The Microsoft Teams integration enables you to use Bonusly to give recognition within Teams.
Installing the Bonusly App:
Log into Microsoft Teams, and select the "Apps" icon located on the bottom left side of the navigation menu
2. On the apps page, type "Bonusly" and click on the add button with in the app
3. A new Popup window will appear. Click "Add" again with in the Bonusly App window
4. Select the team you would like to install the Bonusly app on. The app will only be available to the channels in the selected team, and only users with access to that particular team can use it to give recognition.
Good to know: This article covers the Bonusly app for Teams, which lets people give recognition, see the feed, and redeem rewards inside Teams. Bizy's Microsoft Teams connector is separate. It's something each person turns on from Bizy's Connectors panel so Bizy can read context from standard channels. Installing one doesn't connect the other.
For Admins
You install Bonusly once per team, choosing one channel as you go. After that, channels are managed from Bonusly Company → Integrations → Microsoft Teams, under Connected channels.
Adding a standard channel. Click Add channel on the Connected channels card and pick it from the list. You do not need to go back to Teams, and you do not need to install anything again.
Adding a private channel. Private channels are the exception: add the Bonusly app to the channel inside Teams, and it appears on the card once Bonusly can reach it. The picker lists private channels it cannot reach and says so rather than letting you select them.
Turning a channel off. Each row has a Delivery switch. Turning it off stops recognition posting there without disconnecting the channel, so its roster is kept and you can turn it back on from the same row. A channel added by mistake is a switch, not something to undo.
Shared channels are not supported. Bonusly declines an install into one, because a shared channel can include people from outside your organization and only people with a Bonusly account can use the app. If you install into a shared channel, nothing is set up — remove the app from the team under Manage apps and add it to a standard or private channel instead.
Dedicated channels work best. A channel like #recognition or #shoutouts keeps recognition visible without cluttering project channels. Bonusly posts to a channel only when someone in it is recognized, which is what keeps a dedicated channel relevant.
Keep each channel under about 100 people. Recognition gets lost in a very large channel, so channels per department, team or office keep it personal and see more engagement. This is about the size of each channel rather than the size of your company — a large organization using focused channels is exactly the shape this works best in.
Once a channel is connected, the people in it receive welcome messages automatically — the ones Bonusly can match to a Bonusly account, and only once the integration is active. A Teams guest with no Bonusly account gets nothing.
If the installer is not a Tech admin
This applies to a company's first Teams install only. That install is saved but inactive, and nothing is posted until an admin with at least Tech admin permissions activates it in Bonusly. Once the integration exists and is active, a later channel added by somebody without those permissions does not put it back into that state. The person installing sees a message saying so, and the bot answers "installed but not active yet" until then. Activation is on the same Microsoft Teams integration page.
Multi-Tenant Limitations
Bonusly does not support having more than one MS Tenant connected to the same company. If you attempt to install the Bonusly app in Teams when another tenant is already connected to your Bonusly company, you'll receive a message in Teams asking you to disconnect the other tenant first.
Viewing and Managing Your Connected Tenant
Admins with Global or Tech permissions can see which Microsoft Tenant is connected to your company's Bonusly account and manage the connection:
A new section in the Teams integration settings displays the ID of your currently connected tenant.
From this section, those admins can disconnect the tenant from the Bonusly side, which helps troubleshoot connection issues or prepare for switching to a different tenant.
Viewing App Installation Status
A new section shows how many users have the Bonusly Teams app installed in their personal scope. This section includes:
A count of installed users
A link to view the full list of users with the app installed, where admins can search for specific users
For managers
Bonusly gives managers a few extra nudges to help them stay connected to their team's work:
Recognition suggestions. If you haven't recognized a direct report in a while, Bonusly will send you a suggestion based on what their peers have noticed. It's a helpful prompt, not a mandate -- you can recognize them in your own words or skip it entirely.
Direct report highlights. When a direct report receives recognition from leadership, you'll get a heads-up so you can add your own perspective or simply stay informed.
Monthly reminders. Like everyone else, you'll get a reminder when your recognition allowance refreshes and when it's about to reset -- so you can make the most of it.
Rewards and earnings
Every time someone recognizes you, you earn points. Those points add up and can be redeemed for rewards directly from Teams:
Click Shop rewards in the Bonusly chat or Home tab to browse the catalog.
Choose from gift cards, charitable donations, company swag, and more.
You'll also get a notification if you're approaching your earnings cap, with a nudge to redeem some rewards before new recognition stops adding to your balance.
