Delivering superior customer service is serious business. When a company does it right, all is well with the world. When it's the opposite, the mishap spreads like wildfire on social channels such as Twitter and Facebook, and the results can be devastating. Remember what happened to Netflix?  

The serious business implications of executing on a customer service strategy don't mean it can't be fun. In fact, today many organizations are making gamification a part of that very strategy. Gamification is used in business applications to encourage people to use them. It also can drive customers to help themselves through self-service vehicles.

The reason gamification works is that most of us enjoy being challenged and recognized. By adding gaming elements to what may be considered mundane or boring tasks, companies are providing a richer customer experience that encourages, motivates, recognizes, and rewards customers.