Artifact Lab, a cutting-edge platform re-architecting privacy in ad-tech, announces its partnership with DSCVR, a prominent Web3 social network and community-building platform. This collaboration aims to integrate Artifact's innovative data staking protocol into DSCVR's ecosystem, offering users enhanced privacy and monetization opportunities.

• Partnership Details:

  • DSCVR Overview: With over half a million monthly unique visitors, DSCVR combines Web2-style social app usability with crypto technology, enabling ownership, monetization, and distribution for users, creators, and projects.
  • Artifact's Vision: Artifact believes in the fundamental right to user privacy and a free internet powered by ads. Their unique data staking protocol allows users to monetize their data (opt-in) across the ad-tech ecosystem while preserving privacy.

• RELIC Ad Rewards:

  • User Control: DSCVR users can opt-in to the RELIC Ad Rewards experience, allowing them to monetize their data and be compensated for watching ads directly in their feed.
  • Privacy Preservation: Users have full control over their data, aligning with Artifact's commitment to privacy.

• Artifact's Community Site - RelicDAO:

  • Community Engagement: Users can join RelicDAO to learn more about data ownership and privacy, and start earning from their data as Artifact uses it across different ad-tech surfaces.
  • Collaborative Efforts: This collaboration with DSCVR enhances the user experience by integrating community-owned ad-tech.

Statements from Leadership

• Ricardo Rodrigues, VP, Business Development & Partnerships at Artifact:

  • "The evolution of privacy in ad-tech is crucial. Artifact, and our community-driven RelicDAO, is placing the user at the center of the experience, converging Ad-tech and Web3. The team at DSCVR shares our fundamental beliefs, making this the perfect platform for integrating community-owned ad-tech."

• Rick Porter, Co-founder & CEO of DSCVR:

  • "Artifact's approach of empowering users to monetize their digital footprint aligns with DSCVR's mission. Through DSCVR's API, we unlock novel use cases like this for the benefit of our user base."

Artifact Lab and DSCVR's partnership marks a significant step towards enhancing user privacy and monetization in the ad-tech ecosystem. By integrating Artifact's data staking protocol into DSCVR, users can enjoy a seamless, privacy-preserving experience while monetizing their data.

LG Ad Solutions has released a report titled “Commercials & Classrooms: TV’s Impact on Back-to-School Shopping,” which provides valuable insights into the spending behaviors and preferences of parents during the back-to-school season. The report reveals that parents spent an average of $1,080 per child on school supplies last year, with 62% expecting to spend even more this year.

• In-Store Shopping Preferences:

  • Majority Preference: 74% of parents prefer in-store shopping for back-to-school supplies, especially at big box retailers like Walmart and Target.
  • Parental Influence: Parents dictate where back-to-school shopping occurs, while children influence what is purchased.

• Advertising Insights:

  • Effective Techniques: Advanced CTV ads with interactive features, such as store locations or in-store discounts, are particularly effective, with 85% of parents shopping at specific stores after seeing back-to-school ads.
  • Engaging Features: Parents are more likely to pay attention to ads featuring discounts (93%), QR codes (81%), and products being used by students (89%).

• Streaming Preferences:

  • Co-Viewing: Parents prefer streaming when watching with their children across all educational levels, highlighting an opportunity for advertisers to reach household decision-makers.
  • Free Streaming: 77% of parents prefer free ad-supported streaming TV (FAST) apps, which is 12% higher than the general adult population.

• TV Viewing Habits:

  • Daily Viewing: Most parents watch TV daily, spending 59% of their viewing time co-viewing with their children.
  • Olympic Games: 84% of parents plan to watch the 2024 Olympic Games with their children, presenting a prime advertising opportunity during the back-to-school shopping period.

Statements from Leadership

• Tony Marlow, CMO of LG Ad Solutions:
  • "Understanding viewer behavior is critical for advertisers. These insights show that advanced ad techniques can be very effective, especially when driving actions like visiting specific store locations or using in-store discounts."

LG Ad Solutions' report underscores the importance of tailored advertising strategies for the back-to-school season. By leveraging advanced CTV ads and understanding parental preferences, advertisers can effectively engage with key audiences during this crucial shopping period.

Today, ON24 (NYSE: ONTF), a leading intelligent engagement platform for B2B sales and marketing, announced its new status as a Silver Certified Product Partner of Veeva Systems, the global leader in cloud software for the life sciences industry. This partnership leverages the ON24 Intelligent Engagement Platform with Veeva CRM Events Management, enabling life sciences companies to drive digital engagement through webinars, virtual events, and content experiences, and seamlessly feed those insights to their sales and marketing teams.

