Endava : Innovation Will Spur Ireland’s Race to the Top

Innovation | Joe Dunleavy |
31 January 2022

Remaining competitive in any market is a top priority, not least in a technology market as booming as Ireland. I've always believed the link between competitiveness and innovation to be strong, but if only it were that simple. Those that remain a cut above not only innovate, but innovate at speed. They seize the opportunity as it's put in front of them. Now, I'm not talking about innovation for its own sake. Innovation is challenging enough as it is. But with a focused, value-led, and deliberate approach, Irish businesses have a real opportunity to grab international market share.

PLAYING TO DIGITAL STRENGTHS

Central to all of this is using our best assets to our advantage. We've got a lot going for us. We are one of the last remaining English-speaking countries in the EU, have a large and highly educated talent pool, hold a unique relationship with the UK, and have appealing business tax rates. It's a potent mix, attracting foreign direct investment, talent, and a healthy export economy. Most of all, technology has become part of who we are.

So, let's use it. Let's prioritise innovation and new ways of working. Let's use our talent, wherever it is. But let's make sure it's meaningful and done as the opportunity arises. Sure, some of our biggest companies in Ireland are capable of deploying new technology and services with long-term roadmaps, but driving true competitiveness, that comes from agility and responding to the market in the moment.

DELIGHTING THE END USER THROUGH VALUE CREATION

That, in itself, raises the question of how best to innovate - it is frequently seen as a bit of a hazy concept, but in my opinion that really isn't the case. Whether it is incremental or disruptive, it should be targeted, value-led, viewed through the lens of a product, and ultimately built for the end user to meet a specific demand.

What I think is critical is to recognise the end consumer persona, their issues, and their expectations. Once this is understood, the innovation process can then begin. Emerging technologies should be evaluated once all of that is thoroughly known, not the other way around.

CO-VALUE SUCCESS

Now, this may seem like a lot, but you're not alone. Our market is teeming with disruptive and innovative agents, each bringing unique skills to the table. Which is why I believe co-value creation is so central to Ireland's competitive success. The use of partners, like us at Endava, can make a world of difference. Co-value creation spreads risk, brings fresh eyes and ideas, new expertise and support - it's an open innovation model that lets you meaningfully react to the market when it matters most.

We also appreciate how we need to be flexible when it comes to collaborating. Innovation is a journey with multiple stops on the way, and so we pride ourselves on being able to drop in at any stage, regardless of whether that's at ideation, design, prototyping, piloting, or scale.

At Endava, we have helped Irish businesses deliver competitive, value-led solutions for many years, so if your company is stuck in an innovation rut, we have the capabilities to pull you out.