Pilot projects prevent unchecked innovation

Pilot projects are incredibly helpful when it comes to lowering the risk of implementing new tools and tech. Let’s take a closer look at what a pilot project is, plus how and why you should run one.

What is a pilot project?

Pilot projects are small-scale tests involving a new tool, innovation, or concept. This could be a brand-new and cutting-edge feature, or it could just be a new way of doing things for your organization.

The point of a pilot project is to test the innovation you’re introducing in a less critical context before rolling it on a larger scale. This means you can rethink it or give it the thumbs-down without wasting too much time, money, or resources. It also means that if the pilot is given the go-ahead, the wider team or organization can better prepare for big changes. The point of a pilot project is to prove viability rather than to deliver a specific goal.

What are the benefits of running a pilot project?

Pilot projects are a low-risk way to test something out. Here are some of the advantages:

Work out whether a concept, product, or innovation is sound.

Confirm viability and scalability.

Enable small-scale testing before rolling out across the wider team or organization.

Amend or reject a concept, product, or innovation early on without involving the entire organization.

Create a budget that will enable the project team to confirm that the idea is sound.

Test the benefits and set a more reliable budget. This makes it easier to get buy-in from managers and stakeholders.

What’s the difference between a pilot project and a trial?

Pilot projects test whether or not a process or product will work well in a given environment. It’s considered a feasibility study, where appropriateness is figured out before the new product or process is implemented into the existing operations.

A trial, on the other hand, is a small implementation before you roll out the pilot project on a large scale. It comes with all the same benefits as a pilot project, but with more detail — often including the team’s ability to test out more functionalities and see the effects on a larger scale.

The goal of a trial implementation is to test the project and to gather insights from the results and the lessons you’ve learned. This improves the quality of the full-scale rollout.