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One of the hottest trends in technology today is gamification—that is, the practice of applying the mechanics and dynamics of gaming to non-gaming activities. Although gamification is sometimes dismissed as a simple fad and the tech buzzword du jour, there is a growing number of industry experts who regard gamification as a transformative movement that is shaping the future of business.

Even the world’s largest coffee chain is rewarding users with virtual points and virtual badges for visiting their retail stores. Starbucks, in partnership with location-based social network Foursquare, allows its customers to check in at their retail locations on their mobile phones and to earn points and special (barista) badges in the process. Although the points and badges generally do not translate into free coffees, the fun experience is designed to encourage people to visit their stores more often and to buy more drinks, while simultaneously allowing the company to gain metrics by which to track consumer behavior.