Cien.ai Taps Former EY Partner Eric Buchen to Strengthen Global Growth and AI Strategy

AI-powered data analytics firm Cien.ai is expanding its global ambitions with a key strategic hire. The company announced the appointment of Eric Buchen, former Senior Partner and Global Business Development Leader at EY, to its Advisory Board—a move signaling a deeper push into enterprise markets and professional services.

Buchen, whose career spans more than 30 countries and some of EY’s most high-impact roles, brings a unique vantage point: deep experience helping businesses unlock growth amid disruptive change. That perspective is becoming increasingly critical as AI shifts from hype to reality in boardrooms worldwide, especially among large consulting and advisory firms navigating pricing model shake-ups and delivery overhauls.

“Eric understands the mindset of the consulting giants as AI becomes the No. 1 topic for their clients,” said Robert Kall, CEO of Cien.ai. “His insight will help us better serve our growing professional services customer base and scale globally.”

Marrying Global Reach with AI-Driven CRM Intelligence

Buchen’s expertise dovetails with Cien.ai’s mission: transforming CRM data into revenue-driving intelligence using advanced AI. The platform—SOC 2 Type 2 compliant and cloud-native—integrates with major CRM systems and uses proprietary models to clean, interpret, and deliver actionable insights within five business days.

In an era where CRM systems are overflowing with underutilized or poorly structured data, Cien.ai is filling a critical RevOps gap by providing:

• Immediate revenue insights

• Risk mitigation tools during M&A

• AI-led opportunity scoring

• Operational synergy identification post-close

“Companies today aren’t just talking about AI—they’re racing to apply it,” said Margot Carter, Co-founder of Cien.ai. “Eric’s global leadership and transaction experience will sharpen our go-to-market approach and expand strategic relationships.”

AI for Growth, Not Just Automation

While many AI vendors focus on automating workflows or enhancing customer service, Cien.ai positions itself at the intersection of growth and governance—helping companies use AI to uncover revenue potential, reduce operational waste, and streamline integration during critical change events like mergers or global expansion.

The company has already made a name for itself with mid-market and publicly traded clients, particularly those navigating complex CRM ecosystems and RevOps bottlenecks. With Eric Buchen now on board, Cien.ai is clearly gearing up to take that value proposition further—into more boardrooms, across more geographies, and with stronger ties to professional services ecosystems.

QSR Diners Are Still Showing Up—but They’re Demanding More

Despite inflation tightening wallets, Americans aren’t ditching fast food—they’re just becoming choosier. According to new consumer survey data from restaurant tech provider HungerRush, 93% of U.S. consumers still visit a quick-service or fast-casual restaurant at least once per month. But their expectations? They’re evolving fast—and tech is at the center of it.

In an industry long defined by low margins and high competition, QSR operators are now navigating a complex landscape where price, speed, and personalization must align. And according to HungerRush CEO Bill Mitchell, restaurants that strike this balance with smart technology will earn more than just short-term gains—they’ll build loyalty in an increasingly selective customer base.

“Consumers are still dining out, but they’re more selective,” Mitchell said. “Operators who use technology to reduce friction, personalize offers, and enhance speed of service will win both loyalty and repeat business.”

Tech and Value Go Hand-in-Hand for Today’s Diners

While affordability remains king—67% of respondents said price was the top driver for choosing a restaurant—it’s not the only factor influencing decisions. Convenience (51%) and speed (48%) also top the list. Notably, 16% of consumers say they’ve increased their QSR visits specifically to cut costs, opting for value menus over pricier sit-down meals.

But diners are also looking for smarter interactions. Over half (57%) said they prefer personalized discounts based on their order history, while only 34% said they’re satisfied with generic offers. Tech-savvy loyalty programs and real-time order updates are no longer perks—they’re expected.

• 57% of diners say mobile apps have improved their experience.

• 69% value real-time order updates—35% call them “very important.”

• 51% would use more tech if it meant faster service.

• 40% would do so for better loyalty rewards.

