At 383, we've developed a structured approach known as the Innovation Accelerator, designed to help businesses swiftly move from idea to market-ready solution. Let’s take a closer look at how this process works and why it’s effective…

‍Identifying the need for innovation

Many of our clients come to us knowing they need to innovate but aren't sure where to start. They've identified a challenge or gap within their business, or they've uncovered a customer need through research that demands a new solution. This is where the Innovation Accelerator comes into play. Our goal is to help businesses understand their challenges, pinpoint opportunities, and create a product that not only meets their customers’ needs but also stands out in the market.

Here’s how we do it…

Step 1: The initial workshop

The journey begins with a two-hour workshop. This session is crucial as it sets the foundation for everything that follows. During the workshop, we work closely with the client to deeply understand their challenges, market observations, and the specific needs of their customers. The pre-work involves creating a customer canvas bespoke to the organisation's needs. This isn’t just about generating ideas; it’s about crafting a clear and focused brief that outlines what the product needs to achieve and why, we ask difficult and sometimes uncomfortable questions which allow us to dig deeper to get to the core of the challenge.

Step 2: Rapid research and ideation

Following the workshop, we dive into a week of rapid research. This involves a mix of guerrilla-style market research and leveraging insights from our subject matter experts (SMEs) across various fields like design, engineering, and strategy. The goal is to quickly gather data, understand market trends, and identify potential solutions.

With this research in hand, we brainstorm a few promising ideas that could address the identified needs. To validate these ideas, we conduct quick, intensive customer and stakeholder interviews over the course of a week. These sessions are similar to our friction mapping exercises but are even more focused and fast-paced. The insights gained from these interviews help us refine our ideas and ensure they align with real customer pain points.

Step 3: Prototyping and testing

Next, we move into prototyping. This stage is all about creating lo-fi, clickable demos that allow us to test our ideas in the hands of actual users. These prototypes are simple but effective, often consisting of wireframes that illustrate how a solution might work. Within a week, we develop and test three different prototypes, each designed to solve the customer’s problem in a unique way.

Testing these prototypes with real users is a critical step. It helps us understand what works, what doesn’t, and why. The feedback we receive guides us in refining the best prototype into a Minimum Viable Product (MVP). The MVP is a more polished, clickable prototype that we test again with users to ensure it truly meets their needs and is something they would use.

Step 4: Building the business case

Once the MVP has been validated, the final step in the Innovation Accelerator is helping our client create a compelling business case. This step is essential for securing buy-in from key stakeholders and obtaining the necessary funding to move forward with full-scale development. We work closely with the client to tailor the business case to their unique context, addressing key questions such as what the product will achieve, why it’s needed, and how it will provide value.

Customising by sector

Our Innovation Accelerator is a flexible framework that can be adapted to different sectors and business sizes, from ambitious startups to large corporations. While the process itself is consistent, the specifics are tailored based on the unique challenges and needs of each client. For example, a hospitality company looking to integrate AI into their customer journey will have a different set of requirements than an insurance company wanting to add new features to their digital platform. The bespoke nature of the initial workshop ensures that every project is grounded in a deep understanding of the industry, the competition, and the customer.

Sector-specific success stories

We've successfully used the Innovation Accelerator framework with a variety of clients, including the LVMH group, Bosch, Hilton, and Corpay Fleetcore, to name a few. Each project is unique, but the core principles of understanding customer needs, rapid prototyping, and iterative testing remain the same.

Standing out in a competitive market

What sets our Innovation Accelerator apart is not just the framework itself, but the bespoke approach we take in understanding and addressing our clients’ unique challenges. Our ability to bring in industry-specific SMEs adds a layer of depth and expertise that few can match. These experts provide valuable insights and fresh perspectives that can make all the difference in developing a successful product.

In a fast-moving world where customer expectations are constantly evolving, businesses need to innovate or risk being left behind. The Innovation Accelerator is designed to help ambitious companies do just that—quickly, effectively, and with a clear focus on customer needs. Whether you’re a startup looking to disrupt the market or a large corporation aiming to stay ahead, this process can help you turn ideas into reality and achieve a competitive edge.

To find out more, let’s chat

‍