Case Studies

X5 Retail Group

Scouting for Chinese retail innovations

XNode worked with X5 Retail Group’s Innovation Department to scout 100 top-notch Chinese startups. The aim was to co-develop innovation solutions to automate and robotize retail processes, as well as the testing of new technologies, products, and services.

The 5 main areas of scouting were:

Solutions to streamline in-store operations
Personalization tools to enrich user experience
Solutions to optimize supply chain processes
ADAS and DMS for transportation efficiency and safety
AGVs to drive warehouse automations

100+ startups delivered

In December 2019, a total of 100+ startups were scouted with 20+ brief reports delivered.

Among the shortlisted 20+ startups, successful pilots are already underway in the scenarios of ADAS, biogas and AGV.

Pilots have the potential to roll out across X5 Retail Group’s various formats that cover 14,400 stores and comprise the brands: Pyaterochka, Perekrestok, and Karusel.

Osram 2019 X-pioneer

Building the OSRAM Engine of Innovation

XNode worked with OSRAM China BUs to scope and identify business opportunities. Together, 5 innovative ideas with clear pain points and opportunities were defined.

The goal of the X-Pioneer acceleration was to rapidly generate business impact for OSRAM. It also aims to leverage the speed and agility of startups in combination with the existing client network and resources of OSRAM to experiment with new business models.

The innovation journey started with ideation

XNode organized an ideation workshop with multiple BU teams to identify business challenges and opportunities for OSRAM.

At the end of the ideation session, outputs were:

High potential technologies and innovations for implementation
Relevant business challenges and opportunities
Preliminary project roadmap for acceleration

Demo Day

On May 27th 2020, X-Pioneer demo day was held in Shanghai with over 40 participants from different business units including smart lighting, automotive, and smart city.

Ericsson ONE Innovation Bootcamp

The big picture goal: become the toolbox for pioneers

Our mission is to create game-changers by unlocking intrapreneurs and innovators, shaping the future together.

How? By effective fostering an ecosystem of intrapreneurship

By enabling intrapreneurs to test and validate their ideas (market, product, operational) through the stages of rapid prototype, Incubation-MVP (minimum viable product) to Incubation-Industrilization ahead of moving into Ignition (acceleration).

Initial framework: 1)Ideation 2)Dragon's Den

To build a strong pipeline of projects through a careful and structured selection
From ideas to prototype: To apply the right methods and tools for these projects, in an accelerated manner, enabling them to reach a market-ready stage

This proposal outlines a full support structure to incubate and accelerate the Ericsson internal teams over a 2 months period. With our support, we aim to accelerate the proposition from idea to prototype, build a comprehensive business and investment case and validate the concept in the market to generate customer traction.

Legrand Wake Up Call

01 | Objectives

Find new paths to faster growth with the integration of recent acquisitions and the optimization of operations
Build a plan that will be launched after Chinese New Year 2021 by 25-30 people from different departments and locations within several days
Explore industries including elderly care, IoT, and services for data centers

02 | Our Solution: Four days Wakeup Call

A mixture of ideation workshops, guest speakers, visits, and sharing session based in Shanghai

27 people from different locations and departments into 6 groups

Nurture ideas -> prioritize opportunities -> develop new business models

03 | Ideas Generated

A personalized, automated and intelligent home platform that focuses on elderly people
Launch a smart management platform to link software and hardware
Full lifecycle facility management for renewal properties
Providing more professional services other than just hardware products
Rental Services for intelligent home equipment
Enhance the ability of data search and analysis that are related to smart devices

L'Oréal Learning Expedition

12 executive managers

L'Oréal China R&I (Research and Innovation)

3-day learning expedition in Shenzhen & Guangzhou

Goals

An inspirational starting point to trigger the L'Oréal management team as industry leaders. How we can create a customer experience or lead new lifestyle / lifestyle shifts through L'Oréal products. Look for forward-thinking, innovative approaches, and fun experiences.

Participants

Management team from L'Oréal China R&I covering all product lines, HR, finance and communication.

