Navigating AI in Incentives: It’s Easier Than You Think

As One10’s Chief Revenue Officer with over 25 years in the events and incentives industry, I recognize the nuanced nature of AI. Recently, I was a moderator on an IRF webinar dedicated to exploring AI’s potential. During the session, we discussed key findings from the IRF report, ‘AI: Uses and Possibilities for Incentives Professionals.’

Here are my top 5 takeaways:

1. Embrace AI at Your Own Pace

Start using AI at a comfort level that feels right for you. Begin by educating yourself on how to effectively prompt AI tools, as success with generative AI depends on how you ask the questions. Regardless of where you start, the key is to get started. For example, if someone wants to create a more professional email reply for their client, I suggest they first draft the email in their normal voice. Then, they can use a tool like ChatGPT and prompt it to make the email more professional, compassionate, and concise.

I remember when social media came on the scene, and there was a fair amount of concern and chatter around how companies should or should not display what they were doing on social media. Now look at social media – every company you can think of is on a variety of social channels and posting multiple times a week. Our fear of social media has fallen by the wayside.

2. Implement Clear AI Policies

Ensure your employees understand both the benefits and risks of AI. At the heart of this is providing a North Star for companies and their people to operate within acceptable and comfortable parameters. No matter what, defer to your company’s legal team when it comes to regulations. At One10, we have a robust policy that prioritizes ethical AI use, aiming to maximize benefits while also ensuring compliance with our privacy and information policies.

3. Leverage AI for Creative Brainstorming

If you’ve been wanting to explore generative AI, brainstorming is the perfect opportunity, especially when building a travel program. Use AI to refine and expand upon your ideas when brainstorming themes or names for your incentive travel programs. With the right prompts, you can tailor your content to your target audience, making your content more professional and approachable.

Here are some examples of prompts to ask AI when planning your event:

• “Based on the demographics and preferences of our attendees, what venues do you think would work well for our event?”
• “What are some of the most popular activities to do in this location or near our chosen property?”
• “Could you recommend some sustainable practices we should consider incorporating into our event planning?”

4. Personalize Your Rewards Program with AI Insights

By analyzing your employees’ demographic history along with their redemption patterns and preferences, you can create more curated reward experiences. For example, by tracking what participants add to their wish lists, click on, and redeem, you can better align the program with users’ preferences. This will make your program more appealing and personalized in the long run.

5. Use AI to Boost Efficiency

AI presents the opportunity for incentive professionals to work smarter, not harder. We have this tool at our disposal that can significantly cut down the time needed for tasks such as destination research, writing copy in proposals, or even sketching out an agenda. While AI will never replace the human intelligence and personalization that our industry requires, it can certainly be a valuable time saver. For more key takeaways and AI insights, you can read the full report here