Before we dig in, up for a story?
Nearly two decades ago, PepsiCo tasked its R&D department with finding a way to reduce sodium in the snack products they make while retaining the salty flavor customers want. As a result, they worked ’round the clock for years with little to show for it. While this was happening, someone in the marketing department who struggled with high blood pressure was trying a new, semi-experimental sodium alternative diet. While R&D was spinning its wheels, this marketing expert was enjoying the very thing innovators were looking for.
Eventually, a chance meeting in a break room delivered the breakthrough the snack researchers sought. They could have saved months of valuable time if their efforts and this real-world use-case could have crossed paths sooner. At the end of the day, this is a success story. The researchers may never have found their solution. Fortunately, they did. But we want to improve our innovation efforts by enhancing communication and collaboration within an enterprise. One way we do this is with the idea capture software that allows participation for everyone across the enterprise.
Sometimes the most innovative ideas come from the most unexpected places. As a result, some idea capture software optimize the chance that great ideas will find their way into new products and services. Here, we will discuss five of the best idea capture software.
Features to Look for in any Idea Capture Software
There are dozens of products in this category, making it difficult to zero down one. However, here are some essential features to look for when selecting an idea capture software.
1. Ease of Use
The best software is easy to use. Working to develop new ideas is difficult enough without the distraction of a sub-optimal graphical user interface (GUI). For instance, users should be able to drag and drop the ideas between different stages of progression. This simplicity is essential in realizing the full benefits of idea management software. Or the stakeholders should be able to collaborate remotely yet in real-time. Or it should be easy for users to pull up ideas related to a particular technology, product, or campaign.
2. Simplicity of Idea Capture Form
Innovators should be able to submit their ideas in a short time without any friction. The idea capture forms should not have complex fields that innovators do not know how to fill. For instance, fields like prior art references are needed to take the idea forward on the patent track, but innovators might not be aware of what to fill in it. The idea capture form should enable the innovators to submit their notes, mind-map, and other work.
3. Participation Options
Imagine if the marketing professional from the PepsiCo story had access to the notes of the product research team. The idea is to let anyone across the enterprise submit an innovative idea. However, review permission should stay restricted to managers, or patent filing information should be accessible only to the IP team and associated inventors. So, an idea capture software that offers role-based access shall be excellent.
4. Suitable Company Sizes
An idea capture software should match the size of your enterprise, and it should respond well to scaling. For instance, the number of users using the software is 40, but the software supports only 25, which could be a problem. So either the software should offer to customize the number of users, or you may want to pick another software.
5. Pricing
Software that offers a freemium model, i.e., limited features available for free and premium features available as a part of paid subscription, make a good choice. Free products are great, especially when they allow you to try a product before settling for a premium service. Different software offer different pricing tiers based on access to various features. A clear-cut pricing plan on the software website shall assist you in decision-making.
6. Patent Track or Development Track
Certain software, like the TIP tool, offer tracking ideas through the complete IP lifecycle, hence best suited for the patent track. However, other software like Viima may be better suited for the idea execution track, like taking the technology to market.
Five Best Idea Capture Software to look at in 2022
- The TIP Tool by Triangle IP
- Ideawake
- Viima
- IdeaScout
- AcceptMission
1. The TIP Tool by Triangle IP
With simplified capture and management for frictionless innovation, Triangle IP’s TIP Tool puts you in control of the entire intellectual property management process, from ideas to patents.
Ease of Use
The drag and drop design is simple and easy to understand, placing your ideas and notes within a single screen. It is impressive because it offers enterprise-wide usability and collaboration.
The Simplicity of the Idea Capture Form
The TIP tool’s idea capture form is carefully designed to maximize engagement from innovators. The form asks for important information in a straightforward and up-front manner. You can even download its idea capture form for offline use in Word and Excel formats. The best part is that the filled forms are readable back into the tool. Furthermore, it’s also possible to customize the idea capture form offered by Triangle IP to suit your enterprise’s needs.
