NOVA MONTHLY: FEBRUARY

NOVA Updates:

• We have brought Alex on to the team to focus on the account management, working to help convert quotes to live projects and to ensure our customers keep working with us. Alex will also be working with Nichola closely to ensure that we keep bringing in new work.

• We are currently doing a lot of work behind the scenes, working on a couple of subscription offerings that we are going to be launching out to the industry throughout the year. More on this to come throughout the year.

• We have brought on Alex Fielder on the digital development side to work on the product automation and bespoke software offering. This is a big setup for the company as we continue to grow our offerings.

• The website is well underway and looking and sounding a lot better than what we currently have, hopefully making what we do a lot clearer to our clients and potential leads.

INTRODUCTION

February marks the start of our new financial year and it’s set to be a big one for us.

We’ve set ourselves the challenge of doubling last year’s achievements. It’s ambitious, but with the team we now have in place and the direction we’re heading, it feels realistic. This month has been slightly quieter than we initially expected in terms of live project starts, but that hasn’t meant standing still. We’ve been heavily focused on quoting and scoping work that looks likely to land over the coming months.

MONTHLY OVERVIEW

We’ve kicked off the new financial year with a clear focus on continued growth and expanding our presence within the industry. There’s a big push this year to hit our targets, but we’re confident in the people involved and the foundations we’ve put in place.

One of the key things we launched this month was our Innovation Scorecard (See my profile). A free downloadable tool designed to help manufacturers step back and assess where opportunity exists within their business. It’s built to encourage honest reflection: where are the inefficiencies, where are the missed opportunities, and where should focus be applied to create progress?

Throughout the month, we’ve had some strong early-stage discussions around new projects. A recurring theme has been specification. We’re seeing more companies question the value of traditional specification platforms, particularly due to the significant costs attached to them. Businesses are actively exploring smarter and more cost-effective ways to engage at the early stages of a project. It feels like that part of the process is shifting, and with that shift comes opportunity.

INNOVATION OPPORTUNITIES

One area I’m noticing or perhaps not noticing enough, is the adoption of AI within the construction product sector.

This is arguably the biggest technological shift not just within our industry, but globally. Yet compared to other sectors, the uptake feels slow. The argument that AI is too expensive to implement is becoming less valid by the day. The tools are improving rapidly and becoming increasingly accessible.

Last week, I shared that we developed our own internal CRM system using AI in just two days, at effectively no cost. I’m aware of companies that have invested six-figure sums building similar systems. The point isn’t that AI replaces expertise, but that it can significantly enhance it.

Used properly, AI can speed up repetitive processes, remove time-consuming administrative tasks, improve accuracy, and support better decision-making across almost every function of a business. A practical starting point is simple: identify one process that feels manual, inefficient, or overly complex, and explore whether AI could simplify it.

It’s also worth remembering that AI extends far beyond tools like ChatGPT, Gemini, or Claude. There are specialist platforms emerging across automation, coding, data analysis, workflow management, and product development. The companies that begin experimenting now will inevitably move faster than those who wait.

DESIGN HACK

Design for momentum, not perfection.

One of the most common delays in product development comes from trying to get a product perfect before launching.

There’s often a desire to refine a concept internally until it feels complete before exposing it to real-world feedback. The challenge with this approach is that perfection on a screen doesn’t always translate to performance on site.

Instead, progress tends to accelerate when concepts are discussed earlier, installation assumptions are tested sooner, and prototypes are shared before they feel fully polished. Early feedback surfaces issues that would otherwise remain hidden and allows iteration to happen while changes are still manageable and cost-effective.

Momentum in development creates clarity. Each conversation, test, and adjustment builds confidence in the direction of travel. The goal isn’t to deliver a flawless first version, it’s to learn faster than the market around you.

NOVA UPDATES

We’ve strengthened the team this month as we prepare for the year ahead. Alex has joined us to focus on account management, working to help convert quoted opportunities into live projects and ensuring our clients continue to work closely with us long term. He’ll be working alongside Nichola to maintain strong momentum across both existing relationships and new business conversations.

On the digital development side, we’ve brought in Alex Fielder to expand our product automation and bespoke software offering. This marks an important step in broadening our capabilities beyond physical product development and further into digital tools that support manufacturers throughout the specification and delivery process.

Behind the scenes, we’re also developing a couple of subscription-based offerings that we plan to introduce throughout the year. These are designed to provide more structured, ongoing support to manufacturers looking to innovate consistently rather than reactively. More details on those will follow in the coming months.

The website redevelopment is also well underway. It’s already clearer, sharper, and more aligned with how we actually work. The aim is simple — to better communicate what NOVA does and make it easier for clients and partners to understand where we add value.

CALL TO ACTION

If growth, smarter processes, digital development, or AI experimentation are on your radar this year, we’d be interested to hear what you’re exploring.

Whether you’re developing a new product, rethinking your specification approach, or simply looking to work more efficiently, we’re always open to a conversation.

The new financial year has started. Let’s build momentum.