When all think alike, then no one is thinking

Walter Lippman famously said: 'When?all think alike, then?no one?is?thinking'. As so often happens the current process of brainstorming sessions, with an emphasis on group thinking alone rather than occasional free thinkers has limited us to take charge of our transformational journey to share, purse or realize more of our ideas.

Lets Start Off With Something Familiar.

You may have noticed, developer hackathons are growing fast in popularity due to innovative ideas spinning off to form successful technology startups. But if you were still under the impression that hackathons are really only suited for techies, only achievable working in groups and where pursuing your personal ideas and innovations don’t really count, think again! Valuable insights do come in unexpected ways.

Tech is filled with buzzwords that emerge and fizzle out given the constant evolution of technology. However, there is one that's climbing in popularity and relevance since the 2000's and that's Hackathons. Behind this buzzword, hackathons are providing grounds for developers and internal/public teams to generate new creative ideas and problem-solving solutions by working on topics of interest where risk-taking is encouraged, and abandoning processes and procedures is not frowned upon.

The question is:

Can you run a “Hackathon for One” and still inspire creativity and innovation?

I recently set out to answer that very question and would like to share my findings and ultimately the results of my experiment.

Hackathons, also known as hack days, is merely a tool that can be mirrored by anyone and across any occupation and industry. At its core, hackathons are about:

• Setting a fixed, outcome-driven time line to work on projects.
• Allocating time to really focus, brainstorm and experiment.
• Allowing yourself to tap into your hidden talents, new skills and education.
• Taking a risk-free approach in expressing and building out your sometimes brilliant and sometimes not so epic ideas ;)

How does one get inspired to stimulate their creative and problem-solving juices?

I learned if you find yourself constantly holding back from expressing your ideas or facing a creative block, it's time for a “hackathon for one” workout. Why? Because it eliminates one of the biggest hurdles in creativity – the fear of judgment. Generating creative and problem-solving ideas doesn’t have to be rocket science, but it doesn’t mean its easy. Simple observations and engagement of products, services and everyday events are a great way to improve and generate your innovative ideas. Finally setting aside some personal time to focus and experiment can lead to many ideas worth pursuing.

Key takeaway: Explore new ideas, technologies and concepts that may be of value to any business or service even if it's just for fun and remember having creative ideas locked in your head doesn't help anyone, share them!

Below is the result of my very own simple Hackathon for One experiment: Transforming in-store delivery through ride sharing technologies for items too large or heavy to transport in your car. To help represent this idea better I use Costco as an example for a store where large items are sold and in-store delivery is not easily available, combined with Uber's ride-sharing technology.

Overview/Context

The Canadian wholesale industry expanded by 7.3% in 2017, however this year with the weakening Canadian dollar and poor employment outlook, overall wholesaling sales are poised to slow down as household budgets get tighter and spending on big-ticket items like appliances and furniture will be limited.

Current Business Model

Costco operates numerous membership warehouses offering select national brands and private-labeled products in a wide range of merchandise categories at competitive prices to its members. Its income has grown by 8% from last year by successfully controlling its cost.?

Costco has also ventured into e-commerce to offer a more extensive range of merchandise which is not available on the shop floor.

Current Business Model Value Curve:

Rising Problem

As customers' household budgets get tighter encouraging consumer purchases on big-ticket items like appliances and furniture is becoming more challenging. Big-ticket items add more to the bottom line as profit margins are higher. Hardline Revenue streams like electronics contribute 16% and Softlines like furnishings contribute 10% to Costco’s revenue. Boosting sales and moving inventory for these items is critical.

Additionally, wholesalers now face an even greater threat as consumers direct their attention to online retailers for price comparisons and purchases to manage their tighter household budget.

Current Hassles Identified / Opportunity for Innovation

Larger big-ticket items on the shop floor like furniture and appliances are not convenient to easily transport which is a hassle for most shoppers. Larger items require immediate access to trucks or large SUVs in order to purchase the item right there and then as stock on the shop floor is very limited.?

Ordering these larger items online is possible but the price inclusive of delivery is usually 20-38% higher compared to purchasing it in-store. Additional costs are required to ship it back for a refund if the product doesn’t meet expectations.

Business Model Innovation

Costco currently doesn’t offer vehicle rentals or in-store delivery services for large items in any of their stores in Ontario, Canada. Introducing on-demand delivery will have the following benefits:?

1. Customer purchases and delivery of larger items becomes easy and convenient.
2. Impulse buying increases.
3. Stores can boost sales and move excess inventory.
4. Better in-store stock item availability based on actual demand.

On-Demand Delivery Service can be achieved by offering UBER XL* in a form of self-service kiosk’s positioned around the shop floor where large items are kept, also boosting consumer awareness. Costco can partner with Uber and earn referral commission fees through the self-service kiosk’s and eventually through their custom app or Uber's app.

*UBER XL is an app that makes hiring on-demand private drivers with larger vehicles easy and cheap.

New Business Model Value Curve:

Why UBER XL?

Key Benefits to Costco:

• Easy implementation of technology.
• Minimal floor space requirement.
• Self-service no staff required.
• Easy expansion of service to various locations.
• Service is provided by a trusted 3rd party.
• Earns referral commission fees through the Uber/Costco self-service kiosks and mobile apps.
• Minimal investment for self-service kiosks. ?The possibility of shared investment in kiosks by?UBER.
• Customer impulse buying increases.
• Store can boost sales and move excess inventory.
• Better in-store stock item availability based on?actual demand.

Key Benefits to Costco Customers:

• Simple on-demand hiring of private drivers with?larger vehicles.
• Super convenient and hassle-free.
• Cheap Delivery Cost (prices are fixed and calculated by location).
• Choice of vehicles depending on need (SUV,?mini-van, truck,etc).
• Trusted service provider.

What do you think about this topic? Let me know your thoughts! Don’t hesitate to connect via LinkedIn or contact me . I’d be delighted to chat.

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