Participation Options
Participation is possible enterprise-wide, with no limitations on who you may authorize to interact with the ideas.
Suitable Company Sizes
The TIP tool is best suited for medium-sized enterprises that file 25-50 patents annually.
Pricing
Start with the free tier service level to give it a try, and upgrade when you are ready. The software is priced at 50 USD per month or 495 USD per year, which is pretty reasonable, isn’t it?
Patent Track or Execution Track
The TIP tool is designed with the patent track in mind. It helps you track ideas through different stages of the IP lifecycle like:
1) Idea Capture
2) Thorough Vetting
3) Patent Filing and
4) Patent Portfolio
The software also offers patent analytics to help you understand how your patent case scores against other applications in the same art unit, with the same patent examiner, handled by the same patent counsel, etc. The cherry on the cake is that you can get end-to-end patenting cost estimations to plan your IP budgets wisely.
2. Ideawake
Ideawake provides an easy-to-use, highly configurable platform that makes it easy to capture, evaluate, and take action on ideas from employees.
Ease of Use
Ideawake is easy-to-use with simple and intuitive interfaces. In addition, the platform allows enterprises to collect ideas to solve specific challenges.
The Simplicity of the Idea Capture Form
The idea capture form has just two fields – idea title and idea description. The form also facilitates adding attachments. The form is simple but doesn’t offer fields for tags, value, etc.
Participation Options
Any employee can be authorized to access Ideawake with a few limitations.
Suitable Company Sizes
Ideawake caters explicitly to Fortune 500 companies. As a result, it may be a suboptimal fit for smaller enterprises.
Pricing
There is a free trial but no entirely free version. Basic service is $850 per month.
Patent Track or Execution Track
Ideawake is best for execution track use as it doesn’t offer patent-specific features like tracking ideas through IP lifecycle or patent analytics for taking IP decisions.
3. Viima
Viima is one of the market’s most widely used idea capture software. Here is a thorough list of features that Viima offers.
Ease of Use
With its uniquely flexible interface, Viima can be very easy to use. In Viima, you can create different boards; each board represents a challenge to be solved with innovative ideas; it could also be for a hackathon. Moreover, Viima allows you to add specific people to each board from within or outside the enterprise, facilitating open innovation.
The Simplicity of the Idea Capture Form
The idea forms allow users to submit ideas anonymously. The fields in the idea form are title, description, category, tags, the problem it solves, business impact, the effort required, and more. Long forms might act as friction in capturing.
Participation Options
Viima is open to employees, customers, or other parties interested in collaboration.
Suitable Company Sizes
This software package suits companies of any size with the right subscription service.
Pricing
The free version limits users to 10 participants. Viima’s subscription service costs between $6 and $1999 per month based on different tiers.
Patent Track or Execution Track
Viima is also best suited for the execution track as it doesn’t offer any patent-related tracking or analytics.
4. IdeaScout
IdeaScout (Innography) enables companies to capture ideas, facilitates easier collaboration between inventors and patent professionals, speeds up innovation, etc. IdeaScout also assists well in the journey of ideas to patents.
Ease of Use
IdeaScout scores decently on ease of use. It allows inventors to submit ideas specific to business/strategic gaps, technologies, and more. Interestingly IdeaScout enables automatic feedback on ideas from an intelligent agent to revise ideas for high-quality invention disclosures.
The Simplicity of the Idea Capture Form
As per this press release, inventors just need to email their ideas in the simple text to initiate the process.
Participation Options
IdeaScout facilitates open innovation with a global network of 18 million inventor profiles. People from within and outside the enterprise can participate in idea capturing, vetting, and more.
Suitable Company Sizes
IdeaScout is best suited for large enterprises.
Pricing
Not available publicly.
Patent Track or Execution Track
Best suited for the patent track.
