Fieldtrip Philips teams 2014

The Philips teams are challenged to come up with an innovative business model to replace kerosene lanterns with solar lamps for all households in Ghana. Solar lamps are considerably cheaper, saver and better for the environment than kerosene lanterns.  Moreover, Philips is about to launch a new range of solar lamps with additional phone charging capabilities.

The New Business Challenge business case focuses specifically on the selling and distribution of solar lamps to the rural areas.  The Philips 1-team decided it was important to research the need for solar lamps in the rural area, using a formulated questionnaire.

During the field trip to Ada Foah, the team had the opportunity to speak to 60 inhabitants of the local area. The Ghanaian students, being able to speak the local language ‘Twi’, heard that the community was highly interested in the possibility of solar lamps and the additional mobile phone charger.  The current lamps needed kerosene, which needed to be imported by boat in a nearby village. Moreover, the community didn’t have mobile chargers as well. To charge their mobile phones the inhabitants need to travel. The solar lamp would really respond to their needs. They would purchase the solar lamps, knowing that on a longer term it would be a good investment.

Again, the strength of the mixed Ghanaian-Dutch teams was proven. The local inhabitants had trust in the presence of students of the Ghanaian university. The Dutch presence and participating organizations were also well received. And of course, Philips is a very well known trademark.