Pain Points Still Persist—and Tech May Be the Fix

Yet even as digital ordering rises, diners aren’t giving up on human interaction. In-store ordering (38%) remains the top channel, followed by drive-thru (26%). The implication? Technology should enhance—not replace—staffed service.

That’s particularly important when addressing customer frustrations. The top complaints—long wait times, incorrect orders, and poor service—are often tied to labor shortages and disconnected systems. Strategic tech integrations, Mitchell argues, can fill the gap without eliminating the human element.

“Convenience without compromise is the new standard,” he said. “By equipping staff with the right tools and automating behind-the-scenes processes, restaurants can meet demand without sacrificing experience.”

The Bigger Picture: QSRs Are a Bellwether for Retail Tech Adoption

The insights from HungerRush's April 2025 survey, conducted by Dynata, aren’t just useful for restaurants. They reflect a broader consumer mindset now permeating retail and hospitality: personalization, seamless tech, and real-time responsiveness aren’t optional anymore—they’re table stakes.

For QSRs, the challenge lies in maintaining affordability while investing in tech-enabled convenience. Those who succeed won’t just survive a high-inflation economy—they’ll define what modern dining looks like.

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5WPR Doubles Down on Prime Day with PR Muscle Built for Conversions

As Amazon Prime Day barrels toward another record-breaking July, brands are bracing for a marketing melee. Enter 5WPR, one of the largest independent PR and digital firms in the U.S., with a freshly expanded service offering laser-focused on helping clients cut through the promotional chaos and drive real business results.

This isn’t just about splashy press hits. 5WPR is bringing strategy, speed, and scale to Prime Day campaigns—leveraging media relationships, influencer reach, and storytelling that doesn’t just earn buzz but moves products.

“Our team understands what it takes to stand out during critical retail moments like Prime Day,” said Matthew Caiola, CEO of 5WPR. “We’ve expanded our services to meet growing demand from clients looking to turn visibility into impact.”

Turning Press Into Purchases: How 5WPR Makes Prime Day Count

Prime Day has morphed from a digital deal frenzy into a full-fledged media event—and 5WPR’s playbook reflects that evolution. The agency taps into deep relationships with editors and journalists from outlets like CNET, Wirecutter, and Forbes to get brands into product roundups, tech previews, and “best-of” lists that shoppers scour in advance.

The firm’s approach blends high-profile editorial placements with strategic influencer partnerships and affiliate outreach, ensuring clients appear across every relevant touchpoint—before, during, and after Prime Day.

Key service components include:

• Pre-Prime Day Prep: Embargoed media pitches, list inclusion, influencer alignment

• Live Coverage Execution: Real-time pitching, newsroom monitoring, mid-event amplification

• Post-Event Momentum: Recap coverage, performance metrics, and long-tail promotional strategy

The firm also offers expedited onboarding and messaging development for late starters needing to move fast.

Why This Matters Now

In an era where consumer attention is fragmented and fleeting, Prime Day is more than a sales window—it’s a narrative battleground. With product saturation at an all-time high, brands that rely solely on ad spend risk getting lost in the scroll. 5WPR’s expanded services aim to bridge this gap, combining earned and paid media into cohesive campaigns that drive not just interest—but intention.

It’s a strategy that’s already paid off. 5WPR has helped clients across lifestyle, wellness, home, and consumer tech categories secure standout placements and significant sales lifts during previous Prime Days.

“Our Prime Day services are built to deliver not just buzz, but business impact,” said Caiola. “We’re excited to help clients capitalize on this key moment with campaigns that drive lasting results.”

The Bigger Picture: Performance PR is Here to Stay

As marketing leaders look for accountable spend, 5WPR’s Prime Day strategy is a case study in what modern PR should do—fuse storytelling with measurable sales outcomes. Whether for legacy brands or breakout DTC players, the agency’s approach underscores a larger industry shift: in peak moments like Prime Day, PR isn’t just about impressions—it’s about conversions.

