How To Do Product Innovation

Digital Product Innovation

Why We Do It
Technology offers organisations the opportunity to operate faster, cheaper, and more productively. However, ingrained habits and processes can delay the realization of these benefits, often taking years to implement change. This delay incurs massive opportunity costs, alongside hefty consultancy fees.

What We Do
We help organisations quickly harness the power of new technologies through a research-led approach. We begin by identifying existing user pain points and design fast, low-cost methods to test new solutions.

Who We've Done It For
We thrive on working with organisations tackling challenging, socially impactful problems, particularly in climate change and healthcare. Our experience spans both large organizations and smaller companies. This mix allows us to understand how large enterprises can become more nimble, while also helping smaller organisations scale with stability.

Large Organisations
For large organisations, the primary challenge in launching new ideas often stems from a lack of clear product vision early on. They are often set up to protect existing revenue streams, making innovation harder.

There are two common models for overcoming this:

1. Internal Innovation Labs: A separate, cross-functional team is tasked with solving tough problems or developing new products, isolated from day-to-day operations.
2. Outsourcing Innovation: Agencies or consultancies are brought in to work without being hindered by organisational culture.

Both models can work but have flaws, particularly around ownership and trust. If ideas feel imposed, they’re less likely to succeed.

How You Can Work With Us
Our approach is different. Instead of isolating innovation, we create and support internal champions for new ideas. Often, this means we act as facilitators rather than originators. We recognize that the best ideas often already exist within teams but are hard to implement due to valid organisational barriers.

We work with these champions to build a vision and develop impactful ideas that the wider organisation can get behind. Our approach is rooted in data and iteration. We stay humble and ensure ideas align with customer needs, avoiding the trap of getting attached to a single idea.

Prototypes: Going Wrong, to Get It Right
Prototypes offer a tangible way to show progress. Organisations respond well to visual demonstrations. Start with the big vision and let the details work themselves out. This iterative approach keeps costs low while generating valuable user data. By showing the pivots and mistakes along the way, we build confidence in the chosen path forward.

Staying on Track: Beware of Recency Bias
Innovation projects can lose focus if driven too much by immediate feedback. To prevent this, we establish key success metrics at the start of the project and regularly revisit them with stakeholders. Frequent check-ins help ensure the project stays aligned with its objectives and continues to deliver value.

How You Can Do This Yourself
If this approach resonates with you, we’re always eager to help organisations accelerate their innovation and product development processes. Click below to schedule a free 30-minute initial consultation.

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