1: How are retailers managing the trade-off between ad visibility and user experience, especially with growing ad coverage?

(Mark Burton, Chief Product Officer):
It all comes down to relevance. Ads should only be visible when they're useful to the customer—when they’re searching, browsing, or making a decision at the digital shelf edge. If the placement aligns with what they’re looking for, then it’s a good ad and a good experience. But retailers run into trouble when they prioritize coverage over relevance. That’s when ads get ignored, engagement drops, and valuable slots are wasted that could’ve gone to organic results.

(Ali Sasso, Senior Marketing Analytics Consultant):
We’re also seeing retailers break down the walls between organic and sponsored content. Instead of treating them as two separate worlds, the focus is shifting to a unified experience. When sponsored placements are vetted properly, they enhance—not interrupt—the user journey. In that case, “ad coverage” becomes a non-issue.

2 : How are retail media networks adjusting their platforms or tools to make sponsored products more accessible to smaller advertisers?

(Mark):
Retailers are focusing on automation and ease. If you're an advertiser running campaigns across 30 different platforms, what makes you choose one RMN over another isn't just performance—it’s effort. Lower the effort, raise the reward. That’s why self-service tools, better campaign management, and seamless reporting are so critical. RMNs are also leaning into partnerships with aggregators like Skai and Pacvue to remove friction and reduce ongoing effort.

(Ali):
Exactly. The key shift is toward intuitive, scalable, and automated self-serve platforms. Smaller advertisers often don’t have deep resources or teams. The more they can do with minimal manual support, the more likely they are to scale.

3 : What kind of data points or performance indicators are most useful for advertisers looking to optimize placements?

(Ali):
Grid position click-through rates (CTRs) are incredibly valuable. Knowing where a product shows up—organically vs. sponsored—and how that position impacts CTR helps advertisers develop smarter bidding strategies. It’s not just about being visible; it’s about understanding the value of where you’re visible.

(Mark):
Right, and beyond CTR, we’re seeing advertisers optimize around category-level coverage and competitive benchmarks. Understanding how your placements stack up against peers—and how different bid levels shift performance—provides a more holistic view than just chasing a single metric. It’s about actionable visibility, not vanity numbers.

4 : Are there differences in strategy or ROI when comparing large legacy advertisers with newer, smaller brands?

(Mark):
Absolutely. Larger advertisers typically have the resources to go beyond the reporting RMNs provide. They’ll ingest data from multiple networks, build custom ROI models, and even help steer roadmap priorities through close relationships with retailers. That gives them an edge—not just in performance, but in influence.

(Ali):
Smaller brands, on the other hand, have to be scrappier. Without the same budgets, they’re often priced out of top-tier inventory. But that also means they can afford to be more focused—targeting niche RMNs or specific verticals where they can compete effectively. Success for them means doing more with less.

5 : With retail media networks becoming more sophisticated, what trends should advertisers and platforms be preparing for in the next 12–18 months?

(Mark):
More automation, hands down. From bidding to flighting to campaign setup, we’re moving toward less manual work and more intelligent systems. There’s also a growing trend toward interoperability—more open access across platforms and less fragmentation in how advertisers buy across networks.

(Ali):
That’s where demand aggregation comes in. There are so many RMNs now, and advertisers can’t manage each one manually. Tools that aggregate demand across networks will be key to simplifying the ecosystem and making scale accessible—even for smaller players.

6 : How can brands or media buyers use the report to apply the insights into their media planning?

(Ali):
The benchmark report helps brands understand how the ad grid actually behaves—what positions are most competitive, where CTRs spike, and how to calibrate bids accordingly. It also gives a sense of RMN scale, so advertisers can allocate budgets strategically instead of guessing.

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 Apply Digital, a leading digital experience transformation firm, has revamped wellness brand Radiant Health’s online presence across North America.

1. Why was it critical to develop two separate e-commerce sites for the US and Canadian markets instead of a unified North American site?

