ARFer

A Gamified App to Boost Welsh Language Use at Work

Galactig partnered with Canolfan Bedwyr (Bangor University’s Welsh language centre) to develop ARFer, a mobile app that encourages staff to use Welsh on the job. ARFer invites small teams to set and complete Welsh-language challenges within a set timeframe. The system is grounded in behavioural science: colleagues commit to using Welsh as the default language in specific contexts, and the app leverages the powerful influence of social defaults to reinforce that commitment. Bangor’s research confirms the effectiveness of this approach: within participating teams Welsh usage “has more or less doubled” since 2019.

ARFer’s features are designed to make language practice engaging and social. Team members choose short Welsh-language tasks which must be completed with a partner within a deadline. Completing a task earns the user XP (experience points) and brings them closer to unlocking badges (awarded for hitting point milestones, completing many tasks, maintaining streaks, etc.). The app also includes a live leaderboard that ranks teams (or departments) by their points, fostering friendly competition. (Research on gamification shows that points, badges and leaderboards can dramatically boost engagement: for example, about 80% of learners report better outcomes with gamified systems and employee engagement can jump by ~60%). By turning everyday language practice into a game with immediate feedback, ARFer motivates staff to keep using and improving their Welsh.

Design and Development

Galactig delivered the ARFer app on both iOS and Android, ensuring broad access. We used a cross-platform development approach so that one codebase could target both operating systems. This strategy is faster and more cost-efficient than building separate native app. The development process included iterative UI/UX design (in consultation with Canolfan Bedwyr and pilot users), robust coding of the task/points systems, and thorough testing on real devices. Galactig managed the entire cycle: designing the interface, implementing gamification mechanics, conducting QA, and deploying the final app to the Apple App Store and Google Play.

Behind the scenes, we built a comprehensive backend CMS (content management system) for administrators. Through this CMS, Canolfan Bedwyr staff can create and schedule new Welsh-language tasks, manage user accounts and on-boarded organisations, and monitor engagement metrics. In practice, the CMS acts as a single source of truth for all app content, pushing updates to both mobile platforms. We followed an API-first (REST/JSON) architecture (a “Content as a Service” model) so that any changes – new tasks, revised scoring rules, etc. – flow instantly into the app. The backend also logs analytics (tasks launched/completed, XP earned, badge unlocks) so project leaders can track progress and refine the program over time.

Launch and Adoption

Since its release, the ARFer app has been rolled out across a wide range of Welsh organizations. Current deployments include educational and public-sector bodies such as:

• Grŵp Llandrillo Menai (further education college group)
• Cyngor Rhondda (Rhondda Cynon Taf Council)
• Cyngor Sir Ddinbych (Denbighshire Council)
• Prifysgol Wrecsam (Wrexham University)
• Cyngor Sir Y Fflint (Flintshire Council)
• Gofal Cymdeithasol Cymru (Social Care Wales)
• TUC Cymru (Welsh Trades Union Congress)
• Llywodraeth Cymru (Welsh Government)
• Cyngor Sir Ceredigion (Ceredigion Council)
• Senedd Cymru (Welsh Parliament)

This diverse adoption demonstrates ARFer’s broad appeal: public bodies, higher-education institutions and non-profits are all using it to reinforce Welsh skills. 

Impact and Next Steps

By blending behavioural science with game mechanics, the ARFer app turns language learning into a collaborative game. Staff who might otherwise be hesitant to speak Welsh are now competing for XP and badges, literally racing up the scoreboard. This “gamification” triggers dopamine-driven motivation (the same “feel-good” reward loop as video games), and research confirms it can greatly enhance learning and engagement. ARFer provides an “innovative and inclusive” framework to make Welsh the default at work.

So far, the combination of commitment/default strategies and immediate game-like rewards appears to be working: participating teams report using Welsh more often than before. The project highlights Galactig’s ability to deliver tailored mobile solutions that are grounded in evidence-based methods. Looking ahead, the ARFer platform is ready for expansion: the system’s modular design allows new organisations to join easily, and the CMS can be extended with fresh content or features as needed. Overall, the ARFer case study shows how carefully designed technology can help achieve cultural and educational goals—in this case, building a bilingual workplace one task (and one badge) at a time