1. False Starts & Bad Ideas: The Path to
Business Innovation
May 8, 2013
http://bit.ly/crinnovation
2. The Business Scenario
• Genetically Engineered
Models and Services (GEMS)
House engineered animal
models at our facility prior to
entering client research
These models have human
related issues (i.e., cancer,
diabetes, high blood pressure)
GEMS provides large portfolio of
services to help clients achieve
target animals/data
2
3. The Business Scenario
• Genetically Engineered
Models and Services
All animals are housed in a bio-
secure environment to ensure
animal health status
Each animal is tracked uniquely
Clients includes
Pharmaceutical, Bio-Tech,
Academic Institutions
3
4. The Business Scenario
• In 1991, The GEMS
business initiated
Projects had very little
complexity
Number of services
provided to the clients
were limited
4
5. The Business Scenario
• By 2011, GEMS
had expanded to 8
sites in 6 countries
Customer demands
led to an increase in
complexity
Number of services
provided by GEMS
grew exponentially
5
6. The Business Scenario
6
• 2500 isolators managed
through a paper process
internationally
• Project data was stored
locally in high density
filing /off-site storage
• Minimal database usage
• High profile/confidential
data
7. The Business Problem
• Inefficiencies/Labor Cost
Triple checking
Transcribing data 3+ times
• Errors
Transcription
Task Execution
• Competitive Disadvantage
Customer looking for real-time data
Main competitor has some automation
Decline in customer confidence due to errors
Minimal new opportunities due to lack of real-time data
7
8. The IT Problem
• Lack of understanding of the complexity and
inefficiencies associated to the GEMS business
• Early on, IT’s philosophy limited the possible
solutions
• New CIO was hired with a new philosophy which
expanded the possible options for a solution
8
9. The Process
• Building internally
Generated Requirement
Documents
Built a Project Charter
• Buy an off-the-shelf
software
Examined 20 software
options
Demo’d the 2 of the best off-
the-shelf software options
9
PRO – build the business vision
CON – takes too long to build
and lack of resources
PRO – fast to production
CON – business has to fit vision
to software
10. A Different Approach
• Contracting the
development of a solution
OutSystems brought more
an a great platform and
methodology
o Rapid comprehension of
business needs
o Complete investment
o Fast turnaround
o Intelligent new perspective
o Open/flexible with new ideas
o Outstanding team management
10
PRO – fast to production with
the highest of quality
PRO – build the business
vision not retrofitting
PRO – willing to partner with
the business to build a solution
not just software
11. Agile Ways
• Typical IT waterfall projects lead to building all
requirements (critical and low priorities), which
gives the business little room to adjust/enhance
application features.
• OutSystems approach gave the business to ability
to reprioritized at any point, which allowed them to
push innovation and enhance critical components.
11
12. A Clean White Board
• Early in development, the business took a few risks
to push innovation.
• Taking risks inevitably led to false starts and ideas
that did not work.
Tablet interface
Voice commands
Voice prompting
Keypad interaction
RFID use
12
13. Vision Shift
• All “Must Haves” were not apparent from the start
• During the build, it became clear to see the true
“Must Haves” vs. the “Nice to Haves”
• OutSystems’ approach allowed the business to
refine the requirements to focus on the true “Must
Haves”
• In addition, OutSystems development helped refine
some of the business processes internationally
• This methodology led to innovation and a better
application
13
18. The Benefits
• Data Quality and Integrity
• Efficiencies Gained
Reduced support labor by 100%
Reduced tech labor by 10%
• Cost Savings
Gratis due to errors by 80%
Reduction of all paper related supplies/storage by 95%
• New Opportunities
Closed new business that was not otherwise available
prior to ICM
Added new sales within existing clients
18
