In the ever-evolving landscape of IoT development, the journey is often more about agility and progress than about achieving perfection. This was the central theme of a recent webinar, “Innovation as a Secret Sauce: The Key Ingredients for IoT Success“, featuring Alan Kleinerman, Vice President and Global Head of Innovation at The Kraft Heinz Company. The spotlight was on their collaborative project, the HEINZ REMIX machine—a groundbreaking device capable of producing over 200 sauce combinations for consumers and restaurants.
Alan Kleinerman: A Transformational Leader
Alan Kleinerman is not just a leader but a visionary business builder with a proven track record of driving remarkable profit, sales, and market share growth. His insights during the webinar provided a fascinating glimpse into the rapid development and innovative processes behind the HEINZ REMIX machine. The full case study of The Kraft Heinz Company’s connected product journey for the HEINZ REMIX is a must-read for anyone interested in IoT innovation.
Agility and Progress: The Cornerstones of Successful IoT Projects
One of the key highlights from Alan during the webinar was the emphasis on agility and progress over perfection. In the realm of connected products, this mindset is crucial for success.
Below is a clip from the webinar where Alan discusses the importance of progress over perfection. Read on for key takeaways from the webinar that can help guide your plan and MVP (Minimum Viable Product) development:
Continuous Innovation Requires Strategic Focus and Commitment
1. Testing During Development: Gathering feedback during the development phase is crucial. The initial version (v1 MVP) serves as a critical step for understanding how the market will respond and what improvements are needed. Alan stressed the importance of iterative testing to refine the product continuously.
2. Revisit Assumptions Regularly: Always return to your core assumptions and ensure they align with the problem you are solving. This iterative process helps in maintaining focus on the primary goals and adjusting strategies as needed.
3. Learn from Assumptions: Focus on what insights were gained and what wasn’t achieved. This learning process is what fosters a culture of innovation. Alan emphasized asking the critical question: “What did we gain and what did we not gain?” This drives continuous improvement and innovation.
The HEINZ REMIX Machine: A Case Study in Rapid Development
In the webinar, Alan shared an engaging story about the development of the HEINZ REMIX machine. Partnering with Mesh Systems, they transformed the concept into a prototype in just six months. This rapid development cycle was made possible by the synergy between the two companies, each leveraging their strengths to save thousands of hours in the development process. The trusted partnership allowed both to focus on their core competencies, leading to an efficient and innovative outcome.
The Bottom Line
The journey of developing the HEINZ REMIX machine underscores the importance of agility and continuous progress in IoT projects. As Alan Kleinerman and Mesh Systems have demonstrated, embracing these principles can lead to remarkable innovations in a short period.
Watch the full webinar recording below: