What Went Wrong...
Examining the missteps of various software products across industries reveals common pitfalls that can derail even the most promising innovations. From inadequate market research and poor user experience design to insufficient testing and failure to adapt to technological advancements, these challenges underscore the importance of thorough planning and execution. The following section outlines specific cases, offering insights into how these factors contributed to their downfall and the lessons that can be gleaned to inform future endeavors.
Available Lessons:
200
AI Claims Bot (Early Version)
InsurTech
Lemonade
Lemonade’s AI claims bot faced backlash after denying claims without sufficient explanation, leading to mistrust among users.
WHAT WENT WRONG
Poor transparency in claim denial processes
Lack of human oversight for complex claims
SIGNALS MISSED
Customer complaints about unexplained claim rejections
Negative press highlighting mistrust in automated decisions
HOW COULD THEY HAVE AVOIDED THIS
Incorporating human review for flagged claims
Enhancing transparency in how AI decisions are made
TEAMS INVOLVED
Product, AI, Engineering, Customer Success
Carbon Tracker Emissions Monitoring Tool
CleanTech
Carbon Tracker
A tool designed to monitor corporate carbon emissions failed due to inaccurate reporting and limited automation for data collection.
WHAT WENT WRONG
Inaccurate calculations of emissions across industries
Manual data entry requirements increasing user burden
SIGNALS MISSED
User complaints about reporting inaccuracies
Low adoption rates due to high data entry requirements
HOW COULD THEY HAVE AVOIDED THIS
Automating data collection through APIs and sensors
Improving calculation algorithms with diverse industry datasets
TEAMS INVOLVED
Product, Data, QA, Customer Success
Schneider Electric EV Charging Management Tool
CleanTech
Schneider Electric
A software tool for managing EV charging stations failed to gain traction due to poor user interface and limited reporting capabilities.
WHAT WENT WRONG
Clunky interface for station operators
Limited analytics tools for usage and maintenance data
SIGNALS MISSED
Operator complaints about lack of actionable insights
Low adoption rates during initial deployments
HOW COULD THEY HAVE AVOIDED THIS
Conducting usability testing with EV station operators
Expanding reporting tools to include actionable insights
TEAMS INVOLVED
Product, Engineering, QA, Customer Success
Vestas Wind Performance Analytics
CleanTech
Vestas
An analytics tool for wind turbine performance failed due to poor integration with SCADA systems and inaccurate energy output predictions.
WHAT WENT WRONG
Weak compatibility with existing SCADA systems
Inaccurate energy output calculations under variable conditions
SIGNALS MISSED
Operator complaints about mismatched data outputs
Reports of integration challenges with older turbines
HOW COULD THEY HAVE AVOIDED THIS
Partnering with SCADA vendors for smoother integration
Enhancing predictive models with real-world wind data
TEAMS INVOLVED
Product, Engineering, QA, Data
First Solar Predictive Maintenance Platform
CleanTech
First Solar
A predictive maintenance tool for solar farms failed to deliver actionable insights due to poor data integration and limited predictive accuracy.
WHAT WENT WRONG
Weak AI models for failure prediction
Poor integration with monitoring hardware
SIGNALS MISSED
Rising reports of undetected equipment failures
Feedback highlighting integration challenges
HOW COULD THEY HAVE AVOIDED THIS
Enhancing AI models with real-world failure data
Testing hardware-software compatibility before rollout
TEAMS INVOLVED
Product, AI, Engineering, QA
Enel X Energy Marketplace
CleanTech
Enel X
A platform designed to allow businesses to buy renewable energy credits failed due to lack of transparency and poor user engagement.
WHAT WENT WRONG
Limited educational resources for businesses unfamiliar with RECs
Poor communication about transaction transparency
SIGNALS MISSED
Feedback from users citing confusion about REC pricing
Low transaction volumes after launch
HOW COULD THEY HAVE AVOIDED THIS
Adding educational resources about RECs for businesses
Ensuring clear pricing and transaction tracking
TEAMS INVOLVED
Product, Marketing, Operations, Customer Success