Canonical URL: https://giftcard.news/rewards-loyalty/guusto-updates-employee-recognition-software-with-ai-recognition-scores-24e69b2a11e2/ --- description: Guusto’s Q2 product update targets account-creation friction, manager feedback and a wider choice of employee rewards. title: Guusto introduces guest reward redemption alongside recognition scoring and branded merchandise image: https://giftcard.news/images/social/v1/guusto-introduces-guest-reward-redemption-alongside-recognition-scoring-branded-merchandise-cb7a9590fd5a731721ab852cdba0abff.jpg --- 1. [Home](https://giftcard.news/) 2. [Rewards & Loyalty](https://giftcard.news/rewards-loyalty/) # Guusto introduces guest reward redemption alongside recognition scoring and branded merchandise Guusto’s Q2 product update targets account-creation friction, manager feedback and a wider choice of employee rewards. By [Suzie Elis](https://giftcard.news/author/suzie-elis/) May 6, 2026 2 min read Share [ ](https://x.com/intent/post?url=https%3A%2F%2Fgiftcard.news%2Frewards-loyalty%2Fguusto-updates-employee-recognition-software-with-ai-recognition-scores-24e69b2a11e2%2F%3Futm%5Fsource%3Dx%26utm%5Fmedium%3Dsocial&text=Guusto%20introduces%20guest%20reward%20redemption%20alongside%20recognition%20scoring%20and%20branded%20merchandise "X") [ ](https://www.linkedin.com/sharing/share-offsite/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fgiftcard.news%2Frewards-loyalty%2Fguusto-updates-employee-recognition-software-with-ai-recognition-scores-24e69b2a11e2%2F%3Futm%5Fsource%3Dlinkedin%26utm%5Fmedium%3Dsocial "LinkedIn") [ ](https://wa.me/?text=Guusto%20introduces%20guest%20reward%20redemption%20alongside%20recognition%20scoring%20and%20branded%20merchandise%20https%3A%2F%2Fgiftcard.news%2Frewards-loyalty%2Fguusto-updates-employee-recognition-software-with-ai-recognition-scores-24e69b2a11e2%2F%3Futm%5Fsource%3Dwhatsapp%26utm%5Fmedium%3Dsocial "WhatsApp") ![Guusto Q2 2026 product update graphic showing recognition scores and merchandise](https://giftcard.news/images/variants/v1/guusto-introduces-guest-reward-redemption-alongside-recognition-scoring-branded-merchandise-q2-2026-w1280.webp) Official company image accompanying the source announcement. Photo: Guusto [Guusto](https://giftcard.news/company/guusto/) presented guest reward redemption, AI Recognition Scores and branded merchandise in a product update published on May 6, 2026\. The changes address three separate parts of employee recognition: access to an earned reward, feedback on managers’ recognition habits and the form the reward takes. [\[S01\]](#article-source-1) ## Removing an account-creation step Guest Redemption lets a recipient use a reward without creating an account. Guusto says the route supports rewards delivered through QR codes, text messages, email and printed materials, with particular relevance for frontline employees who may not routinely use a workplace inbox. [\[S01\]](#article-source-1) The operational distinction is between sending value and making it usable. A recognition message can reach its destination while the recipient still faces an unfamiliar registration process. Removing one step may help, but a successful programme must also make the reward easy to identify, explain how it works and provide support when something goes wrong. ## Three changes with different jobs Guusto had already described integrated branded merchandise in its March Q1 update. Its appearance in the May showcase should therefore be read as part of the continuing product programme, rather than evidence that merchandise first became available in May. [\[S02\]](#article-source-2) Scroll left or right to see all columns __Three changes with different jobs__ | Product update | Purpose described by Guusto | | --------------------- | --------------------------------------------------------- | | Guest Redemption | Use a reward without creating an account | | AI Recognition Scores | Give feedback on recognition activity and message quality | | Branded merchandise | Add another reward format for milestones and recognition | Guusto says the scoring feature considers factors including recognition frequency, reach, message specificity and alignment with company values. Branded merchandise broadens the formats available alongside gift cards. The update was discussed by senior product manager [Cameron Waind](https://giftcard.news/person/cameron-waind/) and executive HR adviser [Kwesi Thomas](https://giftcard.news/person/kwesi-thomas/). [\[S01\]](#article-source-1) A recognition score and a redemption result answer different questions. The first evaluates aspects of how recognition is expressed or distributed. The second records whether the recipient could use the