External Recognition™

Recognition from the outside in

Give customers, patients, clients, and partners an easy way to spotlight your employees—no login required.

Trusted by 3,000+ organizations worldwide

customer story

How does external recognition work?

External recognition extends appreciation beyond employees to the customers, fans, and community members who experience an organization's work firsthand. See how the Utah Jazz lets fans publicly recognize staff during games via video board shout-outs.

How It Works

What is External Recognition?

Provide customer-facing roles with customer-sourced compliments.

Administrative Flexibility

External recognition made easy

Awardco makes it easy to source and display recognitions from satisfied customers.

Print or Link QR Codes

Outside parties scan an employee’s personalized code to recognize them instantly for the entire organization to see.

Celebrate Wins

Add simple approval flows and optional points to celebrate standout employees to make sure no good work goes unnoticed.

Only From Awardco

Where External Recognition works

Healthcare

After receiving outstanding care, a patient’s family scans the nurse’s QR code and shares a meaningful message—instantly visible on Awardco to all employees—inspiring better care everywhere.

Food Service

After great service, diners scan a QR code and leave recognition for their server. Their manager adds points, and it’s posted for the team to celebrate, encouraging continued spectacular service.

Education

A simple thank you from a student shows a teacher their extra effort mattered. Recognition that deepens connection and fuels engagement from student and teacher builds a better world for everyone.

Retail

A grateful customer scans a QR code to recognize a cashier’s friendly service. It’s instant, visible, and celebrated company-wide, which builds a culture of customer service that will set you apart.

Hospitality

After a technician finishes a job with care and professionalism, the homeowner scans a QR code to send recognition. The shoutout is instantly visible across the company, boosting pride and inspiring service excellence in every home.

Testimonials

What our customers say

As I’ve transitioned contractors into full-time roles, I’ve used myKudos [Awardco] as an incentive to help them engage with PMG’s culture. It may take time to fully understand all the offerings, but seeing kudos in action helps new team members recognize the value of the platform.

Melodie Cottingham

Convergent Video/Audio Director

Companies that invest in recognition are seen as people-centric. When people feel appreciated for their contributions and are truly engaged, they’re more innovative, more creative, and more willing to think beyond the status quo. This elevates work, fuels stronger business outcomes and can foster deeper customer relationships.

Smiling woman with blonde hair wearing a black blazer and gold necklace against a white background.

Monica Gunderson

Talent Management Lead

We hear positive feedback about Awardco from employees all the time! They love the program, especially the peer-to-peer recognition feature. Reading through the recognition feed and seeing what employees are posting about one another reinforces our culture and just brings joy.

Smiling woman with braided hair wearing a blue blazer and black top, outdoors with trees in the background.

Kymberlee Stephens

Director of Employee Experience and Wellness

Previously, every manager hand-wrote a message to their employees every six months thanking them for their hard work, and it was all tied in with the bonus distribution. It was very high-touch, very labor intensive, and we had the process down to a science. We liked the connections that formed between managers and employees as a result of this program, but after COVID-19 most of our workforce went remote. Our semi-annual tradition wasn't possible any longer, nor was it feasible.

Smiling man wearing glasses, a black suit, white shirt, and a red patterned tie against a dark blurred background.

Kent Streuling

SVP of HR

We were really worried that clinical staff wouldn't be able to log in, being away from their desks. But that hasn't been an issue. Our emergency department senior director, for example, uses it right on the spot. We've seen a strong showing from our clinical departments.

Brianna Lepore

Sr. Talent Development Specialist

They really took the time to understand us, what we did before, and how what they’re going to bring to the table could enhance it from there

Smiling middle-aged woman with short blonde hair, wearing a brown jacket, necklace, and earrings against a blue background.

Pat Cokingtin

Senior VP of Sales & Marketing

Soon after our implementation we created a financial recognition program through Awardco for managers and supervisors to recognize their employees for extra efforts. Now our managers and supervisors have their own budgeted amount to use at their discretion to award their employees at any time, and they don't have to wait for approval to do so.

Smiling woman with short light brown hair, glasses, teal blouse, black cardigan, and pearl necklace.

Cheryl Vincent

Talent Development Manager

Often, you're on the road for an entire shift, and you may not necessarily interact with a lot of other colleagues… And so being recognized helps you feel more connected with the team.

Christopher Whilsmith

Certified Refueling Professional

Integrations

Simplify your workflow

Make recognition part of the daily flow of work, building culture at every touchpoint.

RCGNZ Summit 2026

External Recognition™

Recognition from the outside in