In most cases, we’d advocate for a unified site because it’s easier to manage and maintain. But in this instance, the nuances of Canadian health regulations presented a challenge. Infrared saunas are classified differently in Canada, which restricts how you can talk about their health benefits. To ensure Radiant Health could meet compliance requirements in both markets without compromise, we split the build into two market-specific sites — both powered by BigCommerce for a consistent backend experience. It’s a model that gives the business room to grow while staying within the lines.

2. What were some of the biggest challenges in integrating CRM and operations tools?

Radiant Health had previously been using QuickBooks Online for bookkeeping, accounting and invoicing; we integrated this directly with BigCommerce and Hubspot to simplify the sales process and remove manual steps.  There’s always an adjustment curve when introducing entirely new systems, but the team embraced the shift faster than expected, aided by a bit of training from us and the platforms themselves.

The bigger challenge was maintaining Radiant’s high-touch, ‘white-glove’ service approach while making operations scalable. Previously, they called every customer individually. That’s amazing service, but hard to sustain for a growing brand. But with a CRM integrated into the e-commerce flow, they can still offer that human connection, but focus on where it matters most.

3. How did you ensure that the infrastructure was scalable and secure for future market expansions or traffic surges?

We deliberately chose a MACH-focused, composable architecture, using BigCommerce and HubSpot as our foundation. While more monolithic systems might have worked for a simpler use case, Radiant has plans to expand its product range and presence over time. A composable setup allows new services, markets or community features to be bolted on without breaking what’s already working. That flexibility is critical when you’re both reacting to and planning for growth.

4. What role did customer insights or behavioural data play in shaping the website’s UX and content strategy?

With little legacy data to draw on, we leaned into qualitative insights. We spoke with customers, internal teams, and even a few long-time sauna reviewers — yes, they exist — who’d tested just about every model on the market. They all told us the same thing: people want to buy premium wellness products online, but they also want confidence and clarity before making such a big purchase.

That fed into the content strategy, which combines informative resources with lifestyle-led storytelling. There’s a long buying cycle for a product like this, so the site has to do more than sell, it has to support, educate, and reassure. No one wants to end up with thousands of dollars of buyer’s remorse should they buy the wrong model!

5. Have there been any measurable ROI indicators since the project launch that validate the success of the transformation?

Prior to the launch of the new e-commerce sites, all orders were processed through the sales team from start to finish - and this meant a lot of back-and-forth, generally by phone. That changed with the launch of the new platform, within six weeks 41% of transactions were already 'self-guided', which  means the customer places the order through the website. From here, the team conducted follow-up interactions — whether that’s a call or an email. The time saved at the start of the buying journey will ensure Radiant is best-placed to maintain the premium service it has become known for as it expands.

6. How should legacy wellness brands think about digital experience transformation in 2025 and beyond?

We can expect wellness brands to be resilient even as we head into a recessionary climate. McKinskey’s recent Future of Wellness survey suggests consumers are less likely to cut spending across a range of wellness subcategories than on categories, including clothing, entertainment, and home decor. This is driven in part by Millennials and GenZ who spend disproportionately on wellness. Consequently, this is the perfect time for legacy wellness brands to consider investing in a modern, connected digital experience.

While GenAI is becoming more deeply embedded in the marketeers’ toolkit, the fundamentals of building engaging digital businesses haven't changed. Success remains contingent on strong strategic foundations built on your customers’ needs, an adaptable tech stack is needed to take full advantage of data-driven opportunities as they emerge.

At the top of the funnel AI, composable tech stacks, and GenAI-based search tools are reshaping how people find and engage with brands. If you’re not building your digital experience with adaptability in mind, you risk being invisible to tomorrow’s customers. For wellness brands especially, where education and personalization are crucial, it’s no longer enough to bolt on a web store. You need to think about how you show up in people’s discovery journeys, whether that’s through search, content, or emerging channels like AI-led recommendations.

The wellness brands that win over the longer-term will be those that think beyond tech and transactions alone, community building will increasingly be as important as flexible infrastructure in this space.