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Grip and Bria Join Forces to Scale Visual GenAI with Compliance Built In

As brands race to embrace generative AI, one challenge keeps surfacing: How do you scale visual content without sacrificing compliance, quality, or creative control? Grip, the enterprise-grade visual content engine, thinks it has the answer—through a new strategic partnership with Bria, the only generative AI platform built exclusively on licensed data.

The companies announced today that Bria’s visual genAI models will now power Grip’s rule-based content generation system, helping global marketers create on-brand, campaign-ready visuals at scale. For enterprise clients like Diageo and Beiersdorf, it’s a leap toward AI-driven efficiency without the legal headaches or brand risk that often come with AI-generated assets.

“One of the main concerns we hear from clients about generative AI is where the source data comes from,” said Frans Vriesendorp, CEO of Grip. “Bria’s model is a good first step in tackling that.”

A Responsible Approach to Generative AI at Enterprise Scale

Built with NVIDIA Omniverse and accelerated AI compute, Grip’s engine is already optimized for massive content production. The integration with Bria adds a crucial layer: responsible generative AI. Bria’s models are trained solely on licensed datasets and include patented attribution technology that compensates original content owners based on their contribution to generated outputs—similar to how artists are paid on Spotify.

“We are committed to enabling enterprises to leverage generative AI while respecting content ownership,” said Dr. Yair Adato, CEO and Founder of Bria. “By combining Grip’s automation with our AI models, we’re showing that responsible AI isn’t just possible—it’s scalable.”

This isn’t just good ethics. It’s good business. As AI regulations tighten—especially under frameworks like the EU AI Act—tools that guarantee compliance out-of-the-box will become non-negotiable for marketing teams.

Why It Matters: From Content Chaos to Configurable Creativity

Today’s marketing operations are under immense pressure to deliver more content, across more channels, with fewer resources. Grip’s modular approach lets users dynamically swap out any element—products, models, branding assets—while maintaining full control over the output. Add Bria’s precision AI into the mix, and brands can scale visual content without creative compromises.

Jamie Allan, Director of AdTech & Digital Marketing at NVIDIA, summed it up:

“By combining Omniverse with responsible visual generative AI, Grip is enabling brands to scale content creation while respecting intellectual property and creative ownership.”

The Big Picture: Building the Future of Visual AI

The Grip-Bria partnership offers a clear signal to enterprises: you no longer have to choose between innovation and compliance. It also sets a new benchmark in a space where legal gray areas and sloppy AI sourcing have left many brand leaders cautious.

For marketers ready to embrace AI at scale—without compromising on quality, ethics, or control—this collaboration offers a ready-made blueprint. As the pressure to produce multiplies, the future of visual content creation may not just be automated—it will be accountable.

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Sitecore.ai Offers Marketers a Front-Row Seat to the Next Era of Digital Engagement

Sitecore, known for powering enterprise-grade digital experiences, has officially launched Sitecore.ai, a new interactive experience that puts AI, content, and data in the spotlight. This rollout isn’t just another platform feature—it’s a full-on demonstration of what’s next for marketers navigating an increasingly AI-driven digital landscape.

Hosted on Sitecore’s XM Cloud, the company’s flagship SaaS-based digital experience platform (DXP), Sitecore.ai is part explainer, part inspiration engine. It showcases how "agentic AI"—a concept centered on autonomous, intelligent agents—will redefine how brands deliver personalized, omnichannel experiences in real time.

“We built XM Cloud to solve real problems for real marketers,” said Eric Stine, CEO of Sitecore. “Proven and ready, it's really SaaS, really simple, and really built with agentic AI to help marketers create smarter, launch faster, and connect more meaningfully.”

More Than a Platform—A Live, Living Case Study

Designed as both a marketing resource and experiential demo, Sitecore.ai invites users to explore the company’s Future of Digital series, which dives into themes like:

• Conversational discovery

• Real-time personalization

• Intelligent campaign automation

The goal is to demystify AI and show how it’s already reshaping customer journeys—and how marketers can make the leap with confidence. The platform combines editorial storytelling, episodic video content, and hands-on interactivity to help users learn by doing, not just reading.

