Company Overview
About Ultradent
Ultradent is a global dental manufacturing company with over 1600 employees. As Fortune’s #4 largest manufacturer for culture with over 45 years of history, their mission is to improve oral health around the world with quality products, progressive solutions, cutting edge tech.
The Challenge
Recognizing a global, diverse workforce
Ultradent’s previous top-down recognition solution couldn’t keep up with their needs. With 1,600+ employees across nearly every continent— and many working without regular computer access—they needed a better way to reach everyone meaningfully, whether they were sitting at a desk or working on the manufacturing floor.
The Solutions
Tailored global solutions for every employee
With Awardco, Ultradent built custom websites and experiences for each of their global locations while keeping administration simple and scalable.
To reach their manufacturing workforce, they went beyond digital efforts:
- QR code posters were placed around facilities so employees could easily access the platform.
- On-site booths and aides helped employees set up Awardco on their phones.
- Manager training ensured that frequent, meaningful recognition became part of daily operations.
By focusing on both technology and accessibility, Ultradent created an inclusive recognition experience for every employee, no matter where or how they worked.
Peer-driven recognition so no efforts go unnoticed
Ultradent didn't stop at access—they also reimagined how recognition happened. Their previous top-down system didn't fully capture everyday contributions.
Through Awardco, Ultradent launched a robust peer-to-peer recognition program that allowed employees to recognize anyone, anytime. Even better, employees received quarterly budgets to reward their peers directly, empowering authentic appreciation throughout the company.
To deepen the impact even further, Ultradent tied every recognition back to their core values, reinforcing behaviors that drive business success and cultural strength.
As David Alsop, Ultradent's Chief Human Resource Officer, put it:
"The one thing I love most about Awardco is that it helps people recognize the core values that we want our people to develop, which reinforces our culture more than we've ever been able to reinforce it before."
The Results
A stronger culture of appreciation drives business success
By evolving how they recognize employees and by focusing recognition around their core values, Ultradent has seen:
- Stronger employee engagement across global locations
- A more inclusive and accessible recognition program for all employees
- Enhanced recruiting efforts, with culture as a powerful attraction tool
Ultradent's strategic use of Awardco has turned recognition into a key driver of both employee satisfaction and business performance.
