Innovation often stems from resolving contradictions—situations where improving one aspect of a system inadvertently worsens another. In manufacturing and digital services, such contradictions are prevalent, necessitating structured problem-solving methodologies. The Theory of Inventive Problem Solving (TRIZ) offers a systematic approach to address these challenges, facilitating breakthrough innovations across various industries.

Understanding TRIZ: A Structured Approach to Innovation

Developed by Genrich Altshuller, TRIZ is rooted in the analysis of global patents to identify patterns in problem-solving. It provides a suite of tools and principles designed to resolve technical contradictions without trade-offs. By focusing on the ideal final result and leveraging available resources, TRIZ enables organizations to devise innovative solutions that enhance system performance.

Scaling TRIZ in Manufacturing and Digital Services

While TRIZ originated in engineering, its principles are equally applicable to digital services. By integrating TRIZ into organizational processes, companies can:

• Enhance Product Design: Resolve design contradictions to improve functionality without increasing complexity.
• Optimize Processes: Identify and eliminate inefficiencies in manufacturing and service delivery.
• Foster Cross-Functional Collaboration: Encourage teams to approach problems systematically, leading to cohesive and innovative solutions.

Case Study: Addressing Digital Payment Challenges with TRIZ

A notable application of TRIZ is in the digital payment sector, where a leading organization faced challenges in processing small-value transactions efficiently. Traditional methods required multiple interactions with banking servers, leading to increased load and potential delays.

Challenges Identified:

• High server load due to frequent small transactions.
• User inconvenience in processing minor payments.
• Operational inefficiencies and increased costs.

TRIZ-Based Solutions Implemented:

• Local Wallet Integration: By embedding a local wallet within the application, transactions below a certain threshold (e.g., INR 200) could be processed without server interaction, reducing load and improving speed.
• Dynamic Transaction Limits: Implementing flexible transaction limits allowed for better resource allocation and user convenience.
• Enhanced User Experience: Simplifying the payment process for small transactions increased user adoption and satisfaction.