How Innovative are the Innovation platforms or the Crowd sourcing sites?

[smurfcho]

I am marketing specialist. I was working as marketing specialist for over 7 years! I started in the Casino industry, spent several years in Vegas and moved back to Europe working for Hotel chains and some consulting companies. Now I deal with Tea and innovations. I was wondering how we can get more ideas from our crowd - employees and customers, even people who are freelancers, who are ready to post their ideas and have the opportunity to develop others and even sell their own, participate in challneges, companies are posting. I found several - DELL with birght idea, Lufthanksa, Moneybookers, even Coca Cola has their challenge, looking for the best idea for 2012 Olympic Games. I think there are several great places to check this - Embrioo.com, Kickstarter.com, Indiegogo.com ..Probably Embrioo is the best one..What are the benefits for one company ; Cheap way to get the best possible ideas, pay for this one you like, get exposed and attract talented people and people who are more creative even better than the company's marketers. This is a great way to get your own employees and board and motivate them. Looking for answers from the crowd? Is that the future for each company? Share with me your thoughts? Do you really think this is a good option for new Marketing and even other ideas ?? Do you think platforms like these will manage to win ?