Ideate: It was a late
Friday evening—that time of day when most people usually leave behind their
work for the week. But that evening, things were different at JDA Bangalore.
Desks were illuminated, and a chorus of voices excitedly talking could be heard
down the hall. Acronyms like ML, IOT, AI, NLP were used at an alarmingly
high frequency.
It
was the sound of innovation, the sound of ideas being born into
reality. As I walked around, I could see JDA associates immersed in
projects throughout the office floor. These innovation zones housed some of the
most advanced technology available today (and in the future): Arduino devices,
mixed reality gears - the type only seen in science-fiction movies - high tech
heat/load/sound sensors, next-generation assistants such as Amazon Alexa and
Google home, etc.
Energy
was high and creativity at its peak, as JDA Bangalore, along with JDA
Hyderabad, geared up for an innovation festival called: JDA Crystal Ball, an
event across the company’s two India-based Centers of Excellence, established
to tackle the constant shift in technology head-on through our best asset – our
people.
The
enthusiasm was contagious; everyone wanted to be part of this momentous JDA
event. The teams worked days, nights and multiple weekends to not just to ideate
but to convert their ideas into a prototype, into a proof of concept. Some
teams had moon-shot ideas while the others were solving incremental problems.
However, everyone had a single-point mindset to ‘Passionately Innovate’.
Innovate how we work, innovate how our customers work, innovate how their
vendors work.
Execute: Crystal
Ball was a three-month effort toward creating a funnel for ideas that will fuel
JDA’s transformation and customer experience. What an amazing event it was!
Proof of concepts, not just ideas, ruled the floor with concepts spanning
across a large spectrum of subject areas such as the Internet of Things,
artificial intelligence, machine learning and cloud technologies impacting
supply chain, supply chain optimization, etc. What had begun as simple
“what if” transformed into a success that exceeded almost everyone’s
expectations, and the JDA executive team applauded the visionary work of the
collective teams.
Dream:
Now, what’s next? Will anything change after this? Was this a onetime event? It
cannot be! In fact, Crystal Ball was a catalyst for unleashing the hidden
passion and talent of so many JDA associates. As with any journey, the first
step is the hardest, but we’ve now taken it…and there’s no looking backward.
The
impact of Crystal Ball can be seen, and felt, in every corner of JDA India.
Those who presented their ideas are working to take them to next level. Some
are talking about patents, and others are working on how to productize their
ideas. This is attitude of innovation is infectious; we all feel it, we all
want to be part of it. Those who were not able to present their ideas are
highly motivated for the next time around (because we know there will be a next
time!). Associates are staying late or coming to office during the
weekends, not for their day-to-day stuff.. but 'to innovate'. This changed
mindset, I believe, is the biggest achievement of the Crystal Ball showcase.
I
can’t thank more to the JDA leadership for giving us this excellent opportunity (and the Crystal Ball Award for being the best idea in Bangalore :-)). I can confidently say that our leadership has kick started a new culture at
JDA… The Culture of Innovation!!!
