133: Tesla and the Infrastructure of Innovation

Today we discuss infrastructure and the ability to fit into the customer ecosystem as key factors behind the success of any game-changing innovation. Brilliant innovation is still just one step towards the next great thing Tesla Motors plans on making their amazing electric cars more attainable and affordable for the masses. This sounds great, and they certainly have the technology to create the product. But what about the infrastructure? Currently, it can be challenging to find a charging station for these vehicles, and Tesla hasn’t said much about how they are addressing this. This news hearkens back to the early days of the automobile itself. It was many years before it actually made sense for most people to own one, as the fuel as a commodity was less accessible than the vehicles themselves. Perhaps the same fuel companies that (eventually) grew around the gas-powered auto industry will evolve to accommodate the electric cars. Perhaps not, but Tesla seems willing to take that risk and move forward. What about your next innovation? Can you afford to take big risks like Tesla and boldly go into the future? If you can’t, you must consider how your concept will fit into today’s customer ecosystem. Is there an infrastructure in place to support the use of your product? If not, you may find yourself at the mercy of other organizations, or time itself, to see it through to success. Related Content Customers That Stick® post, Innovation is No Longer Optional 360Connext® post, 5 Silent Issues that Destroy Customer-Focused Innovation Episode 101: How the Innovation Process Fails Us Episode 077: Crowdsourcing Innovation with Customers Episode 072: Matt Phillips, Innovation Expert Sponsor message: Develop your customer experience mission Do you know how to deliver the superior customer experience you visualize? We can help your team become a force for positive change, starting with a customer-centric mission. The Customer Experience Investigators™ at 360Connext specialize in helping companies across industries and around the globe develop and internalize unique and scalable customer-focused missions. To compete with the other 89% of companies staying afloat by providing better experiences, you need a compass for making astounding changes in the customer experience while breaking down the silos that are holding you back. We offer evaluations, workshops, and roadmaps to keep your wheels firmly planted on the road to a customer-centric future. Join us on our mission to Create Fewer Ruined Days for Customers™ today. Visit us at 360Connext.com.   Take care of yourself and take care of your customers.   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices