Scouting New Technology for Theme Parks
SUMMARY
Our client’s advanced technology team was struggling to keep up with the latest machine learning/AI opportunities for their theme parks.
Hop was able to act as a research “scout”, reporting back from conferences in the industry.
Targeting the right opportunities required us to first gain a deep understanding of our client’s priorities.
That understanding, paired with our technological expertise, allowed us to hone in on a dozen high-potential technologies (out of hundreds) for consideration.
THE COMPANY
Our client stands as a trailblazer in the entertainment industry, redefining the theme park experience through its innovative and extensive use of technology. From cutting-edge rides that seamlessly blend virtual reality with physical sets to mobile apps that offer visitors personalized itineraries and virtual queuing, our client's commitment to leveraging technology is at the core of its mission.
THE CHALLENGE
Our client’s advanced technology team, responsible for bringing cutting-edge technology to the guest experience at their theme parks, found itself struggling to keep up with the pace of innovation – there was far more going on in the machine learning space than they had bandwidth for.
Additionally, they were also challenged with creating proofs of concept that would be compelling enough to win the internal support needed to actually bring those ideas to life in the theme parks. In a world of rapid technological advancements, how could they identify the most innovative possibilities out there? And how would they decipher which of those aligned best with the company’s business goals?
THE APPROACH
Hop was glad to assist in this strategic endeavor. We’re folks who are endlessly curious about not only the latest new ML technology, but how it can be applied in the real world, for real business impact. We acted as a research scout for our client, reporting back from conferences in the industry with a focus on their strategic goals and priorities.
As new members of the team without historical context, we needed to find ways to gain a quick and deep understanding of what to look for on behalf of our client at these conferences. As with all projects, our team worked backward – we conducted multiple discussions before the conferences with key stakeholders to gain as clear a picture as possible of the ultimate guest experiences they were trying to create, as well as of current business priorities and constraints. Those insights paired with our expertise in both technology and strategy narrowed the focus, such that we were able to identify a dozen exciting opportunities for our client in a sea of hundreds of possibilities.
THE RESULTS
Our work resulted in a research brief summarizing the particularly interesting innovations from the conferences we’d attended, demonstrating to our client how they might be deployed for their purposes. We reviewed this with the technology team, discussing our findings in depth and helping them to prioritize their next steps toward further consideration and potential projects.
Are you looking for an advisor fluent in both technology and business strategy? Contact us to learn how Hop can help.