Want to get your team and industry colleagues on the platform? Share this tutorial on how to sign up, or show them the video version here. Together, you can identify and share challenges to discuss, find inspiration for the next grid investment project, and so much more through The Hangar's simple, interactive format. In the next upgrade of the platform, you'll be able to collaborate on boards, creating your own internal ecosystem of idea development.
Step by Step - Web version
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From the homepage of The Hangar, press 'Sign Up', which will trigger a new account.
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Fill in your details.
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Complete the reCaptcha - a safety feature to ensure the account is not a bot.
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Tick the box confirming your agreement with the InnovationWorks Terms and Conditions. Use the link provided to read the terms.\
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You'll be logged right into the system. You will see a pop up asking you to verify your email. This does not need to be done right away, but will have to be completed to continue using the platform.
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To edit profile, access it from the main screen.
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Here you'll be able to add more information, like company name, title, bio and wether you represent a solution provider or utility. In a later version of the platform, this will be visible to other users.
Looking forward to seeing you and your team on the platform - happy innovating, and happy collaborating! Feel free to contact us at info@InnovationForce.io with your questions, we are here to help.
As the Hangar continues to grow, utilizing filter and search functions will allow you to target your exploration and ecosystem engagement. You can always scroll through Test Flights on the home page, but using these tools will help you find exactly what you need, when you need it. Pair the filter and search functions with your personal Test Flight Boards, as shown in last week's tip, and you have a personal database of innovation cases!
Step by Step Web Guide
To use filters and search, follow these steps:
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Log in. If you press 'The Hangar' logo, you navigate to the Home Screen. Alternatively, you can do the next step from your profile page.
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Click the 'Filter' button to be presented with all categories available. Under each main category, you can find sub-categories. Choose your main and/or sub-categories, then press 'Submit.' You will be presented with Test Flights only under chosen categories.
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If you want to return to a home page with no filters, simply navigate to the filter overview, and untick all filters. Then press 'Submit.'
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To use the search function, click on the search bar, and type in the keyword or keywords you are looking for. Test Flights which contains the word in any part of the Pin, will appear. This way, you can target your search narrowly.
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To navigate back to an unfiltered home page, press the 'X' in the search bar input field, and press 'Search.'
Want to see a video version of this process? Have a look here, shown from the screen of a phone.
Enjoy exploring and happy innovating! Feel free to contact us at info@InnovationForce.io with your questions, we are here to help.
Have a look at this video to organize and categorize Test Flights (challenges with solutions) while exploring The Hangar! Creating a "Board" will give you the ability to sort Test Flights by topics of interest and 'Pin' Test Flights into these Boards for later use.
Step by Step Web Guide
To create a Board, follow these steps:
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Log in, and choose 'Saved Test Flight.'
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Press 'Create Board.'
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Write your chosen name for the Board, and press 'Save.' We suggest creating a name that represents the category grouping for your Test Flight such as: "Transmission", "EV", "Nuclear", or even by departments like, "Grid Mod", or "HR". Perhaps you might like to save ideas to Boards by customer name (for example Solution Providers that have multiple utility customers). It's really up to you, so let the fun begin!
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Click on the InnovationWorks logo on the top left to navigate to the front page.
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Choose and press on a Test Flight to explore.
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To save the Test Flight, press 'Save Test Flight.'
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Choose the board you wish to save it to, and press 'Save changes.'
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Press 'Back To Test Flight Previous Page' to return to the home page.
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To find your saved test flight, press your profile icon, go to 'My Profile,' and choose 'Saved Test Flights.' You can now find the saved Test Flights under the board you saved it to.
Want to see a video version of this process? Have a look here, shown from the screen of a phone.
Enjoy exploring and happy innovating! Feel free to contact us at info@InnovationForce.io with your questions! We are here to help.
Want to access The Hangar as easily as your other go-to apps? You can save the website as an app icon on your phone, allowing you direct access, skipping web browsers and search functions.
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To save The Hangar on your Home Screen follow these steps (iOS):
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Log in on your mobile device. In this case, we are looking at iPhones/iOS.
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Click the 'Share' button to be presented with all categories available.
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Choose 'Add to Home Screen'
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Write in your preferred app name. We recommend changing it to 'The Hangar'.
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Once you have changed the name, press 'Add,' to add to Home Screen.
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Now you have 'The Hangar' on your Home Screen, ready for your use!
Now that you have The Hangar so accessible, you can easily connect with the industry consistently. Happy innovating!
Feel free to contact us at info@InnovationForce.io with your questions, we are here to help.
