Collaboration can be an excellent way to discover new market opportunities, push product branding in new directions, or establish a presence in a completely new area.
Customer co-creation refers to inviting them to participate in a design or problem-solving process to produce a mutually valued outcome. Valuable solutions can include things like new product ideas, ways to overcome delivery chain problems, or even technical solutions to complex manufacturing questions; which may end up not being complex at all.
Challenges
Take Unilever for example. To put this resource to use, Unilever actively looks to its customer base for product solutions, asking startups, academics, designers and customers for ideas and suggestions. Now, if a company who is that well established has been doing something like this for so long, it’s probably a good idea to follow suit.
- By listening, we learn faster:
These include topics like intelligent product packaging, oil oxidation technology, freezing and cooling systems, and other areas. If a suggestion is successful, the submitter can be offered a commercial contract for their solution, as well as professional recognition. - What an approach:
Their approach to co-creation reflects the value of open innovation and shows the potential uses of crowdsourcing to solve problems – even complex problems requiring technical knowledge and expertise. We can work together in the same fashion to reap huge rewards. -
Spreading like wildfire:
The global response to the this type of platform can be extremely powerful, with the potential to receive hundreds of proposals. This approach also helps develop a more open culture. Let’s work it out together.
Solution
Gain an outside perspective. Let’s face it, how often do you actually shop at your own company without them knowing who you are? We’re your neutral third party with a nose for quality. We can quickly spot the challenges that may be holding you back. You may not even know what issues exist at your company. Take advantage of this valuable resource today.
Results
There is no one-size-fits-all package. Every customer receives a modified methodology. Your business is unique and faces interesting difficulties and conditions, and therefore requires an explicit and customized approach.
By the numbers, the effort:
- Reduced lead time by 43%
- Decreased variability by 50%
- Lowered the risk of back-order by 95%
- Increased stock for finished goods by 10%