Why is it so difficult to bring innovation to the market?

Perhaps the problem starts with the word itself.

Innovation can sound exciting. It can also sound risky. New technology, new processes and new ways of working can raise questions around compliance, cost, buildability and whether something will actually work when it reaches site.

But what if we took the word innovation out of the conversation?

Instead of asking whether something is innovative, perhaps the better questions are simpler.

• Is it compliant?

• Is it buildable?

• Can it be manufactured consistently?

• Can it be installed efficiently?

• And can the same approach be repeated with confidence?

  
  

Get more right before reaching site

Peter Elver's observation that “boots on ballast cost more than lines on paper” highlights an important principle.

The earlier a problem is identified, the greater the opportunity to address it without the cost and disruption that comes with solving it on site.

That means spending more energy getting the lines on paper right, but not designing in isolation.

Manufacturing, installation and the realities of construction all need to form part of the design conversation. When those considerations are addressed earlier, there is less reliance on site teams to resolve problems that could have been prevented during design. A better modular approach can help with this.

Modularity without the risk of “innovation”

Modularity is sometimes presented as an innovative approach in itself. It doesn't need to be.

The value comes from creating a consistent, compliant solution that can be manufactured and installed repeatedly, while still accommodating the requirements of the project.

That means designing with the full delivery process in mind. A modular solution needs to work not only on paper, but through manufacture, transportation and installation, with each stage considered before the solution reaches site.

Rethinking the risk profile

For senior management, the important question is how an alternative solution changes the risk profile. A different approach may introduce new considerations, but it may also provide greater control over design, manufacture and installation.

A familiar solution isn't automatically the lowest-risk solution. Equally, an alternative isn't automatically a higher-risk one.

The important thing is having enough understanding of the design, compliance, manufacturing and installation requirements to make that decision properly. That requires the right people to be involved early.

From innovation to consistency

This is where our approach at KITE Projects comes in. We engage with the design process and the parties involved to develop solutions that focus on compliance, buildability and repeatability.

The objective is a solution that works in practice, can be manufactured consistently, installed efficiently and repeated with confidence across projects.

Perhaps the real opportunity isn't to make innovation easier to bring to market.

Perhaps it is to stop calling it innovation altogether, and contact KITE instead!