Technological innovation is the engine that transforms our daily lives and the products, services, and processes of companies. It allows them to create personalized experiences for customers, respond faster to market changes, optimize and automate internal processes, and reduce operating costs, among many other benefits.
It also helps address societal challenges, such as providing better healthcare access, reducing poverty, environmental sustainability, food security, and disaster management. In addition, it drives scientific and technological advancement, fueling discoveries and research breakthroughs.
Tech innovation is often depicted as a linear process that begins with basic scientific research, then moves through applied research and development, and finally gets implemented in the form of new products and business models. However, reality is far more complicated and it involves the interplay of multiple players, including scientists and engineers, designers and other business professionals, users and customers, and suppliers of complementary products and services.
A good tech innovation strategy should prioritize the technologies with the greatest potential for adding value and benefiting the organization. It should also take into account factors such as technical feasibility, implementation costs, impact on existing processes, and the company’s ability to adapt to change. In addition, it’s important to define clear goals and realistic deadlines for the adoption of new technologies. Finally, it’s crucial to plan the resourcing necessary for the successful implementation of these technologies, which may include financial resources, human resources, technology infrastructure, and more.
With countless emerging tools and platforms entering the market, it’s easy to get sidetracked from your tech innovation objectives by the noise. To make the most of your resources, it’s vital to filter out the noise and choose innovations that are strategic fit for your business and will drive real impact. This means skipping the buzz and asking yourself: Will this technology solve a known customer pain point or improve a core business process?