Rapid Technology Search: Global Delivery Innovation Sought

NineSigma’s client, Santa Claus, a leading global expert in both manufacturing and delivery technologies, seeks innovative new technologies that can assist with the rapid, on-time delivery of packages on a global scale.

NineSigma’s client is a world-renowned manufacturer, having been in business since the 1800s. Each year, millions of toys, gadgets, and stuff are produced to exacting standards by a dedicated team of specialized manufacturing professionals. Production operations continue around the clock and virtually every day of the year in order to meet intense global demand.

In parallel with the more well-known business of toy manufacturing, the client also maintains an additional core competency: global delivery. Instead of relying on third party delivery companies, Santa Claus delivers its own products to consumers via a bespoke delivery vehicle and propulsion system. Historically, this system has been adequate to reach the client’s millions of global customers. However, as the delivery team and vehicle have remained largely unchanged since their inception, the client is interested in connecting with outside experts and companies with innovative new technologies. The goal is to implement cutting edge, next-generation technology to improve the overall speed, efficiency and accuracy of the delivery process.

Potential areas of interest include (but are not limited to):

• New packaging materials
• New packaging shapes
• Innovative tracking technology
• Next generation packaging handling systems
• Adaptation of drones to package delivery
• Mechanisms that improve upon the current system but are not harmful to animals

Anticipated Project Phases or Project Plan

Phase 1 – Submission

• All responses to be received by Friday December 14, 2018
• No late submissions will be accepted

 Phase 2 – Selection of Winner

• To be notified on Wednesday December 19, 2018

Criteria for Moving from Phase 1 to Phase 2

In order to be considered as a valid entry, submitter must have a complete NineSights profile as well as a creative response. Humorous responses also in the spirit of the holiday are encouraged. Responses will be judged based on creativity, individuality, and inventiveness. All submissions will be judged by NineSigma staff. All decisions are final.

A complete profile includes:

• Name
• Email Address
• Phone Number
• Areas of Expertise (found in the Profile section titled ‘More About Me’)

Responses from individuals with incomplete profiles will be disqualified from the project.

This project is open to all interested individuals over the age of 18, except current NineSigma employees.

The selected respondent will be notified by email on December 19th, 2018, and the $100 Amazon eGift Card link will be provided upon acknowledgment of receipt. Respondent must acknowledge notification email no later than 3 pm Eastern on Friday December 21, 2018 or the prize will be sent to a runner-up respondent.

The successful technology will address as many of these performance goals as possible:

• Facilitate the delivery of packages:
  • Rapidly
    • Must achieve 98% (or better) on-time delivery
  • Accurately
    • Better than 95% accuracy of correct package to intended recipient
  • Precisely
    • Packages positioned to within ± 1.0 m³ of intended location, as small gifts may be concealed within tall, decorated seasonal plants, both live and artificial, in addition to being placed under them
  • Safely
    • Damaged packages must account for no more than 0.5% of total delivery volume
• Allow for global deployment
• Robust operation
  • Year-round performance
  • Minimal downtime permitted
    • Built-in back-up system highly advantageous
• Allow for near real-time tracking of individual packages on a global scale
  • Minimal system lag time crucial
• Ease of use:
  • Primary client contact is a senior citizen
  • Secondary client contacts are noted to have diminutive hands

Possible approaches might include, but are not limited to:

• Drones
• New packaging materials
• New packaging shapes
• Novel tracking methods
  • Dot Technology
    • Nano
    • Pico
    • Femto
  • 4D bar code technology
  • Bio-based RFID tags
• Matter disintegration/reintegration systems
  • Must be compatible with organic tissue
• Fully autonomous orbital warehouse platforms
• Novel propulsion technologies

The following approaches are not of interest:

• Additional delivery vehicles
• Additional work teams

Your response should address the following:

• Non-confidential description of proposed technology and working principle
• Availability of technical data including:
  • Overall effectiveness of proposed technology:
    • Speed
    • Efficiency
    • Accuracy
    • Safety
• Technical maturity of the approach (concept, reduced to practice, prototype, ready to commercialize, ready to implement, commercialized)
• Pathway to commercial scale including timing, estimated budget, and capacity for manufacture
• Estimated unit cost of technology
• Position on intellectual property including patent references
• Desired relationship with sponsor
• Team description and related experience

Appropriate responses to this Request

Responses from companies (small to large), consultants, entrepreneurs, or inventors are welcome.  For example:

You represent an advocate of elf labor rights.

You represent an artificial reindeer engineer.

You represent a fully autonomous and non-weaponizable drone manufacturer.

You represent a jolly happy snowman.

You represent the Ghosts of Christmas Past, Present, or Future.

Your name is Wiseman.

You are literally The Spirit of Christmas.