Launch deliverables can be segmented as:

• Final Design of the appropriate primary product
• Manufacturing prepared to deliver the primary product with the required quality and deliver it at the correct time
• Resources required to promote and to sell the product (pre-sales materials)
• Resources to support the product (post-sales materials) and achieve the targeted level of customer satisfaction
• Activate a launch management system
• Prepare for more efficient solutions for your next product development and launch

OpLaunch has the experience and breadth to contribute to each of these segments.

 

Design the Appropriate Primary Product

The bulk of the effort to design the appropriate primary product (the main item that is promoted to customers and purchased by customers) is from factory representatives (primarily marketing and engineering). Typically, field representatives (primary sales and service) and customers provide critical input to the design. OpLaunch can improve your productivity in either Formal or Flexible product development methodologies. OpLaunch can assist your product development team in the creation of deliverables such as:

• Construction of product prototypes (such as virtual versions of the product) for use in testing such as usability testing or other product testing
• Evaluation of prototypes
• Integrating feedback to the design process
• Maximize the team efficiency and focus

Manufacture a Quality Product and Deliver It On Time

To assist with these deliverables, OpLaunch can assist with items such as:

• Creation of documentation (text, images, and a variety of video formats) for key manufacturing processes
• Development of training programs for factory personnel
• Project management of key delivery requirements such as the scheduling for the availability of demo units and selected customer shipments

Pre-sales and Post-sales Collateral

Marketing and training materials add value to the product. The product isn't ready for launch until these materials are complete. These materials are the keys to your customers understanding, buying, and recommending your product.

The individuals responsible for designing and producing these materials should ask the following types of questions to form a collateral strategy:

• How do I sell more products with less sales people?
• What is the most effective training program for the service and support representatives?
• How do I train a lot of people when I only have one real, technical expert?
• How can I create multiple deliverables that are due on the same date?
• What would help sell more products when visitors are at our web site?
• How will we create an effective training package for our representatives at introduction?
• Am I getting good value for my marketing dollars?
• How can I maximize the ROI for all launch activities?

 

OpLaunch can assist in the creation and delivery of items that maximize early sales such as:

• Marketing and introduction plans
• Product launch collateral
• Training programs for sales, support, and customer representatives
• Product support programs

Visit the video, web, and training pages for examples of how OpLaunch uses these NPD-tuned tools to maximize product launch success. In addition, OpLaunch can coordinate with your public relations and advertising specialists to maximize synergy and the reuse of assets.

The OpLaunch team has experienced, talented professionals that can create effective raw information and deliver it in the most effective media format. We specialize in reusable, self-contained applications.

"This manual contains 100% pure CE (a customer service representative that works at the customer's site) required information. There is no fluff or wasted words. The manual has proven to be a great tool for both the CEs and also the other (factory and regional) support engineers that support the Mustang product. The manual has proven to be invaluable if you are working on the Mustang product and has reduced both the number of calls that are received and the amount of time the engineers spend on the phone when a call is received." Frank C., Hewlett-Packard commenting on a technical manual that provided both 'just in time' and reference information for a product with worldwide distribution.

Launch Management System

A launch management system is a measurement and analysis system to assess the success of the launch. Are the predetermined customer satisfaction goals being met? Do sales match the forecast? If not, the prearranged contingency plans should be activated. OpLaunch can help you design and implement a launch management system.

OpLaunch can collaborate with your internal specialists and external vendors (such as public relations and advertising agencies) to ensure that sales collateral (such as brochures and Internet content) produced is consistent with your product launch goals.

Prepare for more efficient future solutions

Today's success can lead to future success. Abundant sales today can provide the revenue to fund future developments. Companies that achieve greater success with their current products and absorb more learning (as a company and as individuals), will be more likely to experience efficient product development and launch solutions for future products. Specific predicators of future product development success include:

• Lessons revealed during the project and in post-project reviews are incorporated into the appropriate parts of your organization. Project documentation and reports are finalized quickly. Competitive intelligence is used to update strategic plans.
• Progress on new product tasks begin at the scheduled times. Personnel have a smooth progression to new project assignments. A well-executed product development effort should require minimal post-launch clean up and minimal damage control activities.
• Appropriate personnel training is scheduled. New hardware, software, and communication tools are identified.
• New development activities match product roadmap strategies
• New project staffing plans are realistic
• Linkages (such as feedback and other communication) across your value chain and/or supply chain are improving
• Team members are able to devote a large percentage of their time to productive project activies
• Appropriate new knowledge is injected into the team

Success requires more than great strategy and finely tuned checklists. The maximum probability of success requires that things happen when they are supposed to happen. Is your organization progressing toward meticulous execution?

OpLaunch doesn't prescribe generic solutions or a homogenized version of "best practices." We recommend and implement specific, appropriate techniques for your current and future development activities. We provide tailored training to both management and individual contributors.

As a result of our experience and extensive research and development efforts in new product development, OpLaunch can maximize the power of your new product development dollars to create the launch deliverables to maximize early product sales.