Stage-Gate^® Ready Certification

Stage-Gate^® is the worlds’ most widely implemented process for driving new product ideas from inception through to launch. According to several independent sources¹, between 70-85% of North American companies and 100% of the world’s top global 1000 innovators rely on a disciplined Stage-Gate process to drive better performance results. It is the industry standard for new product excellence.

With the use of Stage-Gate steadily increasing so too has the demand for software automation solutions that support and enable Stage-Gate best practice processes.

Stage-Gate Ready Certification differentiates software automation solutions which have successfully passed a rigorous evaluation of some 200 innovation-related criteria. The ‘seal of approval’ assures potential buyers of product innovation software that the solution performs the functionality necessary to successfully implement Stage-Gate best practice processes such as: Idea Management, Idea-to-Launch Process and Portfolio Management.

“We selected a software application that was Stage-Gate^® Ready Certified. It was reassuring to us to know that the world’s thought leaders in Product Innovation Management, Stage-Gate International, rigorously evaluated the software application to confirm it could support our Stage-Gate best practices.”

- Andres Salinas, VP Process Improvement, McKesson Provider Technologies

Why Companies Select Stage-Gate Ready Certified Software

1. Saves Time: Quickly and easily obtain a ‘short-list’ of quality software solutions, saving you time and money otherwise spent researching, viewing and pre-qualifying vendors. There is no cost to you to obtain the ‘short-list’.
   
   
2. Reduces Risk: Stage-Gate Ready Certified Vendors have submitted to a rigorous NPD functionality evaluation performed by an unbiased Stage-Gate Product Innovation Expert – assurance to you that the software performs all required Stage-Gate functionality.
   
   
3. Removes Guesswork: Stage-Gate Ready Certified Vendors can produce immediately upon your request, a Stage-Gate Ready Certification Report Card detailing their software solution’s performance on some 200 mandatory and optional innovation-related criteria.

“I strongly recommend all would-be buyers to ask specifically for Stage-Gate Ready software, even if your company does not deploy a traditional Stage-Gate process. We want to help organizations take advantage of innovation productivity tools that can help advance business performance and we believe that if we reduce risks associated with these decisions, it is a win-win for everyone."

– Dr. Robert G. Cooper, World’s Top Innovation Management Scholar

How Stage-Gate Ready Certification Works

Vendors submit their software solution to a rigorous evaluation conducted by an unbiased Stage-Gate Product Innovation Expert. The software solution must achieve all pre-defined mandatory criteria for each category the vendor applies for (i.e. Idea Management, Idea-to-Launch and/or Portfolio Management). Additionally, vendors demonstrate numerous optional criteria.

1. Software Solution Evaluation: The vendor demonstrates their software solution to a Stage-Gate Product Innovation Expert. The software is judged against some 200 criteria – a combination of both mandatory and optional criteria. All mandatory criteria must be met.
   
   
2. Software Solution Validation: Vendor submits proof of installation in a client production environment. Installation is validated by a Stage-Gate Product Innovation Expert.
   
   
3. Re-Certification Process: Vendor demonstrates ongoing achievement of all mandatory criteria through a re-certification evaluation process which occurs every two years.

“We strongly encouraged our software partner to become Stage-Gate^® Ready Certified and are very pleased that they did.”

– John Gilbert, Director, Johnson & Johnson Group of Consumer Companies

How Can You Benefit from our Stage-Gate Ready Certification Program?

Companies seeking Product Innovation Software Solutions:

• Visit the Solutions Directory to view a ‘short-list’ of Stage-Gate Ready Certified Vendors
• Request vendors to supply their Stage-Gate Ready Certification Report Card to you so you can quickly and more easily differentiate between vendor capabilities
• Share Stage-Gate Ready Certification Report Cards with your IT Organizations to communicate your unique product innovation business requirements
• Request your existing vendor to become Stage-Gate Ready Certified so they can evolve their software solution as you evolve your Stage-Gate best practices

Stage-Gate Ready Certified Vendors:

• Display your Stage-Gate Ready Certified logo on your product, website and in your promotional materials to set you apart from other software solutions. This ‘seal of approval’ confirms your official relationship with our company and provides assurance to consumers.
• Submit your Stage-Gate Ready Certification Report Card to prospects so they can quickly and easily validate critical NPD criteria your software solution is capable of performing

Software Solution Vendors:

• Review the comprehensive list of some 200 innovation-related criteria to determine if your software is capable of achieving Stage-Gate Ready Certification
• Contact Stage-Gate International to arrange your software solution to become Stage-Gate Ready Certified

Want more information on Stage-Gate International’s Certification Program?
Call +1-905-304-8797 or email us at info@stage-gate.com

¹According to at least three independent sources (AMR Research, Booz Allen Hamilton and the Product Development Management Association) between 70%-85% of North American companies use a Stage-Gate Idea-to-Launch process to drive new products to market and 100% of BAH’s Global 1000 Innovators of 2007 use a disciplined Stage-Gate Process.