Stay Competitive with Idea Management Software

Walter Lippmann, a famous US author and journalist once said, "When all think alike, then no one is thinking." This is absolutely true of almost all manufacturing and service organizations where everyone is satisfied with meeting immediate market demands. Thinking out of the box or thinking differently is a challenging task for most of them. Hence, they confine themselves to certain set offerings. But staying just relevant doesn’t give enterprises the competitive edge required to survive in today’s dynamic, fast-paced and volatile business environment.


There exists a very thin line between success and failure; a single idea can suddenly change the fortunes of an organization. The story of Christopher Brennan definitely proves that point. When working as the regional manager for British Petroleum's (BP) sixteen hundred gas stations in Germany, Christopher Brennan implemented an innovative idea that changed the very perception of the consumers regarding the gas stations.


Looking for a way to improve gas station revenues, Brennan combined digital technology and partnerships with merchants and credit card companies to start the BP multimedia shopping kiosk where consumers got advice on everything from food to fashion. Consumers gave the new concept big thumbs up since it helped them overcome their shopping woes. Thus, Brennan was able to transform smelly gas stations into shopping centers which helped to improve not only gas station revenues but also the quality of shopping experience of the customers. This amply proves that the difference between success and failure in business could be just one idea.


Traditionally only a few select individuals were entrusted with the task of researching and exploring ideas. However, today enterprises realize the fact that the business success does not depend on a few select individuals. People making decisions need ideas, information, perspectives and the benefit of others’ experience and the best place to get this valuable input is in organization’s own assets, the employees, customers and suppliers. Feedbacks, suggestions and recommendations from employees, partners, vendors and customers regarding product, service and process improvements are all important.   


Hence, the best way to channelize ideas is to deploy idea management software as it helps to seamlessly enable


* People (employees, partners, vendors, customers and public) involvement in ideation and innovation

* Collective intelligence

* Collaboration across strata to support a common cause

* Free flowing feedbacks, suggestions and recommendations for betterment of products, services and processes


Thus, with an idea management platform, enterprises can engage both internal and external sources in the innovation cycle and thereby attain growth, improvement and sustainability.


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