Enterprise Validation: Brands Already Building with XM Cloud

Sitecore’s push into AI-enabled content delivery isn’t theoretical. Global enterprises are already putting it into practice. Manufacturers like Regal Rexnord have migrated multiple digital properties to XM Cloud, citing streamlined workflows and faster time-to-market as key wins.

“XM Cloud is enabling us to deliver faster, smarter, and more consistent digital experiences across our global brands,” said Tim Dickson, Chief Digital and Information Officer at Regal Rexnord.

Similarly, Hexagon AB, a leader in precision measurement tech, launched a fresh brand experience on the platform, laying the groundwork for future AI integration.

“Now, we’re set up to move faster, work smarter, and have laid the groundwork for AI-driven content and conversational search,” said Josh Soffe, VP of Digital at Hexagon.

Smarter Tools for Smarter Marketers

At the product level, Sitecore’s XM Cloud enhancements are focused on boosting speed, productivity, and personalization. Key new features include:

• AI-generated creative briefs tailored to campaign goals

• One-click content deliverables based on brand guidelines

• Automated asset suggestions mapped to audience personas

It’s all part of Sitecore’s versionless SaaS approach, which continuously delivers new capabilities without disrupting workflows—a major advantage for marketers tired of large-scale platform migrations and rigid update schedules.

What This Signals for the Industry

Sitecore’s latest move underscores a major industry trend: AI is no longer a backend tool—it’s the new creative partner. With Sitecore.ai, the company isn’t just pitching AI solutions; it’s embodying them in its product experience, positioning XM Cloud as the on-ramp to an agentic, hyper-personalized digital future.

As AI transforms digital engagement from top to bottom, tools like XM Cloud will likely become table stakes—not just for enterprise content teams, but for any brand looking to stay relevant in a real-time, omnichannel world.

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WordPress VIP Expands Its Enterprise CMS Arsenal with AI, Live Data, and Smarter Security

Enterprise CMS just got an upgrade—and not the kind that requires downtime, dev tickets, or a 90-page manual. WordPress VIP, the open and intelligent experience builder used by everyone from CNN to The White House, has rolled out a major suite of new features designed to make content platforms faster, smarter, and less painful for teams to use.

The update isn’t just a version bump—it’s a shift in thinking. While most enterprise platforms still feel like relics of the early 2010s—rigid, complex, and developer-heavy—WordPress VIP is leaning into a new model: low-friction, high-impact tools that empower marketers, publishers, and technologists to build and iterate without getting bogged down in the backend.

“Legacy CMS platforms treat content like it’s stuck in a box,” said Brian Alvey, CTO at WordPress VIP. “We’re building something fundamentally different—intelligent, extensible, and empowering.”

Remote Data Blocks: Turning Static Pages Into Living Experiences

The headline feature is Remote Data Blocks, which lets teams embed real-time external data—think product listings, stock tickers, weather, or even live maps—directly into WordPress’s block editor. No coding, no API wrangling. The content stays fresh, and the site stays dynamic, without ever touching the backend.

In short: marketers can finally update without waiting—and readers get a site that reflects the real world, not last Tuesday’s spreadsheet.

AI That Works for Editors, Not Just Engineers

On the AI front, the release deepens the integration with Parse.ly, WordPress VIP’s content intelligence platform. Two new tools—Traffic Boost and Content Helper—bring performance data and machine learning into the editorial workflow.

• Traffic Boost identifies high-performing evergreen content and repromotes it automatically.

• Content Helper offers AI-generated suggestions to speed up ideation and optimize headlines, tone, and structure.

This is AI with a purpose: helping content teams produce more of what works, with less of what doesn’t.

Smarter Decisions, Backed by Real-Time Insights

Parse.ly’s expanded analytics now offer advanced headline testing, AI-assisted navigation, and ROI-focused reporting—so content strategy isn’t guesswork anymore. Editors and marketers can iterate quickly, identify what drives engagement, and adjust campaigns in near real-time.

