If you’re only looking within your own industry for ideas, you’re missing out. Some of the biggest business breakthroughs come from replicating smart strategies from completely different industries.
Think about it—fast food chains perfected speed and efficiency, then hospitals adopted their systems to improve patient flow. Airlines mastered loyalty programs, then retail brands applied the same principles to keep customers coming back. Great businesses don’t just innovate—they learn, adapt, and improve.
That’s why business field trips or visiting other companies to observe what they do well, are one of the most powerful ways to unlock fresh ideas for your own business.
What Is a Business Field Trip?
A business field trip is exactly what it sounds like—stepping out of your own business to see how another operates. But this isn’t about checking out the competition. It’s about observing, learning, and bringing back new strategies that can help your business grow.
You don’t have to book a formal tour. You can:
- Visit a company with a great reputation for customer service.
- Observe how a high-performing team operates.
- Experience a well-known brand’s marketing or sales process.
- Pay attention to how a business makes things easier, faster, or more enjoyable for customers.
The goal? Look for one thing they do better than you—and figure out how to apply it.
How to Find the Right Business to Learn From
Not sure where to start? Here’s how to pick a business worth studying:
- Look outside your industry: A coffee shop might teach you about customer experience. A high-end retailer could give you ideas on branding. A fast-growing startup might offer insights into company culture.
- Think about your biggest challenge: Need better marketing? Study a brand that excels at storytelling. Struggling with team efficiency? Find a business with seamless operations.
- Follow the customer journey: Walk into a business as if you were a customer and observe every touchpoint. How do they attract, engage, and retain customers?
- Talk to other business founders: Ask business owners you admire what companies have inspired them—you might get unexpected recommendations.
What to Look For: The Big Three
When you visit or study another business, focus on three key areas:
1. Customer Experience
- How do they greet customers and make them feel valued?
- What makes their experience smooth and effortless?
- How do they handle complaints or tough situations?
Copy This Idea: A luxury hotel’s personalized guest service might inspire you to improve your onboarding process for new clients.
2. Team Culture
- How do employees interact with each other and customers?
- What keeps the team engaged and motivated?
- Do they have systems in place that improve productivity?
Copy This Idea: A restaurant with an ultra-efficient kitchen might help you improve your internal workflows.
3. Marketing & Operations
- What makes their brand stand out?
- How do they attract new customers?
- Are there processes in place that make things faster, easier, or more scalable?
Copy This Idea: A direct-to-consumer brand’s social media strategy might spark ideas for better storytelling in your own marketing.
One Insight Can Lead to a Huge Breakthrough
The best part of business field trips? It only takes one great idea to create a massive impact.
A real estate agency borrowed Disney’s attention to customer experience and saw a rise in client referrals. A consulting firm took inspiration from Starbucks’ mobile app and made scheduling with clients as easy as ordering a coffee. A manufacturing company studied how Amazon optimized warehouse logistics and cut production time in half.
The lesson? Replicate like an artist. See what works elsewhere, tweak it, and make it your own.
Your Business Field Trip Challenge
This month, pick one business to visit or study. It doesn’t have to be in your industry, and it doesn’t have to be formal—just observe, take notes, and ask:
- What do they do better than us?
- What’s one idea we can borrow and apply?
- How would this improve our business?
Innovation isn’t about reinventing the wheel. It’s about learning from the best and making it work for you.
So—where’s your next business field trip?