• Enhanced Digital Engagement:

  • Customer-Centric Experiences: Life sciences brands can now prioritize customer-centric experiences as healthcare professionals increasingly expect digital engagement.
  • Personalized Interactions: Companies can deliver personalized experiences at scale, using technology to enhance customer satisfaction and engagement.

• Innovative Event Execution:

  • Seamless Integration: Connecting Veeva CRM Events Management with the ON24 Intelligent Engagement Platform allows for innovative execution of advisory boards, roundtables, and other digital experiences.
  • Data-Driven Actions: Data captured from events can be used to deliver personalized content and targeted follow-ups, driving revenue growth through connected insights.

• Streamlined Processes:

  • Event Lifecycle Management: Create and execute engaging digital experiences using ON24's automated workflows that support compliance and increase HCP (healthcare professionals) engagement.
  • Unified Customer Data: Combine event registration and engagement data within Veeva CRM Events Management to obtain a unified view of customer interactions.
  • Real-Time Insights: Access real-time insights to trigger informed actions across marketing and sales, ensuring compliance and enhancing decision-making.

Statements from Leadership

• Ankit Sagar, VP of Pharma, ON24:
  • "In today's landscape, healthcare professionals are embracing digital engagement and increasingly expecting life sciences brands to prioritize customer-centric experiences. This Veeva CRM Events Management product partnership emphasizes our commitment to reshaping digital engagement in life sciences and driving revenue growth through connected insights."

Future Plans

ON24 plans to release an integration for Veeva Vault CRM later this year, further enhancing the capabilities of life sciences companies to drive HCP engagement through streamlined digital experiences and unified data management.

The partnership between ON24 and Veeva Systems represents a significant step in enhancing digital engagement in the life sciences industry. By integrating ON24's Intelligent Engagement Platform with Veeva CRM Events Management, life sciences companies can innovate their event execution, personalize customer interactions, and drive informed, data-driven actions.

The future of social media marketing is set to be increasingly influenced by artificial intelligence (AI). According to Capterra’s 2024 GenAI for Social Content Survey, which surveyed over 1,600 social media marketers worldwide, businesses plan to use generative AI (GenAI) for an average of 48% of their social media content by 2026, up from 39% in 2024.

Key Findings from the Survey

• Global Adoption of GenAI:

  • Leading Regions: Countries like Canada, Australia, the U.S., and Brazil are currently at the forefront of GenAI usage for social content. Over the next 18 months, significant increases are expected in the U.K., Australia, Brazil, Canada, and Spain.
  • Language Advantage: The predominance of English-language internet content has given English-speaking countries a head start in utilizing GenAI tools.

• Benefits Driving GenAI Adoption:

  • Enhanced Productivity: GenAI streamlines workflows, aids in idea generation, automates routine tasks, and creates personalized content. Nearly 90% of businesses using GenAI for social content report moderate to significant time savings.
  • Increased Engagement: 73% of businesses have seen increased engagement and impressions from GenAI-assisted content, with 49% stating that GenAI-assisted content performs better than human-created content.
  • Cost Savings: Businesses are enthusiastic about the potential of GenAI to enhance productivity and save costs, while also fostering human creativity.

• Challenges and Concerns:

  • Maintaining Authenticity: 43% of businesses cite maintaining authenticity as a top challenge, followed by ensuring AI-generated content resonates with audiences (35%).
  • Misinformation Risks: 94% of businesses worry about the potential for GenAI to spread misinformation, necessitating significant oversight to ensure quality and accuracy.
  • Value of Human Creativity: 40% of businesses question the value of human input in the age of GenAI, highlighting concerns about maintaining the balance between AI and human creativity.

Expert Insights

• Molly Burke, Senior Marketing Analyst at Capterra:
  • "The need for human supervision remains critical, as errors and issues such as factual inaccuracies, plagiarism, and bias are common. Businesses must practice a human-in-the-loop strategy, ensuring human review and editing of AI-generated content before publication."

Best Practices for Implementing GenAI Safely and Effectively

1. Establish Formal Policies:

   • Align stakeholders on use cases and best practices to ensure safety, legal compliance, and brand alignment.

2. Adopt a Human-in-the-Loop Strategy:

   • Ensure human review and editing of AI-generated content to maintain quality and accuracy.

3. Utilize Internal and External Metrics:

   • Measure GenAI effectiveness to track performance and understand its true cost and impact on employee morale.

