At iFrog Marketing Solutions, we live and breathe our core values. Solutions through Innovation happens to be one of them. I couldn’t help but think about my wife’s time as a fourth-grade teacher. She started out each school year teaching her students how to be problem solvers. She understood the importance of teaching young people how to identify a problem and seek their own solution. One specific example I remember is a little guy walking up to my wife upset holding a broken pencil. To that, my wife looked at the little guy and said: “Be a problem solver and figure it out!” Notice, she did not tell him to go sharpen his pencil or give him another one. That was for him to figure out on his own.

What a perfect segue to what we do at iFrog. As Chief Product Officer, I am faced with the challenge and also challenge my team to identify problems and seek innovative solutions using technology. Often, the word “problem” holds a negative connotation. That’s why my team doesn’t use the word “problem.” Instead, we use the word “challenge.” “Problem” is defined by Oxford Languages as “a matter or situation regarded as unwelcome or harmful”, whereas “challenge” is defined as “a call to take part in a contest or competition.” Who wouldn’t want to take part in a contest or competition that would result in better efficiencies for our internal team (aka Pirates) while simultaneously providing a sustainable competitive advantage for our clients (aka Partners)?

It is not enough to simply solve the problem or overcome the challenge. Instead, we charge ourselves with an innovative solution, one that will make a difference and have an impact. Innovation allows us to challenge the status quo and be ahead of the curve.  We often get asked how we determine whether or not a product is worth building. To that end, we have found understanding the 10 types of innovation is paramount. New products are invented from scratch all the time, but are new products the only way to innovate? At iFrog, we believe the answer to that question is, “No.” 

According to innovation firm Doblin, most big breakthroughs in history comprise some combination of the following 10 types of innovation and fall under the umbrella configuration, offering, or experience.

Just like anything else, taking a shot in the dark or throwing something at the wall hoping it sticks is ineffective. Rather, developing solutions through innovation takes requirements gathering, conversations with stakeholders, tactful planning, and proof of concepts — just to name a few. When products are built with the end in mind, everyone wins! Then, the fun begins, because it is time to go-to-market, perhaps changing an entire landscape.

Are you an innovator? If you introduce new methods, ideas or products, the answer to that question is, “Yes.” With a year like 2020 riddled with issues, problems, and challenges, there is no better time to get out there and innovate! What worked in 2019 just doesn’t cut it in 2020. Ponder this: Maybe 2020 was served up to remind us that we are resilient and capable of solutions through innovation!

At iFrog Marketing Solutions, We Live At The Intersection Of Marketing & Technology. Contact us today so we can solve your problems and challenges!