Security Built for Scale, Not Stress

Security updates in this release respond directly to the growing threats facing enterprise digital platforms. WordPress VIP now includes new defenses against DDoS attacks, bot activity, and automated threats. It's enterprise-grade protection that’s built in, not bolted on.

Scaling Knowledge Alongside Capability: VIP Learn Expands

Recognizing that the best tools are only as useful as a team’s ability to use them, WordPress VIP is also expanding VIP Learn, its self-paced training hub. New enterprise-focused courses cover advanced CMS usage, content optimization, and platform-specific best practices—free of charge.

The Bigger Picture: From Content Management to Experience Building

With these upgrades, WordPress VIP is staking a claim on the future of enterprise content platforms: open, intelligent, modular, and AI-enhanced. Gone are the days of locked-in vendor stacks and clunky editorial tools. Today’s digital leaders want speed, autonomy, and clarity—and they want it all without compromising on security or scale.

For enterprises trying to keep pace with a changing digital landscape, this release from WordPress VIP is more than a feature set—it’s a roadmap to what a CMS should actually do in 2025.

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Influencer Marketing Has Grown Up — And It's Powered by AI and ROI

What was once a scrappy social experiment has evolved into one of the most data-driven, AI-integrated arms of modern marketing. According to Later’s 2025 Influencer Marketing Report, global influencer marketing spend has hit $32.55 billion, signaling a new era defined by smarter strategies, deeper partnerships, and a full embrace of AI.

The message is clear: influencer marketing is no longer about going viral—it’s about going intentional.

“Today, influencer marketing can be seen as a core growth engine,” said Scott Sutton, CEO of Later. “The most successful marketers in 2025 aren’t chasing virality—they’re building systems that deliver repeatable, measurable value.”

Later surveyed over 1,000 creators and 200+ U.S. marketers and analyzed more than 2,500 campaigns across eight industries. The findings reveal a market that has matured rapidly—shifting away from follower counts toward engagement, cost-efficiency, and long-term results.

The New Brand Playbook: Fewer Likes, More Lift

Forget vanity metrics. In 2025, brands are prioritizing micro and mid-tier creators, favoring creators who drive strong engagement-to-cost ratios over big-name influencers with bloated fees.

Key stats:

• 80% of brands either maintained or increased influencer budgets

• 47% boosted spend by over 11%

• 73% prefer micro and mid-tier creators

• 92% are already using or open to using AI in influencer workflows

Long-term partnerships, bundled deliverables, and cross-platform activations have become the standard. AI now supports every stage of the campaign lifecycle—from discovery and pricing to performance prediction and automated reporting.

Micro Isn’t Minor: Creator Rates Reflect Rising Value

Micro and nano creators are commanding higher rates than ever—nano creators now earn up to $211 CPM, thanks to stellar engagement rates exceeding 6%.

Content still rules, but video reigns supreme:

• Instagram Reels: Most engaging format at $2.65 CPE

• TikTok: Best for product demos and discovery, though pricier at $14.61 CPE

• Pinterest: Low-cost, high-engagement option with 2x content longevity

• YouTube & Facebook: Still relevant, especially for niche or localized content

*Third-party sourced CPMs

Vertical Insights: Smarter Pairings Drive ROI

Influencer strategies are now tuned to industry-specific dynamics:

• Retail: Mid-tier creator bundles boost ROI and content lifespan

• Home & Lifestyle: Pinterest’s 11% engagement offers long-term visibility

• Entertainment: The Dallas Mavericks used a blend of macro and micro to reach 4x more users than branded posts alone

Campaigns are increasingly shaped by platform strengths and content longevity—not just what’s trending.

AI-Powered, Outcome-Driven: The Future of Influence

AI’s fingerprints are everywhere. From pricing algorithms to performance-based incentives, influencer marketing in 2025 is shaped by intelligent automation.

