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Let's be honest: As a human resources (HR) professional, you've probably been asked to prove the value of that virtual escape room. Or you've been asked to assess the worth of that hybrid cooking class more times than you could count.
The good news? Measuring returns on investment (ROI) doesn't have to feel like solving a puzzle blindfolded. With the right framework, you can turn those team-building investments into clear and compelling data. That could make your leadership smile and keep your budget intact!
Fret not—This page shares a practical framework for measuring ROI on virtual and hybrid team experiences. Read on to learn what it is exactly, why it matters for your organization, and how to make the most of your activities.
What's ROI Anyway? 🤷
ROI is a performance metric used to measure the profitability of a business investment. ROI is one of the most important metrics set by the human resources department (HR). It impacts the financial decisions of leadership in the hybrid workplace.
But in the context of employee engagement, it entails measuring how much you can earn from what you spend on team-building activities. It involves assessing the tangible and intangible benefits your company or organization gains from investing in these events.
Think of it as your way of answering the questions: Was that virtual trivia night worth it or will that online game pay off in the long run?
Virtual and hybrid team experiences are among the top employee engagement trends for 2025. However, these differ from traditional in-person activities in several key ways. For one, they're often more cost-effective (no venue rentals!) and more accessible to distributed teams (no matter where they are in the world).
However, virtual and hybrid team building requires different engagement strategies. Unlike a conference room pizza party or an in-office potluck lunch, you need to work across:
- Different time zones
- Various technology platforms
- Varying home office setups
So, this begs the question: Why does ROI matter so much for HR in today's remote and hybrid work environments?
The answer is simple. When teams are scattered across different locations, every touchpoint becomes more valuable. You need to know which virtual experiences truly bring people together and which ones fall flat.
Picture this: A team at a tech startup hosted a virtual murder mystery event through Confetti. Initially skeptical about "another Zoom meeting," participants found themselves genuinely laughing and collaborating in ways they hadn't since going remote. The HR manager didn't just see smiles; she saw measurable improvements in cross-department communication that lasted weeks beyond the event.
See how it could pay off in the long run? For all we know, it could encourage employee engagement and make them more productive, ultimately bringing more money to your business.
Why Bother Measuring It? 💡
Measuring ROI is a must if you want your HR programs to be taken seriously. Just like marketers check keyword difficulty before investing in content, HR teams need to measure ROI to know if their time, budget, and energy are paying off. The benefits go beyond numbers, showing leaders real impact while helping you make smarter decisions.
The benefits of measuring ROI on your virtual and hybrid team experiences are manifold. Still unconvinced? Here's why getting serious about ROI measurement should be at the top of your HR priority list:
- Shows leaders the activity was worth it
- Helps HR spend money wisely
- Tells us how happy and engaged employees are
- Makes it easier to get approval for future events
- Gives clear facts to guide decisions
Here's a compelling fact: According to Gallup's State of the Workplace report, engaged employees are more productive, stick around longer, make fewer mistakes, and keep customers happier. The proof is in the numbers:
Connecting your virtual or hybrid team experiences to these kinds of outcomes proves beneficial in more ways than one. Not only are you just planning fun activities, but you're also driving business results.
The Practical Framework: 5 Easy Steps To Measure ROI 🧑💻
Measuring ROI doesn't have to be complicated. Think of it as following the key steps for success with the right activities, proper timing, some sort of creativity, and a bit of conscious effort.
That said, here's your step-by-step framework designed specifically for busy HR professionals:
1. Define goals: Set clear, measurable objectives
Before you book that virtual wine tasting, get crystal clear. If you have virtual holiday party ideas, for example, ask: What do you aim to achieve in the first place? Your objectives might include:
- Improve cross-team collaboration scores by 15%.
- Boost employee morale ratings in quarterly surveys.
- Increase retention rates among remote employees.
- Strengthen manager-employee relationships
Include both quantitative goals (like attendance rates) and qualitative goals (such as survey responses about team cohesion). Heed our advice: The magic happens when you can measure both the numbers and the feelings!
Grant Aldrich, Founder of Preppy, recommends starting with goal-setting for your employee engagement initiative. He believes these objectives help ensure your engagement activities will pay off in the long run.
Aldrich says, "Clear goals are the foundation of any successful engagement initiative. When you define what success looks like, whether it's stronger collaboration or higher retention, you can actually measure the impact. Without objectives, even the best activities risk feeling like just another event."
2. Set KPIs: Pick key metrics and data sources
Key performance indicators (KPIs) serve as benchmarks for measuring your engagement performance against your goals. That said, here's where you become a data detective. Focus on these essential metrics:
- Participation rates and engagement during events
- Employee satisfaction surveys (conduct them before and after experiences)
- Retention and absenteeism rates over time
- Productivity indicators where applicable
- Positive feedback, testimonials, and those all-important "smiles per participant"
- External benchmark data, when you can find relevant comparisons
For deeper insights into effective virtual team building strategies, explore Confetti's comprehensive guide to remote team engagement. With their wide range of team building options, you'll never run out of unique ideas.