For Everyone
When Bonusly is added to your Teams workspace, you'll get a welcome message in the Bonusly chat with a quick overview of what you can do — once Bonusly can match you to a Bonusly account and the integration is active. You can always type help in the Bonusly chat to see this again.
Pin Bonusly to your Teams sidebar for quick access. Right-click the Bonusly app and select "Pin" so it's always one click away.
Giving recognition
There are several ways to recognize someone in Teams; use whichever fits the moment:
From the search bar. Type
/Bonus.lyin the Teams search bar to open the recognition form. This works from anywhere in Teams.
From the Bonusly chat. Send
givein your direct chat with Bonusly, and the recognition form opens right there.
From the Home tab. Open the Bonusly app in Teams and give recognition directly from the Home tab. This is also where you can check your balance, see announcements, and manage your settings.
From a meeting (meeting chat). You can give recognition while the meeting is live, right in the meeting chat, without opening Bonusly in a browser or waiting until the call ends. That is the same flow your team would use to wrap a retro or celebrate a win in the moment.
For that to work, Bonusly needs to be part of that Teams meeting. In the meeting chat, click + in the compose box and choose Bonusly (Teams may show the name as Bonus.ly). Recognition you send from there posts in the meeting chat for everyone on the call.
When you give recognition, it shows up in your team's recognition channel so everyone can see it. Teammates can add on with their own recognition or leave a comment to join the conversation.
Staying connected
Recognition feed: Recognition posts to the channels where Bonusly is installed. You'll see peer recognition, add-ons, comments, and celebrations all flowing through naturally. It's a live feed of the good work happening across your team.
Celebrations: Bonusly automatically celebrates your team's milestones:
Birthdays—the team gets a notification and a chance to send birthday wishes.
Work anniversaries—recognize someone's impact on their milestone day.
New hires—welcome new teammates with a warm message from the team.
These celebrations happen automatically. All your team needs to do is join in.
Company announcements
When your company posts an announcement in Bonusly, it shows up in Teams too—so your team stays in the loop without needing to check another app.
Notifications: You'll get a personal notification in the Bonusly chat when:
Someone recognizes you
Someone adds on to or comments on your recognition
You're approaching or exceeding your earnings cap
Tips for getting the most out of Bonusly in Teams
Pin the Bonusly app to your Teams sidebar so it's always easy to find.
Use dedicated recognition channels to keep recognition visible and organized.
Recognize in the moment—don't wait for a formal review or meeting. The best recognition is timely and specific.
Give recognition in meetings—it's a great way to start or end a team sync on a positive note.
Add on to others' recognition—when you see someone recognized for something you've noticed too, pile on. It reinforces the behavior and makes the recipient's day.
FAQs
How do I get help inside Teams? Type help in the Bonusly chat, and you'll see a carousel of cards covering the main features. You can also click the Help center button for more detailed guidance.
Can I give recognition in a meeting? Yes. Click the + button in the meeting chat's compose box and select Bonusly. The recognition posts directly in the meeting chat.
Why can't I see the Bonusly app? Your admin needs to install and approve the Bonusly app in the Teams Admin Center. If you're an admin and running into issues, check that you've granted admin consent for the app's permissions.
What if I get a permissions error during setup? This usually means the person installing doesn't have the right Azure AD role. A Global Administrator or Privileged Role Administrator can approve the app permissions.
Do I need to enable camera and microphone permissions?
Some Bonusly features in meetings may request access to your camera or microphone. Most recognition features work without these permissions, but if you're prompted, here's where to enable them:
Teams Desktop and Web app: Go to **Settings > App permissions** (or **Settings > Privacy**) and toggle on Camera and Microphone for the Bonusly app.
Google Chrome: Click the lock icon in the address bar, then allow Camera and Microphone for the site. You can also manage these in **Chrome Settings > Privacy and security > Site settings**.
Teams Mobile (iOS): Go to your device's **Settings > Teams** and enable Camera and Microphone.
Teams Mobile (Android): Go to **Settings > Apps > Teams > Permissions** and enable Camera and Microphone.
How do recognition channels work? Bonusly posts recognition to a connected channel when someone in that channel is recognized. You can have as many as you like -- one per department, or one for the whole company. Admins manage them under Connected channels on the Microsoft Teams integration page: standard channels are added there directly, private channels by adding the Bonusly app to them in Teams, and any channel can be switched off without being disconnected.
What happens to my points at the end of the month? Your recognition allowance (the points you give to others) resets monthly. Your earnings (points you've received) don't expire -- they stay in your balance until you redeem them. You'll get reminders before your allowance resets so you can use it up.