MANAGING INNOVATION AT UNILEVER

Managing innovation at unilever

OPEN INNOVATION

Unilever believes in the strategy of Open Innovation. It says:

“We have a vision of a better future for our world and our business – and we want partners to share it.”  (Geneviève Berger)

The following is a depiction of managing and dealing with innovations at Unilever Pakistan while adopting the strategy of open innovation.

·         OPEN TO YOUR IDEAS

Unilever wants to create a better future, for consumers, for the environment, and for its business. To achieve that vision, it needs to innovate, to improve existing products and create new ones. Unilever have world-class research and development facilities, making breakthroughs that keep Unilever at the forefront of product development.  But it knows that the world is full of brilliant people, with brilliant ideas and Unilever is constantly looking for new ways to work with potential partners. Unilever calls this way of working Open Innovation.

 

·         SMALL ACTIONS, BIG DIFFERENCE

In the view point of Unilever’s leadership, for other people by working with Unilever, they could help change the world even if it is a little at a time. More than 2 billion people use a Unilever product every day, and improving its products, or creating new ones, makes a difference to millions of people's lives.

Unilever is looking for help in achieving its most important ambition. It has recognized that the planet will not be able to sustain the demands on its resources that will come from a growing population unless people everywhere find new ways to do things. The Unilever Sustainable Living Plansets out its commitment to halving the environmental impact and increasing the social benefits of its products as Unilever grows its business.

Unilever want good technological ideas to become reality quickly whoever thought of them first. Often Unilever have specific challenges it welcomes employees collaboration on: a new formula, a new technique, new packaging or a fresh design solution to a product it already have in mind etc. It welcomes ideas and innovative thoughts to keep its competitive advantage on the basis of new innovative products.

THE ROLE OF R&D IN innovation

Brands and innovation are at the heart of everything Unilever do. Unilever focus on rolling out more innovations faster and to more markets.

·         MEETING CHANGING CONSUMER NEEDS

“Unilever’s key goal is to double the size of our business while reducing our overall environmental impact. And innovation is core to that aim. Across the global business, our R&D teams work on cutting-edge science with a consumer focus that we can quickly convert into commercially viable applications. R&D is also the place where we invent what the consumer needs and even where we invent what he doesn’t know he needs – or what he is dreaming of.” says Geneviève Berger, Chief Science Officer.

Unilever’s R&D priorities are to be inventive, develop great quality brands, and obtain scientific proof that all our products deliver on their claims. Its innovations are also supported by clinical trials to ensure safety for consumers and compliance with international regulations.

 

·         INNOVATION & BRANDS

“Innovation is one of the key levers we can pull to drive growth in the business. It’s the life-blood of our business and our brands. Through our comprehensive portfolio of products designed to meet the needs of diverse consumers around the world, we believe we have the opportunity to deliver timely and far-reaching impacts on society.” Geneviève.

Successful innovation is based on deep consumer understanding. The balance Unilever seek to achieve is to marry its global strength in science and technology with its knowledge of people’s habits, tastes and behaviors.

Unilever aims to give consumers a great experience when they use Unilever’s brands. Unilever is increasingly identifying a funnel of new ideas that disrupt the norm in all its categories including foods, home and personal care. And having the ability to move these ideas across categories further unlocks new market opportunities,

Just as importantly Unilever’s focus in innovation also covers areas such as design, packaging, marketing and advertising, in order to get its brand benefits across more persuasively.  Among the interesting developments over the last few years, have been the launch of Dove Nutrium Moisture which offers skin essential nourishment, and Knorr Stock Pot, an intensely flavored jelly-based bouillon. Unilever is increasingly focusing on applying knowledge across categories to create products too, such as Signal White Now toothpaste which was developing by using a variation on a unique brightening agent first discovered by its laundry specialists.

 

·         INNOVATION THROUGH EXPERTISE

“Our ability to apply breakthrough technology and science across categories is enabling us to benefit from much bigger market opportunities than we previously imagined. R&D improves the quality and functionality of our products. It streamlines our manufacturing and distribution networks. It drives cost savings. In fact, across many areas of the business, it is absolutely critical.” Geneviève.

·         SUSTAINABLE INNOVATION

The Unilever Sustainable Living Plan (launched in 2010) is the company's roadmap on how it will achieve a doubling of the business while halving the environmental footprint of its products. Unilever R&D has an important role to play in the design and use of our products because consumers are increasingly looking for products that mean they can 'do their bit' for the environment while at the same time helping them look good, feel good and get more out of life.

Unilever R&D already has a long history of developing products that meet these exacting criteria and, looking to the future, all our products will incorporate social, economic and environmental metrics in their innovation plans.

Some recent examples include:

• ·         An upside-down roll-on deodorant that uses 18% less plastic in each pack.
• ·         PureIt, a battery operated home water purification device which gives households in India access to clean, pure drinking water at low cost.
• ·         Small and Mighty laundry liquids which, because of their size and concentration, reduce CO2, water usage and transportation costs.
• ·         Comfort Easy Rinse fabric conditioner which minimizes the amount of water needed to rinse clothes.
• ·         ProActiv margarines that contain plant sterols, clinically proven to lower cholesterol.

 
Source:

"Open Innovation." Unilever Global Company Website. N.p., n.d. Web. 10 May 2013