- Free Version: Available for teams of up to 10
- Pricing: Premium plan $24/seat/month (with free 30-day trial period)
- Platforms supported: Available as a mobile app (iOS and Android) or a web-based software
Why Use SafetyCulture?
SafetyCulture is a great tool for innovation leaders looking to turn ideas into actionable projects and track their progress. The platform offers solid features for open innovation, which generates new ideas and brings innovative products or services to the market. This approach ensures that great ideas are created, developed, and completed, driving growth and efficiency in an organization.
Features:
- Collaborate with stakeholders to generate ideas, evaluate and prioritize them, and assign tasks for implementation using Heads Up.
- Connect your existing asset management system to manage and monitor your assets and maintenance programs seamlessly.
- Improve process efficiencies by creating automated workflow templates and setting up rules to streamline repetitive tasks.
- Collect feedback from customers, stakeholders, and employees and analyze them through the platform’s robust dashboard to gain valuable insights and identify new opportunities for innovation.
- Monitor project progress with real-time reports and analytics to understand the impact of your innovation initiatives.
Why Use Yambla?
Yambla is innovation management software that engages users and captures valuable insights to drive impactful organizational innovation. Its Idea Management feature provides a structured way to submit and develop ideas, fostering creativity and progress.
Features:
- Idea visibility & scoping
- Workflow automation
- Third-party integration
- Free Version: None
- Pricing: Custom pricing (with a 30-day free trial)
- Platforms supported: Available as a mobile app (iOS and Android) or a web-based software
Why Use Canny?
Canny is idea innovation management software that lets you gather user ideas and feedback. Administrators can filter their views to find new suggestions, trending ideas, or popular proposals. They can also add ideas to their roadmap and share release updates with the community.
Features:
- Feature request management
- Customer feedback
- Product management
- Free Version: Yes
- Pricing: Starts at $79/month, billed annually (with a free trial)
- Platforms supported: Available as a web-based software
Why Use IdeaScale?
IdeaScale is a web-based innovation management platform that helps users organize and develop their ideas. The software enables them to attach research data, estimate costs and value, and create proposals to bring your ideas to life.
Features:
- Ideas dashboard
- Idea portfolio
- API integration
- Free Version: No
- Pricing: Custom pricing
- Platforms supported: Available as a web-based software
Why Use Brightidea?
Brightidea offers a collaborative platform where users can share and comment on ideas. Additionally, they can view these comments based on teams, topics, and ideas displayed on an interactive map. Users can create microsites dedicated to specific issues or challenges, enhancing focused collaboration.
Features:
- Project planning
- Mind mapping
- Suggestion Box
- Free Version: None
- Pricing: Contact vendor for pricing
- Platforms supported: Available as a mobile app (iOS and Android) or a web-based software
Why Use Viima/HypeBoards?
Viima/HypeBoards enables users to represent their ideas visually. The platform assists in gathering ideas, prioritizing the most promising ones, and tracking the innovation process. Additionally, users can see in real-time which features are popular and organize them into different boards for better visibility.
Features:
- Activity dashboard
- Approval workflow
- Innovation management
- Free Version: No
- Pricing: Starts at $79/month (with a 14-day free trial)
- Platforms supported: Available as a mobile app (iOS and Android) or a web-based software
Why Use Qmarkets?
Qmarkets is an innovation management software offering multiple workspaces and customizable workflows. The platform enables users to create unique innovation challenges tailored to various teams or departments within the organization, allowing for applying specific methodologies for each challenge.
Features:
- Idea management
- Trend management
- Third-party integrations
- Free Version: None
- Pricing: Custom pricing
- Platforms supported: Available as a mobile app (iOS and Android) or a web-based software
Why Use Ideawake?
Ideawake is an innovation management platform that helps users encourage their teams to share ideas using gamification. The software lets users reward top participants with public recognition and cash or non-monetary prizes. It also offers real-time collaboration, mentions and notifications, and customizable submission forms.
Features:
- Feedback management
- Evaluation management
- Gamification
- Free Version: None
- Pricing: Starts at $500/month with support available starting at $100/month
- Platforms supported: Available as a web-based software
Why Use Wazoku?
Wazoku enables large organizations to scout for trends, ideas, solutions, startups, and expertise, driving business improvement and growth. The platform offers a structured approach to gathering, evaluating, prioritizing, and selecting top ideas from contributors.
Features:
- Idea campaigns
- Internal and external idea generation
- Suggestion box and surveys
- Free Version: None
- Pricing: Custom pricing
- Platforms supported: Available as a mobile app (iOS and Android) or a web-based software
Why Use InnovationCast?
InnovationCast is an innovation management software designed to help companies engage people in co-creating and implementing ideas. The platform includes gamification features for the idea-collection process, allowing you to create custom user badges with specific criteria to motivate and inspire users.
Features:
- Innovation analytics
- Scouting and foresight
- Idea assessment and selection
- Free Version: None
- Pricing: Starts at $2,499/month
- Platforms supported: Available as a web-based software
What is Innovation Management Software?
Innovation management software is a specialized tool or platform that helps businesses streamline and enhance their innovation processes. This software typically includes features such as idea generation, collaboration tools, project management, and analytics to track and measure the progress of innovation initiatives within an organization. By utilizing innovation management software, businesses can effectively manage their ideas, evaluate their feasibility, and ultimately drive successful innovation within their company.
Benefits
There are numerous benefits to using innovation management software, including:
- Centralized idea management – With all innovation activities and ideas stored in one platform, businesses can easily track and manage their innovation processes from start to finish.
- Improved collaboration – Innovation management software allows for better team communication and collaboration, leading to more effective brainstorming and idea generation.
- Increased efficiency – Innovation management software can help businesses save time and resources in their innovation efforts by streamlining processes and eliminating manual tasks.
- Enhanced visibility – With real-time data and analytics, businesses can gain insights into which ideas are most successful and make informed decisions on which areas to focus their innovation efforts.
- Faster time to market – By keeping all stakeholders involved and aligned through the software, businesses can accelerate their innovation processes and quickly market new products or services.
- Continuous improvement – Innovation management software allows businesses to continuously assess and improve their innovation strategies, leading to an ongoing cycle of successful innovation.
Key Features
When considering which innovation management software best fits your business, it’s important to look at key features supporting your organization’s specific needs. Some common features to consider include the following:
- Idea generation and management
- Collaboration tools
- Project management capabilities
- Data analytics and reporting
- Integrations
- Security and privacy
Choosing the Best Innovation Management Software
When choosing the best innovation management software for your business, consider your organization’s goals and needs. The table below compares the best innovation management software to help in decision-making. It details free versions, pricing, and mobile app accessibility.
| Innovation Management Software | Free Version | Paid Plan | Mobile App |
| SafetyCulture | Yes | $24/user/month* | Yes |
| Yambla | No | Custom pricing | Yes |
| Canny | Yes | $79/month* | No |
| IdeaScale | No | Custom pricing | No |
| Brightidea | No | Contact vendor for pricing | Yes |
| Viima (now HypeBoards) | No | $79/month | Yes |
| Qmarkets | No | Custom pricing | Yes |
| Ideawake | No | $500/month | No |
| Wazoku | No | Custom pricing | Yes |
| InnovationCast | No | $2,499/month | No |
* billed annually
Rob Paredes