Innovative Technology

Crystalizing, prototyping, performing

You have gained deep, fresh insights on your customer motivations and now you want to create new products and services. Technology brings fast-moving opportunities. What is the best approach to achieve your goals? Can you build on what you already have internally? Are you prepared to set an industry standard for service? Do you have inventions in your lab that were ahead of their time then, but perhaps not now?

Technology innovation projects are entrepreneurial and energizing. You can activate a new project, add horsepower to meet existing deadlines, or get a derailed project back on track. We will advance your product and service ideas from concept to customer. Each of the following products were years ahead of their time, earning their sponsors attention as well as revenue.

Innovative technology case studies

  • A data-driven stewardship machine
    A project for the alumni fund of an Ivy League college created a robust server-side software application to automatically manage an online honor roll of donors, taking a frequent export from a sophisticated internal database and automatically generating hundreds of branded web pages - every day - from the raw data. This sub-site comprises the bulk of the annual fund website and is browsable by fiscal year, class year, and donor level, building stronger connections with stakeholders. This product currently accounts for 53% of traffic to the alumni fund website and generates over $100,000 in annual donations. When delivered in 2005 the honor roll was the first of its kind in the field.
    Motivate higher-ed donors through online celebration
  • Web-based media monitoring system
    A project for a strategic communications consulting firm developed a customer-facing web version of their internal media analysis system. We expanded and normalized the data-model for future growth, designed a productive and friendly user-interface and workflow, and deployed the database and web server for initial customers so our client could focus on sales before bringing a more polished production platform in-house for further internal development. This was a bet-the-company project, which still thrives in their portfolio today.
    Transform a staff tool into a customer-facing service
  • Expert system mass-customization software
    A project for a manufacturer of water treatment equipment created a customer-facing software application for pre-engineering system design. In addition to streamlining internal workflow and saving hours of manual employee effort on every sale, the software also positioned the company as a progressive, leading-edge supplier in their market. A strategy twist was deciding to sell the software for $75 to prospects and customers, increasing its perceived value (even though it only specified one manufacturer's products). Sales prospects were thrilled to be able to "play" on their own time and they pre-engineered their product selection, allowing the salespeople to quickly verify the customer work, rather than start from scratch on each bid. This contributed to rapid revenue growth while holding the employee count steady. Software sales were strong enough to break even on the development costs. An excellent example of using custom software as a strategic competitive tool.
    Streamline a sales process with deeper customer engagement
  • Multi-channel psychoacoustic audio system
    Based on fundamental research into psychoacoustics and sound reproduction I invented and patented Triambient Synthesis, a multi-channel stereo audio system based on an aspect of binaural sound processing in the brain. This enhanced acoustic soundfield system anticipated and pre-dated 5.1 surround-sound home theater by 15 years. In addition to the conceptual research, I designed and hand-built the first electronic processor prototypes, specified the circuit design components for audiophile quality, and designed and conducted psychoacoustic experiments to prove the validity of the patent claims.
    Take advantage of cognitive characteristics

"Thank you for your excellent work in creating a web application for the Development office. Your expertise was a great asset in translating our business needs into reality. Our business goal was ambitious but the resulting product addresses it effortlessly, with little intervention required of our staff. It was a pleasure to work with you and your team on this effort, and we could not be more pleased with the result." —Meg Houston Maker, Dartmouth College Development

To learn more contact Michael J. Yacavone by email or telephone +1-802-526-2203.