The American Innovation Index™ (Aii) scores and ranks the innovativeness of U.S. companies based on their customers’ perceptions. The Aii covers more than 150 companies from more than 20 industries, based on experiences captured from 40,000 customer touchpoints. The Aii is a joint project with the Fordham University’s Gabelli School of Business and the Norwegian School of Economics. The Aii is unique in that it measures innovation from the customer point of view rather than relying on expert opinions that bypass what customers actually experience.
Why does innovation matter? Our research shows that consumers expect more from companies than a satisfactory experience or a cheap price. Companies that engage in positive innovation are perceived as more attractive and rewarded with greater loyalty from their customers. Innovation leaders are more likely to be disruptors in their sector, while the least innovative companies are more at risk of being casualties of disruption.
The Aii ranks companies on two types of innovation – customer-focused innovation and social innovation. Customer-focused innovation is the degree to which a company is perceived as creative, innovative and a game-changer when providing value to customers. Social innovation is the degree to which a company is a force for positive change for society and the environment.