A Targeted Approach
By identifying an idea with a customer we then setup a team to perform a POC which includes identifying the potential and feasibility of the idea. We then identifying the technologies and learning new and better ways of solving a problem with new and better technologies. Once the POC is done we can evaluate and see if we should proceed with the idea to build a product for it.
With all our R&D we use an Agile approach (i.e., SCRUM, Lean, etc.) which helps us in an iterative way to identify and answer questions at a much faster pace then the traditional waterfall approach. Most of the time we use SCRUM framework to approach our R&D with weekly Sprints which we found very useful in helping us evaluate and make a decision.
Data Driven – any decision made always comes down to the data collected
Results Orientated – From the data we try to analyze it into meaningful information for decision making
Decision – Based on the information received and analyzed a decision will be made every week to define the direction
The four phase of R&D we use are described below but mainly they are, Research, Discovery, Development & Testing.
Research
Any software product before it is developed needs to go through a research phase. In an R&D team, there is a PM, at least one Engineer and one UX Designer. These three roles are the bare minimum of people required to develop a successful research and a POC of a product. The goal is to identify if the product will be valuable, feasible, viable and useful. Starting with our PM who will perform a market analysis by gathering insight when interviewing customers, sending surveys and searching for competitors in the market.
- Value (will people buy it, or choose to use it?)
- Usability (can users figure out how to use it?)
- Feasibility (can we build it with the time, skills, and technology we have?)
- Business Viability (will this solution work for the various dimensions of our business?)
Discovery
Once we gather enough information to go with, then we can start the discovery phase and see what are the specific problems the customers are facing. In this phase the team needs to work closely together in an Agile approach to course direct in an iterative manner towards the desired discovery.
Development
In this phase the engineers with the PM and Designer will develop a POC in an iterative way to deliver something that can be used for Usability testing in order to prove the 4 key concepts of developing a product (Value-ability, Usability, Variability, Feasibility).
Testing
Usability testing is the a very important aspect in identifying what actually works, what fixes the problems of a user/customer and what mistakes could have been done during the design. This technique we used in user-centered interaction design to evaluate a product by testing it on users. This can be seen as an irreplaceable usability practice, since it gives direct input on how real users use the system.
ACCURACY
SUCCESS-RATE
BETTER DATA
COST-EFFECTIVE
Latest R&D Projects
Below is a brief snapshot of our current R&D projects!
Defining a Standard IoT Gateway
IoT Gateways have evolved to perform many tasks, from simple data filtering to visualization and complex analytics. These smart devices are helping power the current wave of IoT expansion. We want to define a [...]
Electrical Safety with Energy Quality & Saving
As more and more resources are of electricity nature, an increase demand of new ideas and efficiency is required. New business lines are created very quickly due to an increase of innovation going on [...]
Solar Panels On Safety | Quality | Saving
Solar Panels are on a high demand and as technology advances so does the need of constant safety, quality control and energy saving. This project is to identify the need and the potential of [...]