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• Data Governance: Perform a clean-up of existing marketing and client data; set common definitions (lead, case, contact, etc.).
• Technical Integration: Use APIs or connectors to sync FirmPilot with the CRM and any email/analytics tools, ensuring that campaign data flows automatically into sales pipelines.
• Process Design: Define clear handoffs and feedback loops. For instance, every AI-generated lead should be tracked in CRM to closure so the platform can learn what worked.
• Pilot and Iterate: Roll out the platform with one practice area or campaign first, monitor for issues, and adjust before scaling to the whole firm.

1. What strategies are in place to enhance remote collaboration among production teams, ensuring seamless editing and content management across multiple locations?

Arcitecta’s Mediaflux Real-Time solution is explicitly designed to empower remote collaboration in production. It allows editors to edit anywhere, meaning they are no longer tethered to event locations and can access live, growing media files from any site. This capability enables real-time collaborative editing across multiple locations, so that a video editor in one city can start cutting a highlight reel while another team member elsewhere continues capturing footage. Mediaflux facilitates seamless media management behind the scenes, so all collaborators see the latest content virtually instantly, with playback possible in real-time across sites​. In practice, teams can review and edit content as it’s being recorded or rendered, eliminating the lag that traditionally hampered remote work. By providing a unified data environment and high-speed file sharing, Mediaflux optimizes remote workflows and ensures that distributed production teams remain synchronized and productive​.

2. What measures are being taken to eliminate workflow bottlenecks, particularly in live sports and broadcast environments where speed is critical?

Live sports and broadcast productions are extremely time-sensitive, and Arcitecta addresses this by eliminating common workflow bottlenecks that slow down content delivery. Traditionally, editors had to pull footage from a single on-site location, causing delays in fast-paced environments​. Mediaflux Real-Time removes these chokepoints by enabling continuous access to footage even as it’s being recorded, effectively allowing editing to happen in parallel with capture​. The platform supports real-time editing and removes single-location-based workflow bottlenecks, so teams are not waiting for files to finish recording or copying before work can begin​. One key innovation is using one data stream to serve multiple sites: Mediaflux sends the live feed once and lets multiple editors at different locations tap in, eliminating the need to buy and configure dedicated streams or connections to each editing location​. This not only accelerates turnaround (remote editors can start cutting highlights almost instantly as the action unfolds​) but also reduces infrastructure complexity and cost. In essence, Arcitecta’s approach lets global production crews work simultaneously and in real time, drastically cutting post-production times and ensuring content is delivered to air or online as fast as possible​.

3. How are you ensuring data security and compliance in your production workflows, especially when dealing with live, growing video files?

Handling live and continuously growing video files presents security and compliance challenges, and Mediaflux incorporates robust practices to protect content. Built-in encryption and granular access controls safeguard sensitive media assets, preventing unauthorized access or data leaks even as files are being actively recorded and transferred​. By enforcing role-based permissions and secure authentication, Mediaflux ensures that only authorized personnel can access or modify footage, an important compliance measure for media organizations dealing with embargoed content or exclusive rights. Arcitecta explicitly acknowledges the need to mitigate security risks and compliance issues that arise with distributed file access​, and addresses this by protecting sensitive files with encryption and access controls even while optimizing storage and transfer efficiency​.In addition, the Mediaflux Livewire transfer module moves data at high speed securely, meaning large live video files are transmitted over networks with encryption in transit and without exposing content to eavesdropping​. These measures ensure that live production workflows remain not only fast but also safe and compliant with industry regulations and content protection policies.

4. How is your organization preparing for potential shifts in production demands that may further influence the balance between on-site and remote production workflows?