When looking through the many Test Flights in The Hangar, you will occasionally see the blue badge with the InnovationForce logo at the bottom of the photo. This badge means that there is a project planned, budgeted and/or active at a utility to solve the challenge featured within the Test Flight. Within the Test Flight itself, you'll see the source from which the Test Flight has been created. This doesn't mean this is the ONLY project in the industry, simply the one that earned the Test Flight its verification badge. Here, you can see an example of a Test Flight from the DOE GRIP projects.
The goal of the verification badge is to give you insight into which organizations are looking for what type of solutions. If you are interested in a specific utility or source, you can create a source specific board, and save the Test Flights of interest onto the board.
The Hangar operates as a dynamic marketplace where energy utilities and solution providers converge to accelerate innovation. Utilities post challenges they face, termed 'Test Flights,' outlining the specifications and goals they aim to achieve. Solution providers, bringing a wealth of innovative ideas and technologies, browse these Test Flights to find challenges they are equipped to address.
By creating a profile on The Hangar, users can either submit their own Test Flights or navigate through existing ones to offer solutions. The platform encourages collaboration and knowledge-sharing, with the ultimate goal of fostering a community that drives progress in the energy industry through collective effort and ingenious solutions.
Here's our tips on how to get the most out of The Hangar:
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Complete Your Profile: A thorough profile helps others understand your expertise or needs. For solution providers, highlight your innovative capabilities; for utilities, outline your strategic objectives.
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Engage with Test Flights: If you’re a utility, post your challenges clearly and concisely. Solution providers should actively search for Test Flights that align with their expertise.
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Connect and Collaborate: Use The Hangar’s networking features to connect with other members. Participate in discussions, offer insights, and build relationships.
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Stay Informed: Regularly check for updates, new Test Flights, and feedback on your postings.
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Be Proactive: If you’re a provider, present your solutions to relevant challenges.
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By actively participating, maintaining an up-to-date profile, and engaging with the community, you can unlock the full potential of The Hangar.
Our platform is home to a diverse array of members, including U.S. utilities and collaborative organizations committed to driving innovation in the energy sector. We also host a wide variety of solution providers specializing in various technological and hardware domains, hailing from different corners of the globe.
Recently, we've observed a surge in engagement from European utilities, further expanding the breadth and depth of expertise and opportunities available on The Hangar.
In The Hangar, utilities articulate their distinct challenges, posting them as Test Flights for solution providers worldwide to discover. These solution providers, armed with innovative technologies and solutions, submit their proposals in response to these challenges. When a match is identified
– where a solution aligns perfectly with a utility's needs – The Hangar facilitates a connection between the two parties.
In instances where the timing isn't quite right, the solution providers' proposals remain active in our pool, ready to be connected when a utility is prepared to proceed. This process ensures that every innovative idea finds its place, and every utility challenge meets its solution, fostering a dynamic and proactive ecosystem of problem-solving and collaboration.
The Hangar operates on a commitment to foster innovation and collaboration in the energy sector without any cost barriers. Our platform is completely free, allowing utilities to post challenges and solution providers to submit their proposals without any fees.
This approach is designed to encourage a wide range of participation and facilitate the free flow of ideas and solutions, making it an accessible and valuable resource for all parties involved in driving forward the energy industry.
In the upcoming Version 2 of The Hangar, users can anticipate a suite of exciting new features designed to amplify collaboration and innovation:
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Enhanced Matchmaking: We're elevating our platform's core functionality with a more sophisticated matchmaking system. This upgrade will ensure a more precise and efficient connection between utilities' challenges and solution providers' proposals, streamlining the process of finding the right matches.
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Social Media-Style Homepage: The new version will introduce a dynamic, social media-style homepage showcasing trending solutions. This feature aims to keep users engaged with the latest and most popular innovations, fostering a vibrant community of shared interests and discovery.
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Board Collaboration Features: To further facilitate collaborative efforts, we're integrating board collaboration features. These tools will allow teams to work together more effectively, share ideas, track progress, and manage projects within a more interactive and user-friendly environment.
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We're committed to making The Hangar an even more powerful tool for the energy industry, and we welcome your feedback to help shape these enhancements. Your input is invaluable as we strive to create the best possible platform for driving innovation and collaboration.
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​InnovationWorks Hangar: A digital platform for utilities to post challenges and solution providers to submit solutions.
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InnovationWorks™: AI-enabled SaaS platform developed by InnovationForce to measure and accelerate the innovation process.
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InnovationForce: The company behind InnovationWorks, focusing on simplifying the innovation process through repeatable processes managed through a SaaS platform.
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Pilots: Small-scale implementation projects to test the viability of solutions.
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Boards: Digital spaces within The Hangar for organizing and collaborating on projects.
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In Flight: Describes projects or initiatives that are actively being developed or implemented.