Firefly Electric (FELCO) Wins 2025 Strategic Innovation Impact Award

We're proud to announce Firefly Electric Company (FELCO) as the recipient of On-Off Group's 2025 Customer Impact Award for Strategic Innovation Impact.

As one of the Philippines' leading electrical and lighting manufacturers, FELCO has long been known for quality products that serve residential, commercial, and industrial customers. In 2025, they took a bold step to embed innovation capability across their organization—and the results speak for themselves.

"Having leaders in the room and time carved out made all the difference—we could listen to users, test quickly, and move forward with confidence."
— FELCO Program Participant

"FELCO approached this program with real commitment. They didn't just send people to a workshop—they created the conditions for innovation to actually happen: executive sponsorship, protected time, and clear decision pathways. That's what separates training from transformation."
— Philip Smithson, Chief Collaboration Officer, On-Off Group

A Multi-Wave Approach to Building Capability

FELCO's innovation program was designed to create lasting change, not just a one-time event. The program unfolded in two waves:

• Leaders cohort: Cross-functional leaders identified priority challenges, conducted empathy research, mapped customer journeys, reframed problem statements, ideated solutions, and built testable prototypes—supported by weekly coaching and working sessions.
• Scaled cohort: A second, broader program brought Design Thinking to a larger population of emerging talent, extending the common language and practices across the company.

Senior leaders participated directly, signalling strong sponsorship and removing friction when teams needed access, decisions, or approvals. Participants were given dedicated time away from daily responsibilities to do the work properly.

From Ideas to Approved Projects

The results were immediate and tangible. All leader-led project proposals were approved—several for immediate implementation—thanks to clear evidence from empathy work, prototyping, and testing.

Key outcomes included:

• Approved project portfolio — Every project proposal from the leaders cohort received approval, with several fast-tracked for immediate implementation
• Faster paths to value — C-suite participation in workshops accelerated alignment and decision-making, reducing cycle time from concept to go-ahead
• Scaled capability — The second program equipped a wider group with practical Design Thinking skills, seeding advocates across functions
• Culture shift — Teams adopted a test-and-learn mindset, using evidence to prioritize and iterate

Why Strategic Innovation Matters in Manufacturing

The electrical and lighting industry is facing significant shifts—from evolving energy standards and smart home technology to changing customer expectations and supply chain challenges. Companies that can innovate quickly and systematically have a real advantage.

FELCO recognized that innovation can't be left to chance or confined to a single department. By building Design Thinking capability across their organization, they've created the conditions for continuous improvement and strategic problem-solving at every level.

What Makes This Award Special

The Strategic Innovation Impact Award recognizes organizations that move beyond theory to deliver measurable results. FELCO earned this recognition through:

• Executive commitment — Leaders didn't just sponsor the program; they participated actively
• Structured approach — Protected time, coaching, and clear decision pathways enabled real progress
• Tangible outcomes — Approved projects, faster decisions, and a common innovation language across the organization
• Scaled impact — Extending capability beyond a pilot group to create lasting organizational change

Congratulations to the entire FELCO team for their commitment to strategic innovation. We look forward to seeing the continued impact of their investment in building innovation capability from within.