American Pharoah won the Triple Crown recently; the first horse to do so in over 30 years. Winning three major events in a row is not easy. It requires a unique combination of speed, agility and — pardon the obvious — horsepower.

There is no triple crown for winning at employee recognition, but if there was, it would require blending the same attributes.

So how does your approach — more importantly your technology — compare to others in the field?

Here’s how to handicap your recognition solution:

Speed. Does your technology allow you to get up and running quickly and stay ahead of the pack? Once you are out of the gate, does it offer the configurable flexibility you will need to make changes quickly? Or will you need to go back to programmers when conditions change?

Agility. Does it help you navigate around unforeseen changes to your business? Will you be able to capitalize on openings? Does it offer built-in business intelligence; visualized data patterns that will allow you to spot and pursue market opportunities that will drive results?

Horsepower. Do you have the tools you need to power up both the volume and velocity of rewards? Can you expand recognition’s impact by socializing appreciation across your entire employee base? Will you have the recognition options you will need to maintain momentum? Can you blend a wide range of funded and non-funded rewards to get the maximum impact from your recognition investment?

Combine those attributes into your employee recognition program’s design and execution. If you do so, you will come out as the odds-on favorite in the race to attract, motivate and retain top talent.