Gifts That Work: Pluxee Study Unwraps the Future of Corporate Gifting

Pluxee India has released a new study that shows how companies in India are changing the way they use corporate gifts. What used to be just a token of appreciation is now becoming an important part of business and employee engagement strategies.
Pluxee, which was earlier known as Sodexo BRS, has been in India for over 28 years. It works with more than 11,000 organisations and supports over 3.5 million users across 1,800 towns.

The company offers digital-first gifting solutions that are quick, customisable, and suitable for both employees and partners. With options like hybrid gifting, 24x7 support, and a dedicated app, Pluxee is helping companies simplify the gifting process and make it more impactful.

The recent study was launched during a virtual panel discussion attended by top leaders from Pluxee and well-known corporate executives. Sebastien Godet, Chief Revenue Growth Officer for Europe, Middle East, Africa, and Asia at Pluxee, explained that the study was done to understand how gifting is changing in the Indian business world.

“Companies are moving quickly to adapt gifting to new realities,” he said. “Gifting is evolving from static tokens to dynamic experiences that reflect deeper understanding of people and purpose.”

Viktoria Otero Del Val, Chief Strategy, Sales & Marketing Officer and Chief Revenue Growth Officer for the UK and US, officially released the report. She said corporate gifting today is not just about giving something for the sake of it.

“There’s a move towards continuous, personalised, and sustainable gifting. India is also seeing this change,” she said, adding that more companies are using a mix of digital and physical gifts, also known as hybrid gifting.


The study is based on feedback from 430 professionals across different industries in India. It shows that 49% of companies now prefer hybrid gifting – a mix of physical gifts and digital options like e-gift cards. Gift cards are becoming more popular, with 41% of companies favouring them, followed by 35% who prefer single-brand vouchers.

According to Harish Sarma, Marketing & Product Director at Pluxee India, many companies are now choosing gift options that can be sent quickly and easily. “Many gifting decisions are taken just a week before the event or even on an ad-hoc basis,” he said. This means digital and easy-to-send gifts are becoming more important.

The report also highlights who takes the gifting decisions in companies. HR teams mostly handle internal gifting for employees, while senior leaders look after external gifting, such as gifts for channel partners, clients, and vendors. Around 73% of internal gifting decisions are made by HR teams, while 46% of external gifting choices come from senior management, followed by marketing and sales teams.


Gifting is not just limited to employees anymore. Companies are also using gifts to build better relationships with dealers, partners, and consumers. Sachhin Misshra, Cluster Head at Akumentis Healthcare, said, “At Akumentis, our gifting strategy includes both employees and external customers. It helps us build a culture of appreciation and strong relationships.”

Vikash Agarwal, Divisional CFO at Berger Paints India, shared how their company changed its gifting approach. “Earlier, we used to send physical gifts. But there were many issues like delivery delays and mismatch with people’s preferences,” he said. “Now we have moved to gift cards, which are more flexible and easier to manage.”

Venkat Ramanan, Deputy General Manager – Marketing at HL Mando Automotive India, also shared a similar experience. “Today’s generation looks for flexibility, personalisation, and eco-friendly options. So we are moving from traditional gifts to digital and sustainable options,” he said.


The study points out the top challenges companies face with gifting. These include lack of variety (47%), high costs (33%), and gifts not being personalised (32%). Some companies also find the gifting process difficult to manage and deliver. These challenges are pushing businesses to look for better and smarter solutions.

When it comes to measuring the impact of gifting, the study found that 50% of companies rely on employee feedback, while only 9% look at return on investment (ROI) or brand loyalty. A significant number (24%) don’t have any formal way of measuring whether their gifting efforts are working. This shows there is still room to improve how companies track the results of their gifting strategies.

Even with these challenges, corporate gifting is here to stay. The report shows that 27% of companies plan to increase their gifting efforts in the future, and 37% will continue at the current level. Only 6% plan to reduce spending on gifting. According to Anish Sarkar, Managing Director – India, Philippines & Indonesia Cluster at Pluxee, gifting should be seen as a long-term business strategy. “When done right, it boosts employee morale, builds stronger relationships, and helps grow the business,” he said.- TWL Bureau