Putting 'wow' before 'how': 5 recent product innovations that failed

We don’t need to look far back into history to find well-intentioned product innovations that fail. In fact, 2018 is stacked with products that may appear revolutionary at first glance, but that simply fail to make the grade because the software and intelligent applications that drive the product did not perform as expected.

1. CLOi, the home managing robot from LG

Newly released products need to work when they’re presented to the public. LG introduced CLOi at CES 2018 with the promise that CLOi will enhance the kitchen experience. CLOi was supposed to pivot off new advances in artificial intelligence – including natural language processing. However, during the presentation, the robot failed to answer basic queries as intended. Lesson: product innovators must ensure advanced software features such as AI-enabled voice recognition is ready for the market.

Here are some proven best practices for building a fail-proof NLP-based digital assistant

2. MiSafes Kid's Watcher Plus

A watch that doubles up as a device that keeps parents aware of the whereabouts of their children is a good idea – if executed correctly, at least. With a built-in GPS and the ability to take phone calls too the Kid’s Watch Plus was set for success.

However, it soon turned out that the device can easily be hacked. There is a clear message for product leaders here: everything that is connected can be hacked, and loopholes in security will kill an otherwise promising product. Put data safety and compliance front and centre.

3. The Kodak KashMiner

Vapourware is nothing new; there is a long history of products that never materialise. Product leaders should know by now that overpromising a concept that is not realistic in practice is never a good idea. So it was with the Kodak KashMiner, a failed bitcoin mining computer presented by Spotlite USA.

The machine was supposed to be available to rent in exchange for an initial lump sum, and half of the mining profits. It was never released, in part because the capabilities of the mining machine did not keep pace with the increasing performance load.

4. PlayStation Classic

To capitalise on people’s love for PlayStation, Sony re-released the original PlayStation in 2018 – as the PlayStation Classic. In theory, it was an excellent idea, but the software strategy was flawed in too many ways for the product to be successful.

Again, a weak software implementation tripped up execution as customers complained that the titles ported across were of poor quality thanks to a PAL, NTSC mix-up. Sony also neglected to provide some of the game titles that customers really wanted. Well, in this case, user acceptance testing would allow gaining feedback that helps shape the idea, prioritise features and ensure a successful launch.

5. Windows 8

For Microsoft, Windows 8 was set to be a major transformative move. Yet, as Windows 8 reached the end of mainstream support in 2018. With Windows 8, Microsoft attempted to merge the classic Windows interface with a touch interface. It worked well on the company’s own Surface tablets, but most users found the interface confusing.

Many of the issues were addressed by Windows 10, in part by walking back Windows 8 advances. The lesson is that software innovation must sometimes progress in smaller steps and that users need time to adjust. The appealing visual design may drive people in, but usability is what actually makes or breaks the experience.

How not to get disrupted when implementing a disruptive innovation

Criticism comes quickly, of course, but the truth is that product innovation is not easy. Latest promising innovations that failed can give product leaders a valuable lesson. A long list of boxes must be meticulously ticked during the product innovation process:

• Product leaders know that a thorough investigation of market needs and wants is an important start. It's crucial to validate your idea before you invest. Start from an in-depth analysis of your business goals, market trends, and technological possibilities.
• Innovation starts with a bright idea, but successful innovation is a marathon that requires a strategy. Think of conducting a feasibility study to investigate the pros and cons of technologies, reduce technological uncertainty, and have full confidence in the investment.
• At this point, you can engage product design experts to perform product discovery, facilitate workshops with all key stakeholders, and then design a product prototype and test it with your end-users. This will allow you to identify potential bottlenecks and define the best solution architecture.
• Validate the viability of your idea through PoC development. It's a proven, cost-effective way of testing business concepts before taking them to market.

At ELEKS, we have assisted companies at every stage of innovation, from creating product concepts through to software testing and getting products to market. Contact us to see how we can help you realise your product vision with success.