Outcome

Getting opened to more external innovation and startup connection
3 internal initiatives to be carried out regarding new technology adoption and talent development

Kering Innovation Workshop

50+ brand managers

Kering China and APAC

2-day innovation workshop in Shanghai (powered by Fabernovel and XNode)

Goals

To gather in-depth knowledge on pre-determined topics relevant to Kering group’s strategy and get inspired by best innovation practices in different fields and industries

Participants

Various brand managers from China and the APAC region, as well as innovation team from the group

Outcome

Identified trends and inspirations not only limited to luxury industry
Potential business challenges and opportunity identified with a follow-up by adopting new ideas for innovation within respective major brands of Kering
An ideation workshop in Hong Kong for 200+ Gucci store managers

Foxconn Wake Up Call

50+ innovators

Foxconn D Group

3-day wake up call in Shenzhen

Goals

To get inspired by the innovation ecosystem, find ways to drive new business revenues for Foxconn, and identify talents for the new innovation projects.

Participants

Head of D Group, senior managers, and junior team members from Shenzhen, Wuhan, Taiwan, and USA

Outcome

25 people joined a follow up internal accelerator program run by XNode resulting in the subsequent creation of 2 spin-outs by Foxconn

Sodexo outside-in program

Project Objectives

Scout and asses top-notch Chinese startups to get access to state-of-the-art technology with potential for immediate business impact
Accelerate the business proposition of each startup by guiding the development of a Proof of Concept and producing a comprehensive business case. To allow Sodexo to make an informed decision on potential investment in selected startups
Promote Sodexo as a startup friendly brand and provide a major impulse to the internal culture of innovation

XNode Solution

Startup scouting & assessment
The startup launchpad
The innovation outpost
The open innovation day

Investment Result

On Nov 8, 2018, AEYE-GO received a capital investment from Sodexo Ventures as a direct result of the LaunchPad Program

“We are extremely excited to announce the first investment from Sodexo Ventures in China into AEYE-GO. We have always believed that combining the flexibility and creativity of local innovative startups with the fundamental know-how of Sodexo's will enable us to jointly build an ecosystem of digital and innovative services in China. We look forward to working with bigger, better and more powerful Chinese startups in the future to bring much higher value-added solutions and smarter experiences to our customers and consumers.”

Belen Moscoso Del Prado Lopez-Dóriga

Chief Digital and Innovation Officer, Sodexo

GAC-SOFINCO Scouting & Demo Day Program

The Project

Co-defining topics, requirements and criteria for evaluating startups
Scouting and assessing startups based on the requirements
Interviewing and shortlisting of potential startups based on the evaluation criteria
Organizing pitching workshops for startups in preparation for the Demo Day
Assist in creating marketing collaterals and supporting Demo Day preparations

Pitching Workshop

XNode organized 1-1 pitching workshop with the startups to refine their pitches and decks in preparation for the final demo day.

Demo Day

On November 8th 2019, GAC-SOFINCO’s demo day was held in Guangzhou with over 30 participants from different business units, and China CEO was one of the judges together with other BU heads. XNode was also invited to give a sharing about corporate innovation.

Final Pitch & Demo Day: 3 startups, 1 winner

Innovation Consultancy

Market Analysis & Growth Strategy Research Reports

Analysis Examples

Innovation Strategy: Transformation & Implementation

Result Examples

Let's talk about your innovation goals

Case Studies

X5 Retail Group

Osram 2019 X-pioneer

Ericsson ONE Innovation Bootcamp

Legrand Wake Up Call

L'Oréal Learning Expedition

Kering Innovation Workshop

Foxconn Wake Up Call

Sodexo outside-in program

GAC-SOFINCO Scouting & Demo Day Program

Innovation Consultancy

Market Analysis & Growth Strategy Research Reports

Analysis Examples

Innovation Strategy: Transformation & Implementation

Result Examples

Let's talk about your innovation goals

Case Studies

X5 Retail Group

Osram 2019 X-pioneer

Ericsson ONE ​ Innovation Bootcamp​

Legrand Wake Up Call

L'Oréal Learning Expedition

Kering Innovation Workshop

Foxconn Wake Up Call

Sodexo outside-in program

GAC-SOFINCO Scouting & Demo Day Program

Ericsson ONE Innovation Bootcamp