.
Where Warehouse Labor Optimisation and Management Systems (WLOMS) platforms aim to optimise labour at a strategic level, PreBilt unlocks impact right where work happens: inside the operational workflows your teams already use.
With PreBilt, SAP EWM customers see:
1. Faster onboarding and training
Interactive learning experiences reduce time to competency, mirroring the benefits Gartner highlights around gamified simulations and quizzes.
2. Higher employee morale and engagement
Realtime feedback and visible progress keep teams motivated; one of the core reasons 40% of large warehouses are expected to adopt such tools by 2028.
3. Improved retention in high turnover environments
As Gartner notes, retention has become a top priority as labour shortages intensify. Gamification gives employees clearer development pathways and recognition, improving their connection to the role.
4. Sustainable productivity improvements
By making performance visible and learning continuous, teams build better habits and stronger skills over time. AI driven goal adjustments, highlighted in Gartner’s report, ensure challenges stay motivating rather than frustrating.
Why this matters now
Warehouse operators are dealing with expanded SKU counts, robotics integrations and more dynamic workflows than ever. The cognitive load on workers is rising just as competition for labour intensifies. In this environment, experience design, not just process design, is becoming a strategic advantage.
Gartner’s research reinforces that the future of warehouse labour optimisation won’t be defined purely by automation but by how effectively teams are supported, engaged, and empowered. Gamification is no longer a “nice to have”; it’s emerging as a core capability within modern warehouse ecosystems.
Making gamification practical, scalable and enterprise ready
For organisations running SAP EWM, the opportunity is clear but the path limited. There is no other mobile solution out there that offers mobile gamification for SAP warehouses other than PreBilt. That’s why we are number one. And that’s why the likes of SAP and Zebra work so closely with us, and actively encourage their customers to choose PreBilt.
Working hand in hand with SAP, we built PreBilt to integrate directly within SAP workflows, ensuring:
- No parallel systems
- No additional logins
- No change management fatigue
- No fragile custom development
Just a seamless, enterprise ready way to bring the benefits outlined by Gartner into your existing operational environment.
If you’re exploring how to adopt these capabilities and want to understand how they work in the context of SAP EWM we’re here to help.
Let PreBilt transform how your warehouse teams learn, perform and succeed
The industry is shifting quickly. Gamification is becoming a core expectation. And warehouse teams deserve tools that make performance visible, progress motivating and learning continuous.
If you’re ready to take the next step, reach out and chat to me.
Read Gartner’s full announcement here
If you are a Gartner client, you can access the full report here.