It's Only Innovation If It Works
19 Nov 2007
Applying Practical Innovation To Improve Government, Business Applications
For the firefighter rushing to an emergency or the convenience store patron browsing in the snack aisle, it may be difficult to spot innovation at work. The unique idea, and specifically the technology behind that idea, may not always be obvious, but the benefits are there.
Firefighters shave minutes off their response time, improving their ability to protect property and save lives. Store patrons find their favorite products in stock, enabling them to purchase what they want when they want it – all thanks to innovative technology.
Both of these scenarios offer real-world examples of how innovation is being delivered through a unique deployment of information technology. But more importantly, they demonstrate how practical innovation – the development of creative concepts that can be successfully implemented – is the ultimate goal for any government or business hoping to gain an edge.
Using Innovative Technology To Improve Government Services
So what's innovative about sending fire trucks and their crews to a fire or accident scene? Not much if you're still doing it with two-way radios and maps hung on a wall. But when you take virtual technology previously used in the retail and corporate sector and repurpose it to coordinate the response of multiple police, fire and rescue units, you've got a novel approach for improving public services.
Municipalities in the United States, Canada and France are now using various iterations of this innovative dispatching system developed by EDS. In Anaheim, Calif. the system provides anytime, anywhere emergency information for key decision-makers. In the event of a major incident such as a terrorist attack or earthquake, city officials can coordinate the response of multiple agencies through a single, Web-base interface. With the click of a mouse, authorized personnel can tap into building blueprints, utility plans and video cameras throughout the city for information vital to the emergency effort.
The system provides an obvious benefit for taxpayers in that they receive help more quickly and efficiently in times of disaster, but this practical innovation also saves them money. Rather than building an expensive centralized database for emergency services, the system ties together the existing networks of multiple agencies. And with virtual access available anytime danger is near, the city's reliance on costly brick-and-mortar operations centers is significantly reduced.
Creating Innovative Solutions To Help Businesses Run More Efficiently
Inside the average corner market, it can be hit or miss when it comes to finding the specific brands and products individual shoppers desire. For the store operator, applying guesswork to inventory management can waste valuable shelf space, disappoint customers and cut into profit margins.
Using information technology to join inventory levels, real-time data and an automated ordering system can bring practical innovation to the aisles.
Major convenience retailer 7-Eleven recently tapped EDS to explore new techniques for improving its already sophisticated inventory network. In response, the company received an innovative solution enabling it to speed products to market in anticipation of changes in customer tastes and needs while monitoring profitability on a store-by-store basis.
Based on millions of informational files gleaned each night from point-of-sale computer systems, the retailer can easily track customer shopping habits at each store and adjust product procurement on the fly. If customers at a given location favor one brand of chewing gum over all others, the retailer can immediately rush more cases of that trendy item to that individual store.
Twice daily updates of weather and other regional information are also injected into the mix, enabling local stores to plan accordingly for customer needs. That means when winter weather arrives, there will be plenty of gloves, antifreeze and hot chocolate for shoppers coming in from the cold.
“These applications help provide the support we need to continue to deliver customers what they want, when and where they want it,” said Sharon Stufflebeme, chief information officer for 7-Eleven.
By integrating data from a number of sources into a single inventory cycle, customers enjoy the convenience of one-stop shopping and improved service. The business achieves increased revenues from its ability to quickly capitalize on changing consumer behaviors and rush new products to market.
Partnering With EDS To Build Innovation
While having a great idea can be the basis for new and exciting achievements, it's useless if it can't be implemented.
Many organizations have learned this lesson the hard way, pouring money and time into internal innovation programs with few results to show for their efforts.
By drawing partners into the innovation process, enterprises can minimize the risk and expense they incur to develop new concepts and apply them to their business or operational models. Plus, bringing additional minds to the solution increases the depth of knowledge from which fresh innovation can emerge.
And, by partnering with a veteran IT outsourcing provider, businesses and governments can build their own innovations based on advancements their IT partner has already implemented for clients in other industries.
For example, firefighters working to solve their emergency communications issues may not have thought to consider virtualization technology from the retail industry as a source of inspiration. However, because of EDS' 45-year history working across a number of industries, we were able to bring that experience to the firefighting community and deliver practical innovation that improved their ability to respond.
When IT partners immerse themselves in the goals of their clients, they shoulder the greater burden of delivering innovation that improves services, helps develop new products and cuts operational costs. This frees clients to concentrate on their core objectives without distraction.
For more information on how EDS can help you start innovating, call us today.