As an innovation manager, you know that fresh ideas are the lifeblood of any successful organization. Without them, your company runs the risk of becoming stagnant, losing out to more innovative competitors, and ultimately falling behind in the marketplace.
But where do you turn for new ideas? How do you tap into the collective brainpower of your employees, customers, and other stakeholders to generate groundbreaking concepts that can transform your business?
That's where idea management platforms come in.
These powerful tools can help you gather, evaluate, and implement ideas from a wide range of sources, enabling you to stay ahead of the curve and drive meaningful innovation.
Quote: "Every once in a while, a new technology, an old problem, and a big idea turn into an innovation." - Dean Kamen.
Let’s look at ten of the top idea management platforms available today, exploring their features, capabilities, and potential impact on your organization. Whether you're looking for internal or external solutions, open innovation platforms or more traditional idea management tools, there's sure to be a platform that fits your needs.
Want to do a deeper dive into Idea Management? Click on the post below:
Top 10 Idea Management Software And Open Innovation Platforms
(in no particular order)
These are just some of the top idea management platforms and open innovation platforms available today. Each platform offers a unique set of features and capabilities, so be sure to evaluate your specific needs and goals before selecting a platform that's right for you.
- Qmarkets - A comprehensive idea management platform that offers features like idea submission, evaluation, and implementation, along with advanced analytics and reporting capabilities. It enables organizations to streamline their idea management process and drive innovation.
- IdeaScale - A cloud-based idea management platform that allows organizations to capture, evaluate, and implement ideas from employees, customers, and partners. It offers features like gamification, ideation, and collaboration tools.
- Brightidea - An enterprise idea management platform that offers features like idea submission, evaluation, and collaboration, along with advanced analytics and reporting capabilities. It helps organizations drive innovation through ideation and collaboration.
- Planview: An innovation management platform that delivers strategic portfolio management, enterprise agile planning, value stream management, and project portfolio management capabilities
- HYPE Innovation - A comprehensive innovation management platform that allows organizations to manage their innovation programs, engage employees, and collaborate with external partners. It offers features like idea submission, evaluation, and implementation, along with collaboration and communication tools.
- ITONICS - A data-driven innovation software platform that helps organizations identify emerging technologies, trends, and market potentials and translate them into powerful growth strategies
- HeroX - An open innovation platform and marketplace that enables organizations to crowdsource ideas and solutions from a global community. It offers features like challenge design, promotion, and management, along with a global community of innovators.
- Innocentive - An open innovation platform that connects organizations with a global network of problem-solvers to help drive innovation. It offers features like challenge design, promotion, and management, along with advanced analytics and reporting capabilities.
- OpenIDEO - An open innovation platform that enables organizations to collaborate with a diverse community of problem-solvers to tackle complex challenges. It offers features like challenge design, promotion, and management, along with collaboration and communication tools.
- IdeaConnection: An open innovation platform that connects organizations with a global network of subject matter experts to drive innovation and solve complex challenges. It offers features like expert sourcing, collaboration, and project management.
HeroX, OpenIDEO, Innocentive, and IdeaConnection are all open innovation platforms that connect organizations with a community of problem-solvers to drive innovation. However, there are some differences between them.
HeroX focuses on crowdsourcing and open innovation challenges to solve complex problems, whereas OpenIDEO brings together a diverse community of designers, technologists, and others to tackle global challenges. Innocentive provides access to a network of more than 400,000 experts from around the world who can help solve specific technical challenges. IdeaConnection connects organizations with a global network of subject matter experts to drive innovation and solve complex challenges.
Each platform has its own unique set of features and capabilities, and the specific platform that is right for your organization will depend on your specific needs and goals
Buyer’s Guide to Idea Management Platforms
Choosing the right idea management platform for your organization is crucial to the success of your innovation initiatives. With so many options available, it can be overwhelming to decide which platform to choose. Here are some key factors to consider when making your decision:
- Budget: Determine how much your organization can afford to spend on an idea management platform. Some platforms offer different pricing tiers, while others charge a flat rate.
- Organizational size: Consider the size of your organization and the number of employees who will be using the platform. Some platforms are better suited for smaller teams, while others can accommodate larger organizations.
- Specific needs: Identify the specific needs of your organization. Do you need a platform that offers advanced analytics and reporting? Are you looking for a platform that offers gamification features to encourage employee engagement? Understanding your specific needs can help you narrow down your options.
- Integration with existing tools: Determine if the platform integrates with other tools your organization is already using, such as project management software or CRM systems. This can streamline your workflow and make it easier to manage all of your innovation activities in one place.
- Ease of use: Look for a platform that is user-friendly and easy to use, with intuitive navigation and a simple interface. This can help ensure that your employees are able to use the platform effectively and efficiently.
By considering these factors, you can choose an idea management platform that is best suited for your organization and that will help you achieve your innovation goals. Don't be afraid to request demos or trials from different providers to find the platform that is the best fit for your organization's needs.
Consider a Hybrid Approach
In some cases, organizations may benefit from using a combination of internal idea management tools and external open innovation platforms. This hybrid approach can provide the best of both worlds by allowing companies to leverage the creativity and knowledge of both internal and external stakeholders.
For example, a company may use internal idea management software to gather and evaluate ideas from employees, while also utilizing an open innovation platform like HeroX to tap into the collective intelligence of a broader community. By combining these approaches, companies can generate a wider range of ideas and perspectives, ultimately driving greater innovation and success.
The content and the capability that you guys brought to the table for us; the plans, the tasks, the activities, 'have you thought about this', and the how to videos. The plethora of information and support you provided, made this simple. Never used the HeroX platform before, never ran a crowdsource challenge before...within only a few hours we were leveraging the tool.
-Josh Everett, Ameritas
You’ve Got This!
As an innovation manager, you have a crucial role in driving growth and success for your organization. Embracing the power of idea management platforms can help you and your team source and implement new ideas more efficiently and effectively, while also leveraging the collective intelligence of a broader community.
With a wide range of options available, from traditional idea management software to open innovation platforms, there is a solution that can meet the specific needs and goals of your organization. By exploring the resources and links provided above and partnering with trusted providers such as Qmarkets and HeroX, you can unlock the potential of idea management and achieve success in your innovation initiatives.
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