reward. Neither, on its own, demonstrates improved retention or a change in employee performance. ## What programme owners can measure Guusto positions the changes as a way to make recognition easier to manage, but the announcement does not provide a controlled evaluation or a measured uplift in redemption after the update. [\[S01\]](#article-source-1) An anecdotal spending example in the webinar is not a company-wide breakage rate or a representative industry estimate. For employers, the practical opportunity is to observe the complete process: who receives recognition, whether they can access it and how the chosen reward fits the occasion. A programme becomes easier to improve when those stages are measured separately, with clear definitions and a consistent reporting period. ## Sources and documents ExpandCollapse * [\[S01\] Q2 product update, May 6, 2026](https://blog.guusto.com/employee-recognition-software-updates-guusto-q2-2026?utm%5Fsource=giftcard.news) — Guusto * [\[S02\] Earlier Q1 product update, March 12, 2026](https://blog.guusto.com/q1-2026-product-update?utm%5Fsource=giftcard.news) — Guusto ## In this article ### Companies * [Guusto](https://giftcard.news/company/guusto/) ### People * [Cameron Waind](https://giftcard.news/person/cameron-waind/) * [Kwesi Thomas](https://giftcard.news/person/kwesi-thomas/) Share [ ](https://x.com/intent/post?url=https%3A%2F%2Fgiftcard.news%2Frewards-loyalty%2Fguusto-updates-employee-recognition-software-with-ai-recognition-scores-24e69b2a11e2%2F%3Futm%5Fsource%3Dx%26utm%5Fmedium%3Dsocial&text=Guusto%20introduces%20guest%20reward%20redemption%20alongside%20recognition%20scoring%20and%20branded%20merchandise "X") [ ](https://www.linkedin.com/sharing/share-offsite/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fgiftcard.news%2Frewards-loyalty%2Fguusto-updates-employee-recognition-software-with-ai-recognition-scores-24e69b2a11e2%2F%3Futm%5Fsource%3Dlinkedin%26utm%5Fmedium%3Dsocial "LinkedIn") [ ](https://wa.me/?text=Guusto%20introduces%20guest%20reward%20redemption%20alongside%20recognition%20scoring%20and%20branded%20merchandise%20https%3A%2F%2Fgiftcard.news%2Frewards-loyalty%2Fguusto-updates-employee-recognition-software-with-ai-recognition-scores-24e69b2a11e2%2F%3Futm%5Fsource%3Dwhatsapp%26utm%5Fmedium%3Dsocial "WhatsApp") ![Portrait of Suzie Elis](https://giftcard.news/images/variants/v1/suzie-elis-editorial-portrait-w320.webp) About the author ## [Suzie Elis](https://giftcard.news/author/suzie-elis/) Journalist — Gift Cards & Digital Gifting Suzie Elis covers gift card products, digital gifting and distribution for Gift Card News. From reading to building ## Your next move in gift cards. Tell us what you’re building. We’ll help you explore suitable providers. [Find a provider ](https://giftcard.news/find-a-provider/) ## Related articles [Rewards & Loyalty](https://giftcard.news/rewards-loyalty/) News ### [Giftbit’s Research Incentive Guide Puts Unclaimed Gift Cards and Privacy in Focus](https://giftcard.news/rewards-loyalty/giftbit-research-incentives-unclaimed-gift-cards-privacy/) [Maya Bennett](https://giftcard.news/author/maya-bennett/) September 17, 2026 2 min [Rewards & Loyalty](https://giftcard.news/rewards-loyalty/) News ### [Yoyo Reports Platō Loyalty Results a Year After Card-Linked Launch](https://giftcard.news/rewards-loyalty/yoyo-plato-card-linked-loyalty-first-year-results/) [Maya Bennett](https://giftcard.news/author/maya-bennett/) September 16, 2026 2 min [Rewards & Loyalty](https://giftcard.news/rewards-loyalty/) News ### [Prezzee sets out employee gift card options for work anniversaries](https://giftcard.news/rewards-loyalty/prezzee-employee-gift-card-options-work-anniversaries/) [Maya Bennett](https://giftcard.news/author/maya-bennett/) September 15, 2026 2 min ```json {"@context":"https://schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https://giftcard.news/#publisher","name":"Gift Card News","url":"https://giftcard.news/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://giftcard.news/brand/giftcard-news-logo.svg"}},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https://giftcard.news/author/suzie-elis/#person","name":"Suzie Elis","url":"https://giftcard.news/author/suzie-elis/","description":"Suzie Elis covers gift card products, digital gifting and distribution for Gift Card News.","jobTitle":"Journalist — Gift Cards & Digital Gifting","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://giftcard.news/images/suzie-elis-editorial-portrait.webp","contentUrl":"https://giftcard.news/images/suzie-elis-editorial-portrait.webp","width":256,"height":256,"caption":"Illustrated portrait representing the Suzie Elis editorial 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