Silicon Sentier works with R&D projects looking to integrate a collective dimension of creativity and innovation and uses La Cantine as an interface with the growing community of developers and potential users.
The R&D branch of Silicon Sentier makes use of different testing methods selected according to the needs of…
Silicon Sentier works with R&D projects looking to integrate a collective dimension of creativity and innovation and uses La Cantine as an interface with the growing community of developers and potential users.
The R&D branch of Silicon Sentier makes use of different testing methods selected according to the needs of each project: sociological, ethnographic and semiotic studies and techniques, qualitative and quantitative marketing, design and ergonomics, and beta-testing / prototyping.
Applications involve the whole chain of the innovation process : from the conception and analysis of potential usages (monitoring, forecasting, storytelling), to beta-testing and prototyping.
Needs
Beyond the specific needs of the project or service, the needs of start-ups – with respect to product experimentation and user involvement – vary according to their technological and entrepreneurial maturity.
1
For projects in the conception stage, the main need is to assess project innovativeness with the help of a panel of experts. Projects must then profile potential users to better understand which services they will need.
2
For projects who have already targeted a specific market, the main need is to mobilize beta-testers (who match a specific profile) and present to them the service. The goals of this step are to: analyse user feedback and gain greater visibility among potential users and clients.
3
For projects who already have a prototype or would like to develop a new version of an existing product, the main need is to test their product’s “User Experience.” This allows project managers to get feedback and consequently decide which functional and design changes to implement in future versions of the service.
4
Finally, projects in the commercialization stage need to observe usage statistics in order to identify strong / weak points and aspects to improve.
To summarize, companies would like to get from beta-testers:
- Ideas regarding product conception (What do we need to do to satisfy the public’s needs?)
- Advice regarding improvement and implementation (How can we make this product better?)
- Information regarding user usages (How do users use the service? Is the service simple and intuitive?)
What solutions does Silicon Sentier bring to the table?
In order to respond to these needs, we have built an experimentation platform composed of:
- A database of users wishing to participate as beta-testers
- A portfolio of testing methods and tools that drive experimentation
The aforementioned experimentation activities are driven by our know-how in project management and our team of 3 individuals with expertise in cognitive psychology and sociology.
Before the experimentation stage, we help companies identify and profile potential users, create test scenarios for their service, and identify hypotheses / questions that they wish to answer.
During the experimentation stage, we define test protocols and identify intuitive methods in order to respond to the needs and questions of each project.
Experimentations can take different forms:
- Remote tests with user panels (experts and novices) who offer feedback via online questionnaires.
- User experience workshops during which users (experts and novices) gather to test the service and give recommendations. These users are observed as they test the service, allowing project managers to see how their service is being used and what difficulties users may encounter.
- Field tests during which users test the service on their own time and fill out questionnaires / participate in interviews in order to share their feedback.
After the experimentation stage, we analyze the results with project managers and we help them improve their product or conduct further testing.
What is the originality of Silicon Sentier’s approach?
The originality of Silicon Sentier’s approach is combing diverse testing methods and tools in order to evaluate innovative technological services. Silicon Sentier aims to:
- Anticipate usage issues and mitgate risks associated with commercialization.
- Test “innovativeness” and relevance
- Identify and resolve ergonomic questions
- Prefigure the implementation of innovative services based on identified uses.
Among the methods and disciplines used are : Method Living Lab Ergonomics Sociology, Marketing, Study uses, formats Events
Silicon Sentier relies upon a wide range of qualified contacts (15,000) and project managers with products to test (over 160). Unlike other beta-testing platforms, Silicon Sentier’s user database comprises qualified and diverse users as well as business professionals (start-ups, small-businesses) who can evaluate the service both as “users” and “clients.”
With La Cantine, Silicon Sentier has the unique ability to mobilize the growing community of users interested in technological innovation.
This community is already familiar with such participative event formats (i.e. BarCamps), which makes it easier to involve them in the testing process.
Challenges
- Innovating methods and tools of beta-testing
- Online / Offline / Living Lab / Workshops / Brainstorming / Prototyping / Long-term studies / User observation / User experience
- Offering services tailored for businesses, adapting to audience, maturity, economic model, and capacity to implement the results of such experimentation.
- Helping project managers integrate users in the conception stage, evaluate return-on-investment, survey users after experimentation, and increase public awareness about innovative testing methods.
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