Arcitecta has strategically built Mediaflux to be location-agnostic, preparing organizations for shifts between on-premises and remote production demands. As the industry gravitates toward hybrid workflows (combining on-site studio work with remote contributors), Arcitecta ensures that the underlying data access is seamless regardless of where the work happens. In fact, it shouldn’t matter where these data workflows occur – the solution is to deliver data where it’s needed at the right time on a global distributed edge that remains simple and high-performance​. Mediaflux effectively creates a single global namespace for content, allowing team members in the studio and those working remotely to all see and interact with the same files in real time. This means whether production shifts more toward on-site operations or pivots back to remote editing, the workflow doesn’t need to be re-architected; Mediaflux will deliver consistent, near-instant access to media assets for all users. Arcitecta also offers features like edge caching (through its Mediaflux Edge component) and multi-site synchronization to maintain low-latency access in any geography​. By investing in these hybrid-cloud and multi-site capabilities, Arcitecta is future-proofing production workflows against location-based disruptions. Mediaflux Real-Time is  setting a new standard for speed, efficiency, and collaboration as hybrid and remote production environments continue to evolve​. In short, Arcitecta is actively enabling location-independent workflows so that organizations can fluidly adjust the on-site vs. remote balance without losing productivity or increasing complexity​.

5. What role do partnerships with technology providers play in your roadmap to scale targeted, measurable production capabilities?

Partnerships with major technology providers play a significant role in Arcitecta’s roadmap, allowing it to scale and extend Mediaflux’s capabilities in targeted ways. A prime example is Arcitecta’s collaboration with Dell Technologies. By combining Arcitecta’s Mediaflux Real-Time software with Dell’s high-performance storage (PowerScale NAS and ECS object storage), the company delivers a robust, end-to-end solution optimized for media workflows​. This partnership means that Mediaflux can be deployed on reliable, industry-grade hardware and take advantage of Dell’s infrastructure for better throughput, storage scalability, and data durability. The value of such a collaboration is highlighted in a Dell data sheet, which notes that Arcitecta’s pioneering metadata and data orchestration tools, coupled with Dell’s powerful, industry-trusted infrastructure, enable a global distributed edge that stays simple and performant for complex workflows​. In practical terms, these alliances help Arcitecta scale targeted production capabilities – for instance, speeding up multi-site content delivery by tightly integrating with networked storage systems, or improving real-time editing performance via optimized hardware-software coordination. Arcitecta showcases these joint solutions at industry events (e.g. demonstrating Mediaflux Real-Time with Dell at NAB 2025) to emphasize measurable improvements like faster content turnaround and lower latency across distances​. Beyond Dell, Arcitecta’s platform is designed to be vendor-agnostic and works with virtually all data storage and infrastructure solutions and protocols, making it flexible for integration with other technology providers as well. This openness enables partnerships with cloud providers, archival systems, and other specialists – all contributing to a richer ecosystem. By collaborating with tech partners, Arcitecta can focus on its software strengths (metadata management, data orchestration, etc.) while relying on partners for complementary strengths, thus scaling up the overall solution. The result is a more powerful, versatile Mediaflux offering that delivers quantifiable benefits (e.g. reduced transfer times, higher throughput, greater storage efficiency) to production teams​.

6. What long-term strategies are in place to ensure sustained growth in a market where real-time content access and hybrid production capabilities are important?

To ensure sustained growth and stay ahead of evolving production needs, Arcitecta is pursuing long-term strategies centered on real-time content access and enhanced hybrid production capabilities. Fundamentally, Arcitecta positions Mediaflux as powering the future of live production​. This vision means continually innovating so that media teams can work with content immediately as it’s created. For example, the ability to support continuous file expansion (handling files that are still growing) and to let editors start working even while files are still being created is a forward-looking feature that gives Arcitecta an edge in live production workflows​. As content demands increase (more feeds, higher resolutions, more remote contributors), Arcitecta’s roadmap focuses on scalability and performance at extreme levels. The Mediaflux platform is built on a high-performance metadata database and a unified data fabric that can scale to billions of files and petabytes of data, ensuring that as clients’ libraries and workload sizes grow, the system can handle it without degradation​. Arcitecta also integrates AI-driven indexing and automation into Mediaflux (for instance, using AI to index metadata for fast search and to trigger workflow automation) to help organizations manage the deluge of content efficiently​. Emphasizing a hybrid cloud approach is another pillar of the long-term strategy: Mediaflux seamlessly spans on-premises and cloud environments (and even tape archives via partners), which gives organizations flexibility to adapt their storage and compute mix over time without changing their workflow tooling​. In addition, Arcitecta is fostering an ecosystem of interoperability and open APIs so that Mediaflux can serve as a central hub in any production pipeline, protecting customers’ investments as technology evolves. By focusing on these areas – real-time access, global collaboration, intelligent data management, and partnership-driven integration – Arcitecta aims to future-proof media workflows. The company’s recent recognition (such as industry awards at NAB 2025) and positive early adopter feedback calling the Real-Time solution a game-changer indicate that Arcitecta’s strategic direction is positioned for sustained momentum. Moving forward, Arcitecta is committed to continuously accelerating media workflows and enabling true location-independent, real-time production to meet the growing demand for instant, anywhere content creation​.

