Minimal code integration will be required in order to apply gamification metrics and technics. A code snippet will be produced by the gamification platform, following a wizard based modelling of activity hooks and rule sets as required by administrators/customers, in a plurality of programming languages like Javascript, HTML/CSS, C# and Python.

Technical features derived are:

1. Secure protocol that operates over an IP

2. Server based environment for hosting the gamification engine

3. Server side API and services for creating and modifying gamification strategies

4. Database for storage of gamified actions, rules and analytics

5. Client side functionality that allows actionable event picking

6. Machine learning engine for suggesting best strategies based on user behavior

7. Event tracking mechanism which feeds heatmaps for showing traffic in the site

Main advantages (compared to existing technologies):

This platform shall monitor unobtrusively user activity flows in web sites or applications. Based the resolved data-points, the system will be able to identify at which stage of an activity flow an end-user abandoned the desired sequence of activities. The innovative element in the proposed process will be the integrated suggestion engine, which will identify the underlying abandonment reasoning and subsequently suggest alternative gamification paths to platform administrators. This shall be based on the recorded activities across pre-determined flows; the system shall define why there was a drop off and show via heatmaps the web page areas where attention is shifted away from the intended call to action. These areas will be presented to the administrator of the platform and a smart suggestion on how to gamify them shall be made available.

A sub set of features of the proposed gamification platform has been developed as required by the research team but the overall platform logic has yet to be implemented. The implementation process will constitute a web-based platform offering that includes an administrative environment where administrators (customers) can create game strategies with the basic gamification metrics. An elaborate point system will facilitate a point-reward exchange including badges (or other rewards as determined by platform administrators) based on rules defined and adapted according to requirements. Furthermore, there will be leaderboards, levels and progress bars based on administrator’s rules and a gamification’s actions’ tracking engine that will provide metrics and KPIs of engagement. A subset of the proposed platform’s features has been already applied in four H2020 European Projects concerning gamification in industry4.0 and e-health and results have shown a general improvement in user engagement, satisfaction and user acceptance of the integrated concept.

• To implement the overall platform logic with a business partner from the energy sector in a short project
• To let future customers create game strategies and elaborate a point system (or other rewards determined by them)
• To pilot test and improve the automated gamification suggestions
• To find a reliable energy service provider and work in close cooperation for the game strategy improvement and the final platform test

The current state of the market has several gamified platforms that consist of the basic gamification metrics like the achievements’ section, progress bars, levels, appointment dynamics and analytic tools. Leaderboards and notifications are used to boost engagement while an initial approach of integrating machine-learning techniques has been attempted. Apart from the fundamental features of gamification in applications, there is a new field of gamified platforms based on machine learning techniques in order to create more real-time adaptable and personalized strategies.

The ideal partner would represent an energy service provider, whereby the administrator/manager has identified the value of driving behavior through gamification mechanics for the benefit of the users and the company.