Before developers ever step into the drawing room to sketch out a new product, there’s a foundational step that demands attention: engaging in meaningful conversations with stakeholders, both internal and external.
Why?
Because innovation projects are those efforts to create something new — whether it’s a new product, service, or process. And an initial discussion is pivotal for gathering the vital ideas, inputs, and feedback that will shape the innovation platform from the ground up.
This is where it all begins, with a conversation that has the power to transform the way your company innovates.
What does scaling up mean in business innovation?
Scaling up in business simply means growing smartly.
This might involve things like increasing production, expanding into new markets, or improving your processes to handle more customers. Basically, it’s about making your business bigger and better while keeping things running smoothly.
Similarly, scaling up in business innovation is about making the most of your internal and external resources to generate new ideas that keep you competitive.
It’s not just about growing your business in size but also in creativity and adaptability. By innovating and embracing change, you can stay ahead of the curve and continue to thrive in your industry.
How to Scale an Idea in Business
Scaling an idea in the innovation process involves taking it from a small concept to a big impact. Here are some steps to scale an idea effectively:
| Refinement: Start by refining your idea. Make sure it’s clear, practical, and addresses a real need or problem.
| Testing: Test your idea on a small scale to see how it performs. Gather feedback and make adjustments as needed.
| Validation: Once you’ve tested your idea, validate it further by gathering data and evidence to support its potential success.
| Resource Allocation: Determine what resources you need to scale your idea, whether it’s financial, human, or technological resources.
| Strategic Planning: Develop a strategic plan for scaling your idea, including timelines, milestones, and goals.
Next, let’s explore how companies are reaching exponential growth in their innovation process and product development through effective communication with both internal and external stakeholders.
The Role of Communication in the Innovation Process
Granted, communication isn’t only exchanging pleasantries; it’s the engine that drives collaboration, idea-sharing, and problem-solving within any organization.
Think about it this way: when we’re able to properly communicate, teams come together, ideas flow freely, and solutions start to emerge.
And that’s what effective communication is for an innovation platform launch; it’s the glue that holds everything together, allowing you to seize unforeseen opportunities.
So if you are a part of the world of innovation, you’re probably aware that the foundation of any successful platform is not just the technology but the community that supports and engages with it.
That’s why early communication with key stakeholders is a key aspect in laying this foundation; it sets the stage for what future participants can expect and how they can contribute to the platform’s success.
Common Challenges in Platform Launches
Of course, we can’t talk about communication without running into some common problems. Resistance to change, lack of transparency, siloed information… These can feel like brick walls, hindering progress and stifling innovation.
Another crucial aspect of platform launches is to onboard your community. As mentioned earlier, without their participation and contribution, your innovation program won’t succeed.
Overcoming these requires you to break down those walls, fostering a culture of openness, collaboration, and trust. But of course, bringing a group of people together and keeping them engaged is easier said than done.
Why Pre-Launch Communication is Important to Scale Up Innovative Ideas
The success of such a platform goes far beyond its technology or features; it’s also deeply rooted in how effectively it communicates value and vision to potential users before it ever goes live.
For that, we’ll explore the key aspects of a pre-launch communication strategy, providing a guide for innovation platforms like innosabi to build anticipation and ensure a successful rollout.
In the realm of gathering ideas for an innovation project, we’ve got two main players: internal and external groups–kind of like the two sides of the innovation coin.
- Internal
Think of these as your in-house brainstorming sessions. They’re where employees from all corners of the company come together to share ideas, receive feedback, and even solve some of the company’s biggest challenges.
- External
Now, these are where things get even more interesting. External platforms are like extending an open invitation to the world outside – customers, partners, maybe even the guy next door – to pitch in on the innovation process.
Building Anticipation and Attention
Anticipation is a basis of success. It’s about igniting the interest of key decision-makers within organizations.
| Share your platform’s vision
| The challenges it addresses
| And its innovation potential through tailored communications.
Think executive briefs, targeted industry webinars, and insider previews to spark conversations in boardrooms and innovation hubs alike.
Internal Communication
Getting your team involved in innovation platforms is where the real magic happens – right at the heart of your company.
It’s about giving them the right environment to focus, collaborate, and bring their ideas to life.
External Communication
When you look outside, you’re inviting the world to join the innovation conversation. These platforms help your company reach more people. But how do you get them to join?
The key is figuring out what you should tell them.
The Why and How
Let’s talk about what to say and how to communicate.
Start by explaining why you chose an innovation platform and what you hope to achieve with it. If there’s already a project planned, share the details. Ask your audience to help choose a name for the platform.
When it comes to getting the word out, think about simple teaser campaigns on your community’s usual hangouts and pick social media channels that match your audience – whether it’s other businesses or regular consumers.
Communicating Effectively with Stakeholders
To allure your audience, paint a picture of joining your platform. You can do so by highlighting exclusive rewards, prestigious recognition, and unique opportunities.
1. Attracting and engaging audiences
If you want to effectively convince audiences to join your platform, focus on communicating benefits they could expect to enjoy from their active participation.
These could be:
| Reward Programs: Highlight incentives like points systems or exclusive perks for active members.
| Recognition Awards: Likewise, you can showcase badges, certificates, or public acknowledgment for achievements.
| Exclusive Opportunities: Another tips is to communicate access to premium content, events, or mentorship programs.
| Community Engagement: Emphasize networking, collaboration, and learning opportunities.
| Clear Path to Success: Transparency is everything in the business world, so provide guidance on how participants can progress to achieve their goals.
2. Communicating Benefits
Now that you know how to motivate your audience, let’s go over how to communicate with them. For that, consider the following channels:
| Email Marketing: Use targeted email campaigns to communicate the benefits of joining the platform and highlight any rewards or recognition programs.
| Social Media: Social media is great to share updates, success stories, and testimonials about the platform’s rewards and recognition opportunities.
| Website or Landing Pages: Make it easy for visitors to sign up and get involved. You can create dedicated landing pages that outline the benefits of joining the platform and provide detailed information about any reward programs or recognition awards available.
| Webinars: Host virtual events and provide additional insights into how participants can benefit from joining.
Next Steps
The magic behind a successful innovation platform lies in a smart, engaging pre-launch excitement.
Telling captivating stories, bringing future users into the creation, building a community, and sharing engaging content—all before the big reveal.
With such a dynamic lead-up, innovation platforms are set to kick off with a bang, surrounded by a community of eager potential users.
Once you pinpoint the motivations driving both your community and internal stakeholders, the next step is strategizing the platform launch to resonate with these motivations.