Building a Strong Product Team: Lessons from Industry Leaders

How innovation, purpose and efficiency power the teams behind groundbreaking products at ThousandEyes, GRAIL and Motive.

Written by Brigid Hogan
Published on Nov. 26, 2024
Brand Studio Logo

Crafting a strong product team is essential to delivering innovative and impactful solutions, and recent developments from industry leaders like ThousandEyes, GRAIL and Motive provide compelling insights on what makes those product achievements possible.

At the heart of a robust product team is a commitment to innovation, as exemplified by ThousandEyes’ introduction of its Digital Experience Assurance product. DXA is an AI-powered technology that enables a new discipline of IT management with enhanced network monitoring and automated predictions and resolutions for performance disruptions. Such advancements are a testament to how a well-aligned team focused on innovation can preemptively address challenges and deliver seamless digital experiences.  

A successful product team also requires a deep understanding of user impact and outcomes. GRAIL’s development of the Galleri multi-cancer early detection test highlights the power of a mission-driven team. By leveraging advanced genomic technologies, GRAIL’s team designed a tool to identify cancers at treatable stages, ultimately aiming to save lives. This focus on meaningful user outcomes demonstrates how purpose-driven goals can unite a team and drive the development of transformative solutions.  

In fleet management, streamlining workflows and simplifying processes are critical for maximizing efficiency and scalability. Motive’s Integrated Coaching feature is a prime example. By consolidating safety and compliance workflows into a single dashboard, Motive empowers fleet managers to coach drivers more efficiently, reducing administrative burdens while enhancing safety. This product showcases the importance of leveraging technology to create intuitive solutions that resonate with end-users and simplify complex processes.  

Ultimately, a strong product team thrives on a blend of innovation, purpose and efficiency. The successes of ThousandEyes, GRAIL and Motive Technologies illustrate how teams that prioritize cutting-edge technology, meaningful outcomes and streamlined operations can bring game-changing products to life.

These companies serve as benchmarks for product teams striving to make a significant impact in their industries. Built In SF took an inside look at each product and these now-hiring teams.


 

What ThousandEyes does: ThousandEyes, Cisco’s intelligence unit, specializes in internet and cloud intelligence, helping businesses monitor network performance and troubleshoot connectivity issues. The company’s tools provide visibility into digital experiences, focusing on internet-dependent applications and services.

Inside the product: Digital Experience Assurance is a new AI-powered technology introduced by ThousandEyes to enhance the monitoring and management of internet performance. Building on ThousandEyes’ existing tools, DXA automates the prediction, diagnosis and resolution of network disruptions, aiming to prevent issues before they impact users. The product leverages vast global data and AI capabilities to provide forward-looking intelligence, offering businesses greater visibility and control over their digital experiences.

 

Read more:ThousandEyes’ Newest Engineering Leader | Built In SF

 


 

What GRAIL does: GRAIL focuses on early cancer detection using advanced genomic technologies. Its work centers on developing blood tests designed to identify cancer at earlier, more treatable stages by analyzing genetic data.

Inside the product: Galleri is a multi-cancer early detection test designed to identify DNA fragments shed by cancer cells through a simple blood draw. It screens for multiple cancer types, including those without routine screening methods, and helps detect cancers earlier, when treatment is more effective. Galleri is currently being evaluated in large-scale clinical trials to validate its safety, performance and utility. 

 

Read more: At GRAIL, AI is the Key to Early-Stage Cancer Detection | Built In 

 

 

What Motive does: Motive develops software and hardware solutions aimed at improving fleet management and operations. Its tools assist businesses in tracking vehicles, monitoring driver behavior and ensuring compliance with industry regulations.

Inside the product: Integrated Coaching is a new feature within Motive’s  AI-powered Integrated Operations Platform. Integrated Coaching consolidates safety and compliance workflows into a unified dashboard designed to streamline coaching for fleet and safety managers. The tool provides real-time insights into driver performance, such as cell phone use or hours-of-service violations, allowing for quicker and more efficient interventions. By centralizing these activities, Integrated Coaching reduces administrative burdens and enables proactive risk management. The tool also includes features like status tracking and prioritization labels to help managers optimize their coaching efforts.

 

Read more: Fleet Automated Ops Platform Motive Raises $150M, Hits $2.85B Valuation | Built In SF 

 

 

Image courtesy of Shutterstock.