How Vivisol focuses on innovation as a driving force for growth

Vivisol is an international company specialized in medical-technical services, especially in the field of respiratory care, (oxygen therapy and treatment of obstructive sleep apnea), wound care and artificial feeding.

For Jean-Paul Maeyaert , Managing Director of Vivisol Belgium, innovation is of great strategic importance. The market and clients' needs are changing at an ever faster pace. That is why a well-functioning innovation team is indispensable to secure your competitive position in the longer term.

From idea to product

"People are the basis of companies," says Jean Paul. "This is even more true for service companies. Because good technology is an important foundation, but it's your staff who are responsible for technical maintenance, interventions and good communication with the patient, the doctor and the hospital".

Innovation also stands or falls with the employees. Companies don't innovate, people do. Enough creative ideas need to emerge and be developed into profitable activities. Because that's where innovation differs from creativity: beautiful ideas are not enough, they have to lead to added value.

More than the sum of the parts

So the question is: how do you put together an ideal innovation team? Who are the ideal people to place in that team? What background should they have? What experience? And above all: how do their innovation skills complement each other so that the team becomes more than the sum of the individuals?

Everything is timing

Asked about the biggest challenges for innovation, Jean-Paul replies: "As far as I am concerned, this has continued to meet the changing needs of the market. Timing is very important here: if you're too early, you can't connect with the customer, if you're too late, everything is a waste of effort, time and money".

Of course, timing is not just about estimating the future. We are all busy with urgent operational challenges that often postpone innovation or do not give it the necessary focus. Many creative ideas run aground on dead ends like "I'm too busy at the moment".

Market leader

Vivisol is currently market leader in Belgium. But Jean-Paul does not want to rest on his laurels: "As managing director, I am very proud of the expertise and experience within my team. But I also realise that I have to give them room and opportunities to innovate. Innovation is crucial for me in order to maintain and further develop our lead in the Belgian market. As I already said, it's people who innovate, not companies. Innovation is so important for the future that I definitely want to get the strongest innovation talents together within Vivisol Belgium. What I was looking for was a way to determine this in such an objective way".

INNDUCE.me: measuring innovation objectively and respectfully

In order to continue to grow in innovation and gain market share, Vivisol joined forces with INNDUCE.me. Jean-Paul was very satisfied with the depth, independence and integrity of the test. He appreciates that the INNDUCE.me assessment is done in a respectful way, which does not "devaluate" anyone but "evaluates" on one important skill: innovation.

"As far as I know, INNDUCE.me is the only objective and scientifically based assessment that identifies the innovation skills of employees. Based on the Situational Judgement Test you will find out what type of innovator you are: ideator, champion or implementer. Based on this, you can build teams without prejudice that will take the innovation in your company to a much higher level and put it on the market quickly. You will also receive a clear report with recommendations to further develop these skills".

Why use INNDUCE.me?

After the first successful tests, Vivisol Belgium will soon proceed structurally with the innovation assessments. What are the main advantages of using INNDUCE.me according to Jean-Paul Maeyaert?

• Efficiency: gain insight into your innovation skills in a short period of time
• Objectivity: no self-assessment, but evidence-based assessment
• Practical: immediately applicable in existing or new innovation teams
• Discovery of innovation talent
• Respectful: an assessment, not a conviction
• ROI: small effort, big return

Vivisol did the assessment for part of their Belgian team. During the next step they’ll work on an innovation team in which each member gets his responsibilities. With this team they’ll get to work and provide time and space for innovation on a weekly basis.

But it doesn't stop there, Jean-Paul is convinced that every employee can contribute to innovation in Vivisol. "In the future, we will systematically let people take the test, so that both the company and the employee discover what their skills are.