4. Navigate Challenges and Benefits:

   • As businesses increase their investment in GenAI, they must navigate its challenges and benefits, ensuring the technology supports rather than replaces human marketers.

The future of social media marketing is poised for transformation with the increasing adoption of GenAI. While businesses stand to gain significantly in terms of productivity, engagement, and cost savings, they must also address the challenges of maintaining authenticity and preventing misinformation. By establishing robust policies and integrating human oversight, businesses can leverage GenAI responsibly and effectively, ensuring it enhances rather than diminishes the value of human creativity.

PathFactory, a leader in content intelligence solutions, has announced its strategic acquisition of Uberflip, a prominent content experience platform. This stock-for-stock transaction combines the expertise of two industry giants to form a global leader in B2B content intelligence and personalization. The merger is set to revolutionize how B2B marketers engage with buyers, leveraging generative AI and innovative content strategies to enhance the buyer's journey and drive revenue growth.

• Strategic Vision for B2B Marketing:

  • Dev Ganesan, CEO and President of PathFactory:

    • “Today we bring together industry leaders that share a common vision for how B2B marketers can use generative AI to deliver better buying experiences that increase engagement and drive revenue. Our aligned cultures, rooted in innovation and led by strong, experienced management, will guide our team's success, accelerate product innovation, and scale growth.”

  • Jeremy Schultz, CEO of Uberflip:

    • “Together we are creating a powerful combination that will allow us to deliver better customer experiences and widen our reach. Our shared values of customer centricity, marketing technology expertise, and passion for helping the new generation of B2B marketers succeed in the new digital economy is accretive to both our companies and our customers.”

• Enhanced Capabilities in B2B Content Marketing:

  • Addressing Buyer Challenges:

    • With 77% of B2B buyers reporting that their last purchase was very complex or difficult according to Gartner, the merger aims to simplify the buying journey. PathFactory and Uberflip's combined capabilities will focus on delivering the right content to the right buyer at the right time, reducing friction in the buyer’s journey.

  • Generative AI for Better Experiences:

    • The acquisition emphasizes the use of generative AI to enhance personalized buying experiences, which is crucial as buyers engage with content before reaching out to sales teams.

Strategic Goals of the Merger

• Creating a Unified Content Experience Platform:

  • The merger aims to blend PathFactory’s content engagement analytics with Uberflip’s content experience solutions, creating a comprehensive platform that offers B2B marketers advanced tools for personalizing and optimizing the buyer's journey.

• Expanding Market Reach and Innovation:

  • The combined entity will continue to operate under the PathFactory name. Dev Ganesan will serve as the CEO, with Ira Cohen and Jeremy Schultz joining the PathFactory Board of Directors. The integration of Uberflip’s executives into key roles within PathFactory underscores a commitment to innovation and growth.

• Meeting the Demands of Modern B2B Marketing:

  • By addressing the complexity of B2B buying processes and leveraging AI for improved content delivery, the merger aims to equip marketers with the tools needed to engage buyers earlier in their decision-making process.

The Future of B2B Content Intelligence

• Proactive Engagement Strategies:

  • Research shows that buyers do not engage with sales teams until they are 70% through their buying process. The new combined platform will focus on engaging potential buyers earlier and more effectively, thus reducing missed opportunities and fostering stronger buyer relationships.

• Scaling Growth and Innovation:

  • The merger sets the stage for accelerated product innovation and increased market reach, positioning the new entity to lead the evolution of B2B marketing technologies.

The acquisition of Uberflip by PathFactory marks a significant development in the B2B content marketing landscape. By merging their expertise in content intelligence and experience, PathFactory and Uberflip aim to transform B2B marketing strategies, enhance buyer engagement, and drive revenue growth through advanced AI-driven solutions and personalized content experiences.

Medius, a renowned provider of AP Automation and Spend Management solutions, recently announced the appointment of Fahmi Megdiche as their new Chief Information Security Officer (CISO). This strategic move comes as Medius expands its operations across Europe, following the acquisition of the employee spend management solution, Expensya.

Expansion and Leadership

• Geographical Expansion: Medius is expanding its reach throughout Europe.
• New Leadership: Fahmi Megdiche has been appointed as the new CISO.

Role and Responsibilities

• Cybersecurity Strategy: Megdiche will lead Medius' cybersecurity efforts, focusing on product development, IT, and security operations.
• Product Enhancement: His expertise will be pivotal in fortifying Medius’ AI-driven AP and spend management solutions.