3. Collect data…without the hassle!
Data insights play a critical role in your employee engagement initiative. However, nobody has time for complicated data collection. Don't worry, as we'll keep it plain and simple:
- Use anonymous surveys sent 24-48 hours after events.
- Leverage quick pulse polls in Slack or Microsoft Teams.
- Pull existing data from your HRIS system.
- Ask managers for informal observations about team dynamics.
- Screenshot those amazing chat comments during virtual events (they're golden).
Collecting data, whether getting actual feedback or unraveling valuable insights, can guide your HR team. These data insights can help your team evaluate your current engagement activities and refine your strategies later in the process.
4. Calculate ROI: Crunch the numbers
Now, you've reached the most crucial part: ROI calculations. It's time to measure the ROI of your team-building activities for your virtual or hybrid teams.
Learn from Jeffrey Zhou, CEO and Founder of Fig Loans. While he recognizes the difficulty in measuring intangible metrics, he suggests calculating ROI for engagement initiatives by following concrete metrics and strict formulas.
Zhou explains, "Calculating ROI gives HR the proof they need to show real business impact. While engagement can feel intangible, setting clear metrics and using a simple formula makes the value of team-building initiatives impossible to ignore."
Zhou shares a simple formula for calculating ROI:
ROI = (Net Benefit / Cost) × 100
Let's work through a real example:
Your company spent $2,000 on a virtual team-building series for 50 employees. Post-event surveys showed a 20% improvement in collaboration scores. You retained two employees who were considering leaving (saving approximately $30,000 in replacement costs).
Based on the scenario above, here's your calculation:
($30,000 - $2,000) / $2,000 × 100 = 1,400% ROI
Don't forget to translate qualitative feedback into leadership-friendly language. "Employees felt more connected" becomes "87% of participants reported stronger working relationships with colleagues."
5. Share results: Communicate real impact
After measuring and calculating ROI, the work doesn't stop. Of course, you need to communicate these results with all the stakeholders involved in your company or organization. That way, business leaders and decision-makers can make informed decisions and take concrete actions.
To achieve this, create reports that tell a story, rather than just displaying numbers. For example, use visuals, include employee quotes, and don't be afraid to celebrate wins with actual confetti (virtual or otherwise)! Your presentation should answer: What did we do? What happened? What does it mean for our business?
Take it from Leigh McKenzie, Community Advocate at Traffic Think Tank. He emphasizes the importance of sharing results with stakeholders and taking concrete actions to drive improvements.
McKenzie shares, "Data only drives change when it's shared. As an HR professional, it's crucial to present and share results in a clear, engaging way. Not only does this prove impact, but it also gives leaders the insight they need to act and improve future initiatives."
Pro Tips: Get the Most Out of Your Team Activities 😎
Great team activities don't just happen as they're planned with purpose. However, here's the catch: only 23% of employees are engaged, while most (62%) are disengaged, and 15% are actively disengaged.
It's crucial to kick your engagement activities up a notch. After following the practical framework above, use the tips below to make every event more engaging and impactful for your people.
Make events work harder:
Want to squeeze every drop of value from your team experiences? It's time to make your virtual events more engaging. Try these proven strategies:
- Connect activities to company goals (go back to your company's core).
- Let team members help plan (engage in group brainstorming).
- Try different formats (think games, wellness, and icebreakers, for example).
- Always gather feedback (more importantly, apply it to your next events).
- Celebrate wins and spotlight MVPs (your whole team deserves to celebrate).
- Get everyone involved (be they remote or in-office).
For fresh ideas that keep teams excited, browse Confetti's extensive library of virtual and hybrid activities designed specifically for modern workplaces.
Common mistakes to avoid:
Even the most well-intentioned HR teams can stumble. As simple as quick team-building activities for busy teams could fail if not properly planned. Here are the most common mistakes and how to sidestep them:
- Only tracking attendance. Quality matters more than quantity!
- Ignoring honest comments from employees. Those heartfelt comments are data gold!
- Forgetting to link events to business objectives. Goal alignment is key!
- Not sharing results with leadership and the entire organization. Company silos are a big no-no!
- Skipping the celebration of wins. Bask in the glory of success!
Quick Recap: ROI Matters and It's Totally Measurable 🤑
The message is crystal clear: ROI matters for your company or organization. The good news is that it is totally measurable. That said, here are the key takeaways to remember:
- Measuring ROI helps HR stay smart and makes leaders continue to fund your activities.
- You don't need to be a math genius, as simple steps and regular feedback do the job.
- Virtual and hybrid events have special benefits that show real value when tracked.
- Numbers plus real comments together give the complete picture of ROI for guided success!
Ready to kick your team-building experience up a notch, whether virtual or hybrid? Confetti can work wonders for your organization with its hosted events and activities. Plus, they can help you measure your ROI to achieve real success. To learn how it works, book a demo now!
