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As the U.S. economy continues to shift, uncertainty dominates headlines and boardrooms alike—and still, no one can predict exactly what lies ahead.
Deloitte’s latest US Economic Forecast underscores this variability, with 2025 GDP growth projections ranging from a robust 2.9% in the best case to just 2.2% in the downside scenario. Despite this wide range, one thing remains true: every organization wants to make sales, retain loyal customers, and keep great employees.
Regardless of shifting market conditions, certain business principles are evergreen. This playbook outlines six key rules for building a resilient business that leverages rewards and incentives to stand the test of time.
From client acquisition and employee engagement to automation and security, the following strategies offer practical guidance for navigating any outcome and positioning your business for long-term success.
Economic forecasts remain unpredictable, leaving business leaders with conflicting signals about where and how to grow. In this climate, resilience isn’t about chasing every trend—it’s about setting clear criteria for change, testing high-value assumptions, and doubling down on what works.
At the same time, consumer behavior is increasingly complex. While 46% of U.S. consumers feel optimistic, many are changing their spending due to inflation and uncertainty. For instance, 51% of low-income households are adjusting the quantity and pack sizes of their purchases, while 63% of high-income millennials plan to splurge on travel and jewelry.
These generational and income-based shifts underscore the need for agility and data-driven targeting, with messaging tailored to distinct priorities.
Key tactics:
Rewards and incentives offer a practical way to cut through the noise and prompt action—even amid economic changes. Gift cards and prepaid cards, whether physical or digital, can effectively drive demo attendance, trial signups, or first purchases by delivering immediate, tangible value.
Research from Tango and Blackhawk Network shows that companies using these tools see a 16% higher return on marketing investments, close deals 36% faster, and achieve a 34% annual boost in customer lifetime value compared to those relying on discounts or swag.
With economic signals mixed and brand loyalty under pressure, customer retention is more challenging—and more valuable—than ever. As consumers weigh purchases and re-evaluate relationships, brands that deliver genuine value, trust, and flexibility are best positioned to transform occasional buyers into lifelong advocates.
The business case for deepening customer engagement is clear: Gallup finds that customers who are deeply engaged with a brand deliver 23% more value in spending, profitability, and long-term relationship growth compared to the average customer.
Key tactics:
According to Deloitte’s 2024 Consumer Loyalty Survey, financial rewards remain the top driver of loyalty, with over half of consumers more likely to shop frequently with brands offering personalized offers and instant gratification. As expectations shift, rewards and incentives have become central to loyalty strategies—especially those that offer flexible, personalized value.
Gift cards stand out for their convenience and versatility, with more than 50% of consumers citing convenience as their main appeal. By integrating digital or physical gift cards, referral incentives, and personalized rewards into your programs, you can drive repeat business, gather feedback, and turn satisfied customers into advocates.
Employee engagement and well-being are central to organizational success, with global productivity losses from disengagement estimated at $8.8 trillion annually Today, engagement in the US is at an 11-year low, and 7 in 10 employees are actively looking for a new job.
Gallup’s research also shows that well-being and engagement are mutually reinforcing: employees who are both engaged and thriving in their well-being experience significantly less stress, anger, and health problems, while organizations benefit from higher productivity and stronger business outcomes.
As organizations adapt to new expectations and ongoing shifts in the business landscape, supporting employee well-being and engagement remains a strategic priority—one that is foundational to resilience and performance in any economic climate.
Key tactics:
Rewards and incentives can amplify employee engagement when thoughtfully integrated into recognition programs, with flexible options like digital gift cards and prepaid cards offering both choice and convenience. A recent study found that 55% of US adults received at least one gift card during the 2024 holiday season, with many using them for everyday essentials—highlighting their practical value.
While incentives can enhance motivation, Gallup emphasizes that authentic recognition and a culture of well-being are the true foundation of a resilient workforce. Employees who strongly agree their organization cares about their well-being are 4.4 times more likely to be engaged, 73% less likely to feel burned out, and 53% less likely to be actively seeking a new job.
In today’s market, traditional forecasting and intuition are no longer enough to understand or influence consumer behavior. Research notes that old frameworks for predicting what consumers will do have lost their reliability, as people are now making trade-offs across categories, seeking value in new ways, and sometimes splurging even while cutting back elsewhere.
To stay agile and relevant, organizations need access to timely data and analytics that will help them identify where customers and employees find value, and refine strategies accordingly.
Key tactics:
A data-driven approach is especially effective for rewards and incentive programs, particularly in customer initiatives where analytics can reveal which offers—such as digital gift cards and prepaid cards or exclusive promotions—deliver the highest return on investment. These insights help businesses identify what drives engagement and repeat purchases. For employee programs, tracking metrics like participation rates and recognition frequency highlights what motivates teams and where to focus efforts.
Personalizing rewards based on recipient preferences further boosts satisfaction and impact. Ultimately, using data to guide every stage of your engagement strategy ensures your investments deliver measurable, meaningful results that help your business adapt and thrive.
Organizations with fragmented systems and siloed processes risk falling behind, especially when uncertainty is the norm. A holistic, integrated technology strategy—one that unifies platforms, automates workflows, and leverages APIs—enables companies to act quickly, adapt with confidence, and deliver seamless experiences for both customers and employees.
Clarity and cohesion are critical to success. Research shows that true customer loyalty stems from a unified approach that aligns pricing, promotions, and loyalty programs to create consistent, high-value experiences across every touchpoint. Likewise, employees are most engaged when systems are simple, consistent, and clearly connected to company strategy—making integration a key driver of both internal alignment and external impact.
Key tactics:
Platforms that automate reward delivery and integrate with your existing systems make it easy to launch, manage, and scale programs—while ensuring a smooth redemption experience for both customers and employees.
By investing in a cohesive, tech-savvy infrastructure, organizations can eliminate bottlenecks, boost agility, and create unified experiences that drive loyalty, motivation, and growth—even as the economy continues to evolve.
No matter how the business landscape shifts, organizations cannot afford to compromise on security or compliance. Fraud, data breaches, and regulatory lapses can erode trust and disrupt operations—making proactive protection essential for resilience and long-term success.
Key tactics:
Protecting the integrity, confidentiality, and availability of data is mission critical. This means encrypting all information in transit, monitoring for anomalies around the clock, and having robust detection, response, and recovery protocols in place.
By making security and compliance foundational to your processes, you safeguard not only your operations but also your reputation and customer trust—regardless of how the economy or technology evolves.
In any economic climate, resilience isn’t just about weathering change—it’s about choosing partners who help you grow through it. At Tango, we believe that rewards and incentives don’t have to be large to be meaningful. Even small, thoughtful gestures can spark action, build loyalty, and show appreciation in powerful ways.
Our rewards are not only flexible and easy to deliver—digital solutions are also immune to supply chain disruptions, ensuring your programs stay consistent and reliable when it matters most.
Whether you're looking to engage customers, motivate employees, or drive measurable ROI, Tango offers the tools and expertise to help your business thrive—no matter what the market brings. Connect with our team today.
