Planbox Review - Features, Pricing & Deals

Planbox is a cloud-based innovation management platform that helps organizations handle their innovation processes from start to finish. The platform combines AI-powered tools with collaborative features to support idea generation, development, and implementation across various industries.

At its core, the system offers four main modules: Innovation Central for idea management, Agile Central for project tracking, Portfolio Central for innovation oversight, and Discovery Central for insight gathering. Users can submit and evaluate ideas, manage projects using Kanban boards, and track progress through detailed analytics dashboards.

The platform serves businesses of all sizes, from startups to large enterprises, particularly in sectors like healthcare, energy, and financial services. Companies can customize the tool to fit their specific needs, thanks to its modular design and open API for integration with existing systems.

While pricing isn't publicly listed and varies based on organizational needs, Planbox offers demos and custom quotes for interested companies. The recent merger with HYPE Innovation has expanded its capabilities, particularly in AI-powered features and global reach.

Notable users include Whirlpool, Novartis, and ExxonMobil, who use the platform to streamline their innovation processes and engage employees in collaborative problem-solving.

• Innovation Management Modules: Facilitates comprehensive lifecycle management of innovation with AI-powered tools for idea submission, evaluation, and prioritization across multiple organizational departments.
• Agile Project Tracking: Provides real-time collaboration features including Kanban boards, burndown charts, and centralized file management for seamless project execution.
• Idea Submission Platform: Enables employees to submit, cluster, and vote on innovative ideas, creating a dynamic environment for creative problem-solving.
• Portfolio Management: Offers advanced tools for tracking innovation projects, monitoring performance metrics, and supporting strategic decision-making.
• Collaborative Engagement Tools: Includes gamification elements and recognition systems to boost employee participation and motivation in innovation initiatives.
• AI-Powered Discovery: Integrates multiple data sources to help organizations discover insights, opportunities, and potential innovation pathways.
• Comprehensive Analytics: Provides detailed dashboards and reporting mechanisms to measure innovation performance and calculate potential return on investment.

• Contact Planbox directly for customized pricing plans tailored to your organization's specific innovation management needs.
• Pricing is flexible and based on the specific modules and features your business requires, such as Innovation Central, Agile Central, or Portfolio Central.
• Enterprise-level pricing is determined through direct consultation, allowing organizations to select the most appropriate innovation management tools.
• Support packages are included with pricing, offering comprehensive assistance including phone support, live support, and training resources.

Planbox and HYPE Innovation merged in February 2024 to create a stronger innovation management platform. While they used to be competitors, they now operate as a unified solution. The merger combines Planbox's strengths in agile innovation management with HYPE's expertise in innovation ecosystem management. Customers now benefit from enhanced AI capabilities, wider global support, and a more comprehensive set of tools that cover the entire innovation lifecycle. If you were using either platform before, you'll gradually see new features and improvements as the integration progresses.

Most companies find Planbox fairly straightforward to implement. You'll typically start with a kickoff meeting where Planbox helps you set up your system based on your specific needs. The platform is modular, so you can start with just the features you need now and add more later. Training usually takes a few hours for basic users and slightly longer for admins. Many customers report being fully operational within 2-4 weeks. The platform works right in your web browser, so there's no complex software to install on everyone's computers.

Yes, Planbox works well with many common business tools. It has ready-made connections to Microsoft Teams, Slack, Office 365, Jira, Salesforce, and several other popular platforms. The system uses an open API, which means your IT team can also build custom connections to any internal systems you use. This helps your innovation work flow smoothly with your other business processes without forcing people to constantly switch between different tools.

Planbox stands out for its complete approach to innovation management. Unlike tools that just collect ideas, Planbox helps you through the whole process - from finding problems to implementing solutions. Its AI capabilities are particularly strong, helping you sort through ideas and connect related concepts automatically. The recent merger with HYPE Innovation has made it even more powerful, with added expertise in open innovation and external collaboration. Many users also mention that Planbox's interface is more user-friendly than competitors, which helps with getting everyone in your company to actually use it.

While anyone in your organization can use Planbox, most successful implementations have at least one person who oversees the platform. This "innovation champion" typically spends about 25% of their time managing campaigns, encouraging participation, and making sure good ideas move forward. The platform itself is designed to be user-friendly - submitting ideas takes just minutes with no special training. For smaller organizations, you can start with just a part-time admin. As your innovation program grows, you might want a dedicated innovation manager to get the most value from the system.