Toolbox
"The 'Toolbox' is a collection of services iLab.o sets at the disposal of companies that want to start a living lab project."
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Approach
iLab.o uses a so-called ‘Toolbox’ to set up and manage projects. The 'Toolbox' is a collection of services iLab.o sets at the disposal of companies that want to start a living lab project. Our Toolbox is classified in 5 domains: methodology, panel management, rapid prototyping, business modeling and networking.
Methodology
You cannot compare research in a living lab setting with conventional user research of classical testing methodology. The set-up and context require a specific approach.
"Furthermore iLab.o keeps investing in the development of new research methodologies that can contribute to better results."
The iLab.o employees have ample experience with these research methodologies and have access to specific examples and scenarios. They can draw on this experience to determine the optimal approach for your project. Furthermore iLab.o keeps investing in the development of new research methodologies that can contribute to better results.
Panel management
iLab.o holds a team of experienced panel managers to support and coach all the ‘test users’. They take care of the set-up and maintenance of a large and detailed database of test users allowing them to start working with a broad panel of relevant profiles very fast.
Our panel managers help selecting the right user profiles and will maintain communication with them throughout the project. This means that they will invite and motivate them, take care of the follow-up during the project and make sure of their active involvement and feedback through direct contacts as well as anonymized registration of their user patterns.
Rapid prototyping
"Testing in a living lab means you have to offer your test public something concrete."
Rapid prototyping is a general term for the fast manufacturing of physical prototypes, as testing in a living lab requires that users can interact with the new product or service in their daily surroundings.
When a company is still in the conceptual phase, iLab.o can rapidly provide prototypes, mock-ups or products or services, so as to offer new ideas or concepts in the early stages to assess their potential.
Simulate Your Business (SimBu)
: iLab.o supports the development of business models and directional roadmaps for the new service or product being developed in the user driven innovation project. Since most new ICT services and products have a complex composition of (possible) stakeholders, this specific cluster organisation usually works with simulation models which are elaborated in workshops.
"... we usually work with simulation models which are elaborated in workshops."
The stakeholders’ roles and input (the value chain) is visualized and mapped interactively and several possibilities get to be further detailed and discussed with the different parties. Based on these simulations a final model is drawn up, in which all parties can find themselveswhich is supported by all parties involved.
European network
For many small and medium-sized companies going abroad is a huge step, because of the many unknown factors: cultural, scientific or technological obstacles can easily cross a cross-border strategy. SME’s don’t always know how to test, adapt or introduce their products and services outside their trusted home market.
Through the European network of Living Labs, iLab.o can facilitate SME’s by opening the gates to a European or even worldwide market through cross-border pilot projects. iLab.o is, as the secretariat of the European network with almost 230 living labs (www.openlivinglabs.eu) all over Europe and beyond, perfectly positioned to offer advice and support for such a cross-border project.
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