Traditional product development processes were often managed in silos. Internal lab systems were accessible to a select few and weren’t readily available outside of the workplace. Downstream workers were incidentally kept out of the early stages of the development process but were responsible for key actions associated with the commercialization of new products prior to their release.
The segmented approach lacked a sense of efficiency and had the potential to delay portions of the product lifecycle. This means it took longer for goods or services to get to market, potentially leading to lost profits or even risking being outpaced by a competitor.
Rising technologies in the areas of mobility, big data, and cloud technologies have already changed how many information-oriented workers do their jobs and have the potential to improve product lifecycle management processes regardless of the types of goods or services involved. To see how these technologies can increase the efficiency of product development, here are some key areas to examine.
Improved Information Capture and Data Analysis
Instead of housing a Lab Information Management System (LIMS) internally, cloud-based implementations can increase the rate of capture for critical information throughout the product development lifecycle. While it is widely understood these systems can be accessed by authorized personnel from any location, allowing work to be completed regardless of where the employee is or when they choose to perform the task, there is potential for much more.
Cloud solutions also create a new paradigm for ensuring ideas that were once scribbled down on scrap paper or lost in a sea of emails can be recorded in critical systems at any time and from any device. This limits the risk of a new innovation from being forgotten or misplaced as it is conveniently kept with other related data and project notes. Instead, professionals working on the product can access the appropriate files from any desktop, laptop, smartphone, or tablet and record the information whenever an idea strikes.
Additionally, the centralization of the information makes the data more accessible for advanced analytics. The cloud can help eliminate data silos that make comprehensive analysis especially complex, allowing more value to be derived from the information that has already been collected.
Cross-Departmental Collaboration
Centralizing operations in the cloud can also allow more employees to participate in the development process. Access can be granted to relevant workers in areas outside of the lab including manufacturing, sales, and logistics. This invites greater cross-departmental collaboration while ensuring critical personnel involved in the successful development and launch of a good or service can manage their tasks earlier in the process. This approach has the potential to speed up the product lifecycle based on increased efficiency, getting the product to market more quickly.
In the end, your company can see accelerated product development, higher levels of innovation, and increased productivity by bringing the latest technologies into your product lifecycle management strategy. If your business is interested in bringing these advances into your workplace, ITStaff can help you find the technical professionals you need to implement these solutions. Contact us to see how the right employees can bring it all together.