Notably, engagement quality now trumps quantity:

• Shares, saves, and replies are emerging as the new ROI gold standard

• Creators are evolving into multi-platform entrepreneurs, managing their own brand deals and negotiations

• Ethical partnerships and transparency are becoming baseline expectations

This new wave of influencer marketing rewards authenticity, agility, and accountability. Brands that invest in real relationships—and leverage AI to optimize them—stand to win big in a maturing, competitive landscape.

Influencer Marketing Isn’t Just Growing—It’s Getting Smarter

The influencer ecosystem is no longer niche or experimental. It's become essential, efficient, and measurable—and with AI now baked into its core, it’s poised to deliver more value than ever before.

In 2025, influence isn’t about who shouts loudest. It’s about who connects best—and does it at scale.

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Ocrolus Reshapes Its Strategy with Dedicated Units for Mortgage and SMB Lending

AI-powered data platform Ocrolus is sharpening its focus on two of its most critical markets—Mortgage lending and Small Business (SMB) funding—by launching specialized business units for each. The move aims to accelerate innovation, execution, and customer impact across its fastest-growing and most lucrative verticals.

To lead the charge, the company has appointed mortgage tech veteran Nadia Aziz as General Manager of Mortgage and promoted longtime Ocrolus leader David Snitkof to General Manager of SMB. These vertical-specific units reflect Ocrolus’ maturing growth strategy: using AI to build tailored solutions that improve accuracy, speed, and decision-making across credit underwriting workflows.

Mortgage Lending Goes Modular with AI at the Core

Mortgage is Ocrolus’ fastest-growing segment—no surprise given the firm has been onboarding over one new mortgage customer per week for 18 months, now serving more than 130 lenders, including CrossCountry Mortgage, NewRez, Better, and Veterans United.

Now under the leadership of Nadia Aziz, formerly of Roostify and Opendoor, the new Mortgage Business Unit aims to make Ocrolus the “intelligence layer” of the mortgage process—automating data verification, income calculation, and loan evaluation with AI. Aziz is no stranger to scale: at Optimal Blue, she oversaw 25% revenue CAGR and helped engineer a landmark M&A deal in the mortgage tech space.

“The future of mortgage lending is now,” said Aziz. “Ocrolus has laid a strong foundation, and we’re ready to empower lenders, elevate the borrower experience, and redefine modern lending.”

SMB Lending Still Leads, Powered by Proprietary Data and Fintech Muscle

While mortgage is heating up, SMB remains Ocrolus’ largest business, processing nearly 500,000 applications per month for clients like PayPal, Enova, Square, and Kapitus.

With David Snitkof stepping in as GM, the newly formalized SMB unit will focus on deepening analytics capabilities, leveraging the company’s massive proprietary dataset to fuel smarter underwriting and cash flow-based lending. Snitkof, a fintech veteran and former co-founder of Orchard Platform, helped shape Ocrolus’ current SMB strategy and is now doubling down on data-informed decisioning.

“The precision of our cash flow analytics is our biggest differentiator,” said Snitkof. “Creating a standalone SMB unit lets us sharpen our focus and unlock new ways to serve lenders who fund America’s backbone: small businesses.”

Why This Move Matters

Ocrolus isn’t just shuffling titles. It’s carving out dedicated lanes to deliver verticalized AI solutions in an increasingly competitive lending tech market. With ongoing economic uncertainty, automation, risk assessment, and workflow optimization are top priorities for lenders. Ocrolus’ new structure positions it to serve those needs more efficiently, especially in two sectors where speed, compliance, and data integrity are mission-critical.

This reorg also puts Ocrolus on a more aggressive footing against rivals in the mortgage and SMB analytics space—especially as more incumbents move to modernize legacy infrastructure with AI and automation.

“This isn’t just about internal org charts,” said CEO and Co-founder Sam Bobley. “We’re doubling down on solving vertical-specific problems at scale—with Nadia and David leading the way.”

With AI-native solutions increasingly defining fintech’s next chapter, Ocrolus' vertical strategy offers a template for how data-driven firms can evolve beyond generalist platforms to purpose-built intelligence engines for core industries.

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