5. AcceptMission
AcceptMission is an idea and innovation management platform. It facilitates idea capturing, online brainstorming, patent portfolio management, and more.
Ease of Use
Customers praise AcceptMission for its usability, but other platforms get higher marks in ease of use. In addition, some users have complained about glitchy interfaces.
The Simplicity of the Idea Capture Form
The idea capture form offered by Accept Mission is quite simple with limited fields. However, inventors need to submit ideas for specific challenges called missions.
Participation Options
AcceptMission makes cross-organizational participation easy. It’s an excellent software for remotely located teams to collaborate.
Suitable Company Sizes
This software suite is well suited for companies of all sizes, but smaller enterprises are likely to have the best results.
Pricing
There is a free trial and an option to book a 30-minute demo. Four pricing plans are available are:
- Free
- Basic – € 4 per user per month
- Pro – € 5-6 per user per month
- Enterprise – custom pricing
Patent Track or Execution Track
AcceptMission supports execution track tasks well across all subscription levels, with some notable limitations in the free and basic plans. For optimal patent tracking support, AcceptMission recommends the Pro or Enterprise packages.
| The TIP Tool | Ideawake | Viima | IdeaScout | AcceptMission | |
| Ease of Use | Simple and easy to understand | Easy-to-use with simple and intuitive interface | Very easy to use | Scores decently but not great | Not easy to use. Expect glitchy interfaces |
| The Simplicity of the Idea Capture Form | Maximizes engagement from innovators | Simple but doesn’t offer fields for tags, value, etc. | Long forms might act as friction in capturing ideas | Inventors just need to email their ideas in the simple text to initiate the process | Simple with limited fields |
| Participation Options | Enterprise-wide participation, with no limitations on who you may authorize to interact with the ideas | Any employee can be authorized to access Ideawake with a few limitations | Open to employees, customers, or other parties interested in collaboration | Facilitates open innovation with a global network of 18 million inventor profiles. People from within and outside the enterprise can participate | Cross-organizational participation made easy. It’s an excellent software for remotely located teams to collaborate |
| Suitable Company Sizes | Best suited for medium-sized enterprises that file 25-50 patents annually | Caters explicitly to Fortune 500 companies | Suits companies of any size with the right subscription service | Best suited for large enterprises | Well suited for companies of all sizes, but smaller enterprises are likely to have the best results |
| Pricing | Priced at 50 USD per month or 495 USD per year | Free trial exists but no entirely free version. Basic service is $850 per month. | Costs between $6 and $1999 per month based on different tiers | Not available publicly | › Free› Basic – € 4 per user per month› Pro – € 5-6 per user per month› Enterprise – custom pricing |
| Patent Track or Execution Track | Track ideas through different stages of the IP lifecycle | Best for execution track use as it doesn’t offer patent-specific features like tracking ideas through IP lifecycle | Best suited for the execution track as it doesn’t offer any patent-related tracking or analytics | Best suited for the patent track | Supports execution track tasks well across all subscription levels, with some notable limitations in the free and basic plans |
Parting Thoughts
As you can see, there are a lot of great products out there for you to choose one. But the best software is one that matches the size and the specific needs of your enterprise. When selecting a tool, consider exploring various IPfolio competitors and alternatives to find the best fit for your organization.
The TIP Tool from Triangle IP is ideal if you are a medium-sized enterprise keen to systematize your patent process. The TIP tool is best suited for enterprises that file 25-50 patents a year as it provides actionable intelligence through patent analytics and patenting cost estimations. The TIP tool is also quite promising when you want to capture enterprise-wide innovation. We encourage you to explore more about the TIP tool by Triangle IP.
Disclaimer: The information in this article/review is sourced from the internet and may not be entirely accurate or up-to-date. We recommend visiting the respective software websites for the most current and reliable information. The opinions expressed here are those of the author and may not reflect the views of Triangle IP. We are not liable for any consequences that may arise from relying on the information provided in this article/review.
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