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1. With diverse categories spanning many industries, how do you maintain consistency and fairness in evaluation?

Two things, primarily. First, we select a numerically large number of judges, close to 150 top-notch journalists. This makes it very likely that judges will have some familiarity with the broad contours of the market they're judging. Second, we emphasize journalistic achievement, not topic expertise. Vertical B2B media is similar in form to mass B2B media, such as the Wall Street Journal, Fortune Magazine, The Economist, Financial Times and others. Our judges are all high-ranking, experienced and accomplished journalists. They know the components of a well-crafted piece of journalism. 

2. What trends or themes did you notice across this year’s entries—such as an increase in investigative work, multimedia content, or data journalism? 

It's really all of the above. Entry trends evolve over time, but not as much year to year. All of the journalism techniques you mentioned are reflected in the Neal Awards within their own categories. Measurement and KPIs, plus AI, are two areas that are gaining steam as is journalistic entrepreneurship. Overall, two things stood out in 2025. First, B2B journalism is moving in the direction of lead generation. Content created by editors is increasingly required to produce qualified leads. This practice is new for many journalists, and some don't take to it naturally. The second area that was hot for 2025 was, not surprisingly, politics and government. We added categories for best coverage of the 2024 election, and another for regulatory and legislative coverage in the context of the served market. Both were very popular this year.  

3. How does the SIIA support the long-term careers of award winners and fellows beyond the ceremony itself?

One of our awards is a partnership with Northwestern University's Medill School where the recipient is paired with an executive and spends a week at the University for a course in B2B media. We also post winners online for promotion and provide assets for winners to share in their own social-media feeds. We encourage all winners, plus their bosses and colleagues, to tout their recognition. It conveys expertise on the part of the journalists and expresses the commitment and values of the parent company. In effect, it creates an aura of success and through that, drives revenue. 

4. In your view, what are the biggest challenges and opportunities facing B2B journalism today?

There are many. As mentioned above, lead-gen writing can be perceived as "marketing" writing, and some journalists are not comfortable with it. And then there's the areas mentioned in your second question. In short, B2B journalism is transitioning to a whole range of new skillsets, and media organizations have to train their people and hire those who have those skills. Social-media journalism is a technique of its own, as is the brief snippet style of TikTok and YouTube Shorts. The opportunities are abundant. You could just take the positive side of all these challenges. A different challenge exists in some markets, namely those that cover politics, Congress, and the bureaucracy as their beat. There's a tone of hostility towards the media, even to what are essentially B2B brands like Politico. 

5. Are there plans to expand the Jesse H. Neal Awards to include new media types such as podcasts, newsletters, or AI-assisted reporting? 

Two of these three are already existing categories. We assess categories every year and since I've managed the program, we’ve added 4-6 new categories each year while dropping those that are no longer appealing to our entrants. We see a lot of opportunity in continuing this, even to the point of categories directed at enthusiast consumer media. 

6. What role does the SIIA Media division play beyond hosting the awards? 

We're a full-service trade association that serves media operators across the enterprise. We produce conferences, host councils for specific disciplines and provide both networking and education - enhancing a sense of a community with shared opportunities and challenges. We also have additional recognition programs, including a B2B Hall of Fame. We publish proprietary research and a twice-weekly newsletter. We represent the industry's interests in the legislative and regulatory sphere. 

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