Doing well in school was important to me. I know seeking external validation isn’t always healthy, but I didn’t care. I wanted the A, and I remember feeling both nervous and excited on the day grades came out and I could see how I measured up. Although that feeling is less common nowadays, it comes back each time I find out Performio is included in a respected industry report.
I got to experience it just this week when The Forrester Wave™ report on Sales Performance Management Solutions for Incentive Compensation, Q1 2025 dropped. I quickly scanned the report and was thrilled to see that Performio was recognized as a Strong Performer.
The Forrester Wave™ is a purchasing guide that helps buyers weigh their options by evaluating top vendors using a proprietary, criteria-driven scoring methodology. They’ve just released their Q1 2025 report on “Sales Performance Management Solutions for Incentive Compensation,” and I am delighted to see us recognized by a top industry analyst firm.
The report highlights industry trends that to us align with our focus on ICM, as discussed in my January letter, “Performio and the Future of ICM.”
Let’s take a closer look at why we think this report aligns with Performio’s vision and shows what sets us apart as an ICM platform.
Performio's take: Forrester’s report discusses key ICM priorities that resonate with our approach
Back in January, I wrote a letter outlining Performio’s vision for the future of ICM. In it, I called out a trend I’ve seen in the ICM world: software providers expanding into ICM-adjacent features instead of mastering the core capabilities that people count on ICM software for in the first place. As I see it, there are three critical areas where most ICM solutions tend to fall short:
- Balancing ease of use with flexibility
- Handling complexity and exceptions
- Empowering users to make changes themselves
Too many vendors prioritize “ease of use” at the expense of flexibility. They make it simple to build and manage basic compensation plans, but when a business needs custom logic, advanced crediting rules, or complex data transformations, these platforms force users to simplify their plans to fit the software’s limitations.
At Performio, we believe that ease of use and flexibility should go hand in hand. So we designed our platform to:
- Handle even the most complex compensation structures without forcing businesses to simplify their plans.
- Provide an intuitive interface that makes administration seamless.
- Give users full control to make updates themselves, rather than relying on a vendor.
So you might imagine how pleased we were to see the Forrester Wave report state:
“...the most valuable capabilities of SPM/ICM solutions now are their core ones, such as ease of use, ability to handle complex calculations, and data transformation.” —The Forrester Wave™: Sales Performance Management Solutions For Incentive Compensation, Q1 2025
This is precisely what we’ve been championing for years: an ICM platform needs to be flexible, powerful, and easy to use—without forcing users to compromise.
Findings from the Forrester Wave ICM report
Beyond analyzing key trends in ICM, the Forrester Wave™ report noted several areas where Performio is recognized for its capabilities.
The importance of ICM-first innovation
Many ICM vendors have started broadening their focus to include adjacent sales performance management (SPM) features like territory and quota planning. But these tasks are quite different than those found in incentive compensation—and vendors expanding into these areas risk pulling focus away from the core challenges of ICM.
At Performio, we take a different approach. Rather than spreading our efforts across a broader SPM suite, we stay focused on what matters most to our customers: building the best ICM solution possible. Every innovation we introduce is designed to help organizations manage compensation more effectively, rather than adding peripheral tools.
The Forrester Wave™ report noted:
“Performio is focused on being the best SPM/ICM solution, while others are looking to expand to a platform that delivers adjacent solutions such as territory and quota management.” —The Forrester Wave™: Sales Performance Management Solutions For Incentive Compensation, Q1 2025
By staying focused on ICM, we ensure our platform remains powerful, flexible, and purpose-built—without driving up costs with unnecessary features.
The need for ICM solutions to handle complexity without compromise
Compensation plans are complex. They need to be to cover the full range of scenarios sales teams face. But too often, organizations are forced to simplify their plans to fit the limitations of their software.
The Forrester Wave report recognizes that:
“It is standard practice for companies to reduce the volume and complexity of compensation plans to make them more efficient to manage, but the companies that get the most from SPM/ICM solutions use their capabilities to support the complexity needed to build the best plan for each role without increasing administrative costs.” —The Forrester Wave™: Sales Performance Management Solutions For Incentive Compensation, Q1 2025
At Performio, we believe software should never be the reason organizations have to simplify their compensation strategies. Your tools should fit your plans—not the other way around. An ICM solution ought to empower teams to design the exact plans they need without compromise. That’s why we built Performio with a component-based architecture designed to handle even the most complex compensation structures while keeping administration simple and scalable.
Our modular components give sales comp admins complete control over their incentive plans. Compensation teams can configure and reuse these components across multiple plans, ensuring consistency and efficiency without sacrificing flexibility. Whether handling advanced crediting, calculated quotas, or role-based exceptions, our system adapts to the way you compensate your people.
By removing the barrier of software limitations, Performio empowers organizations to build and scale their incentive plans freely.
Performio’s commitment to self-sufficiency and control for plan admins
Our customers have known for years that Performio dramatically simplifies incentive compensation management. While many ICM platforms are difficult to navigate and require extensive external support, Performio is an “easy to use” solution that gives administrators the control they need.
“Workflow is the driver that makes Performio easy to use. The solution provides an overall ecosystem that enables administrators to operationalize sophisticated compensation processes.” —The Forrester Wave™: Sales Performance Management Solutions For Incentive Compensation, Q1 2025
Unlike platforms that require ongoing vendor support for every change, Performio enables a largely self-serve experience, empowering teams to configure, update, and manage their compensation plans independently.
“Performio is a fit for companies looking for an easy-to-use SPM/ICM solution that allows administrators to make updates while having strong support available when they need help.” —The Forrester Wave™: Sales Performance Management Solutions For Incentive Compensation, Q1 2025
From intuitive workflows to flexible plan-building tools, our platform is designed to put administrators in control—without forcing them to rely on external support for routine changes. This approach reduces costs and helps to ensure long-term success. Our customers get the best of both worlds: the ability to manage their ICM programs in-house while always having access to expert support when needed.
Performio’s above average customer feedback
We were delighted—but not surprised—to learn that Performio was one of three of the 12 evaluated vendors to receive above average customer feedback in the Forrester Wave™ report.
Our approach is built on genuine partnerships, working with our clients as if we were part of their team. As one reference customer in the report put it, “Reference customers emphasize the value of Performio's customer success, with one stating, 'It’s like Performio is one of our employees'” (The Forrester Wave™: Sales Performance Management Solutions For Incentive Compensation, Q1 2025).
We get this kind of feedback often. For example, in a case study on our work with Yorktel/Caregility, their Human Resource Specialist, Lauren Wechsler, shared:
“The customer service has been fantastic. The white glove service is amazing and knowing we have this kind of support makes our jobs so much easier.”
By prioritizing our customers and consistently delivering exceptional support, Performio has established itself as a trusted partner. Because our clients need more than just software—they need a team that’s invested in their success.
A moment of thanks
We’re honored to be included in Forrester’s 2025 report and appreciate the thorough evaluation process.
I’d like to give a huge thank you to the entire Performio team as well. For us, this recognition is a testament to their hard work and commitment to delivering the best ICM solution on the market. Well done, team!
And of course, I’m grateful to our customers. The Performio team and I deeply appreciate the trust you place in us to power your incentive compensation programs.
We’re excited to continue investing in the future of ICM, driving innovation and equipping compensation teams with the tools they need to succeed.
—Grayson Morris, Performio CEO
Forrester does not endorse any company, product, brand, or service included in its research publications and does not advise any person to select the products or services of any company or brand based on the ratings included in such publications. Information is based on the best available resources. Opinions reflect judgment at the time and are subject to change. For more information, read about Forrester’s objectivity here .