The world is changing. Digital transformation is a reality we can no longer escape. Businesses need to be disruptive, rethink their models to meet new market needs, and adapt to the ever-changing social, cultural, political, and even environmental landscape.
In organizations, employees demand new processes and ways to carry out their daily tasks, taking pride in being part of innovative companies. The system as a whole has elevated innovation not only as a necessity but as a must.
On the other hand, technology offers us a world of possibilities that we must incorporate into our strategies. Nearly any idea can be realized thanks to technology. We are witnessing a historic moment where practically any project can be undertaken. The opportunities seem endless.
I often have conversations with executives from companies of all sizes and sectors who express a desire to innovate within their organizations but do not know how to do it. This can be due to a lack of knowledge about the processes and methodologies that can be implemented, the absence of dedicated personnel for research and innovation development, or the lack of connections with other organizations outside their own to carry out innovation.
There are also those who avoid recognizing the value that innovation can add to their businesses and instead cling to what they know, what is established, what, in one way or another, works. So, if it works, why change it?
There are many reasons to resist innovation. The question is, why are we not innovating? What is preventing us from doing so? Identifying the barriers that hinder the innovation process in a company is crucial for finding alternatives.
From my experience at Coopera Innovation Hub, a platform we created at Grupo RUA to foster innovation within the various business units that make up the group, as well as outside of it, we understand that one of the main reasons that hinder innovation in companies is that they often cannot do it alone.
Hence, one of our main motivations is to bridge the gap between needs and possibilities. We consider ourselves a bridge between high-impact ideas or projects that do not have enough strength to be executed and those who need that added value to boost their businesses.
There is no single way to innovate, and there are no magic formulas. Each organization is unique and operates within its own limitations.
Faced with these different scenarios and based on the experience gathered in supporting projects incubated within COOPERA, the various programs we execute, and the contributions of partner organizations, I propose what I call “The 6 Unbeatable Tips for Innovating”:
- Don’t try to reinvent the wheel: Innovation is often confused with the creation of a completely new and never-before-implemented idea. This is not true. Innovation can simply mean modifying a work process that no longer suits our current needs. Innovation can also occur without relying on technology. Let’s not look for the super-occurrence; let’s start by changing what is within our reach. But let’s start with something.
- Foster synergies: If a company cannot allocate resources to promote innovation in-house, forming alliances with those who can is an excellent alternative. The innovation process is, by nature, collaborative. It requires contributions from different actors to thrive. The same goes for ideas or projects in their early stages of development; if a startup does not have the strength to take off, it can approach someone who needs that added value for their business and thereby capitalize on the original idea.
- Trust in technology: Nowadays, technology offers countless possibilities. If a company does not have the resources for internal technological development, it should look for someone who can. Currently, there are many software development companies, also known as “Software Boutiques,” that specialize in creating customized technologies.
- Foster an innovative organizational culture: If a company wants to innovate, it must start by incorporating innovation as part of its work culture. Employees should feel that they are part of an organization that thinks outside the box, is willing to be disruptive in its industry and environment, and should also create spaces for ideas that may arise from members of the organization to be implemented. In other words, make room for magic to happen.
- Look outside: We cannot limit ourselves to our needs and their possible solutions. We must observe what the competition is doing, what our customers are doing, and what other startups are developing. We should also investigate what specific sectors need to increase their productivity. The innovation process thrives on the contributions of various actors, and this path necessarily involves crossing the boundaries of the known.
- Divide and conquer: Achieving a goal depends on breaking it down into planned tasks. Do not try to address innovation as a whole all at once. Instead, decompose the process into more manageable stages.
Again, there is no single way to promote innovation, but we can all start with something.
At COOPERA, we are developing several programs that serve as vehicles for innovation. We specialize in connecting, supporting, and guiding. If you are a company that needs to innovate, we can help you. If you are a startup or simply have an idea that needs support, we are ready to listen and advise you in the best way we know how.
We believe in synergy, collaboration, and co-construction as the best alternatives for innovating and succeeding without trying.
