2026/7/22
Salar Kuhzady

Salar Kuhzady

Academic rank: Assistant Professor
ORCID: Link
Education: PhD.
ResearchGate: Link
Faculty: Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences
ScholarId: Link
E-mail: s.kuhzady [at] uok.ac.ir
ScopusId: Link
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Research

Title
The Impact of Gamification on Brand Engagement, Brand Awareness, and Brand Loyalty Case Study of Asiacell in Iraqi Kurdistan
Type
JournalPaper
Keywords
Gamification Consumer engagement Brand awareness Brand loyalty Telecommunications Kurdistan Marketing strategies
Year
2026
Journal Journal of Industrial Marketing (JIM)
DOI
Researchers Salar Kuhzady ، Omed Abdalla Ahmad

Abstract

Gamification, the strategic integration of game-design elements into non-game contexts, has emerged as a prominent strategy for various industries to engage consumers and foster durable brand loyalty. This study presents an in-depth investigation into the influence of gamification on consumer engagement, brand awareness, and brand loyalty within the specific context of Asiacell, a leading telecommunications provider in Iraqi Kurdistan. The primary objective is to empirically assess the effectiveness of Asiacell's gamification strategies in actively engaging its customer base, enhancing overall brand perception, and cultivating lasting brand loyalty. Utilizing a quantitative approach, data was collected from a sample of 405 active users of the Asiacell mobile application in Iraqi Kurdistan. The collected data were analyzed using Partial Least Squares Structural Equation Modeling (PLS-SEM) via SmartPLS software to test a conceptual model linking gamification elements to brand outcomes. The findings reveal that key gamification elements—specifically fun, competition, and rewards—significantly and positively impact brand engagement.