Professional Background

• Previous Experience: Megdiche has held significant positions at companies like Telnet, AUSY, and WYND.
• Achievements: At WYND, he developed the company’s security and privacy programs from scratch.
• Years of Experience: With 17 years in the field, he brings extensive knowledge in building security products and consultancy services.

Strategic Importance

• Strengthening Security: Medius aims to combat fraud and inefficiencies through advanced security measures.
• Value Addition: Megdiche's background in software development and security strategy will enhance Medius' offerings to its customers.

Statements from Leadership

• Ahmed Fessi, CTIO, Medius: Emphasized the strategic insights and product-specific security knowledge that Megdiche will bring, which will strengthen internal defenses and improve customer offerings.
• Fahmi Megdiche, CISO, Medius: Highlighted the rising challenges businesses face due to AI, fraud, and data protection issues. He looks forward to enhancing Medius’ security and privacy plans and improving their product suite for secure and innovative AP and spend management solutions.

Fahmi Megdiche’s appointment as CISO marks a significant step for Medius in bolstering its cybersecurity infrastructure. His extensive experience and strategic vision are set to drive Medius’ mission to eliminate fraud and inefficiencies, ensuring secure and efficient financial management for their customers.

Generix, a global business software company offering a wide range of SaaS solutions in supply chain, finance, commerce, and B2B integration, has announced the appointment of three seasoned leaders to accelerate its geographical expansion across three strategic regions: EMEA North & Asia-Pacific, EMEA South & Latin America, and North America.

EMEA North & Asia-Pacific

• Pierre Chaffardon: Appointed as General Manager.
  • Background: Joined Generix in 2023.
  • Experience: Over two decades of sales and IT services leadership at IBM Software and IBM Services.
  • Expertise: Digital transformation and hybrid cloud trajectory adoption.

EMEA South & Latin America

• Philippe Ducellier: Appointed as General Manager.
  • Experience: Over twenty years at Generix.
  • Achievements: Established Generix as a leading SaaS company in Spain.
  • Focus: Driving geographical expansion and customer satisfaction in the region.

North America

• Mark McArthur: Appointed as General Manager.
  • Experience: Proven track record in driving growth and customer value in global corporations, middle-market companies, and start-ups.
  • Background: Successful stints at Adexa Inc, Alpega, and Blue Yonder (formerly JDA Software).

Strategic Vision

• New Regional Organization: Aimed at offering, selling, and deploying Generix's cloud applications and technologies, prioritizing customer-centricity and proximity.
• Global SaaS Growth: Focused on delivering unique innovations and value to customers.
• Leadership Insight: Raphaël Sanchez, President and CEO of Generix, emphasizes the importance of industry experience and a customer-first mindset in achieving growth and innovation.

Commitment to Innovation

• Client Base: Over 5,000 clients worldwide.
• Growth: 31% increase in SaaS signings.
• Investment: Over €100 million invested in AI-driven portfolio reinvention.

The appointments of Pierre Chaffardon, Philippe Ducellier, and Mark McArthur mark a significant step in Generix's strategy to accelerate its global expansion and enhance its SaaS offerings. With their extensive experience and leadership, Generix is poised to achieve new heights in customer satisfaction and innovation.

Patent-pending technology launched in the US with DC Lottery campaign

Blis has announced the launch of its new patent-pending omnichannel measurement solution, Smart Holdout Groups. This innovative tool addresses the challenges of traditional campaign measurement, representing a significant advancement in privacy-first, omnichannel advertising effectiveness.

Overcoming Measurement Challenges

• Multi-Channel Advertising: With the rise of multi-channel advertising and the decline of cookie-based tracking, measuring campaign impact has become challenging.
• Comprehensive Measurement: Smart Holdout Groups enables marketers to measure their entire audience across all channels without relying on cookies or IDs.

Technology and Functionality

• Patent-Pending Technology: Links campaign spending to key outcome indicators like brand lift, store visit lift, and sales lift.
• Machine Learning: Generates statistically balanced targeted and control groups (A/B testing) based on seven independent data points, including demographics and household characteristics.
• Movement Data: Uses Blis' movement data to understand human patterns and create buffer zones to minimize cross-pollination between control and exposed groups.

Real-World Application

Case Study: DC Lottery and FuseIdeas

• Campaign Objective: Promote a multiplier instant scratch game.
• Results:
  • Store visit uplift of 67%.
  • 160% increase in likelihood to buy across all campaign channels.
• Client Feedback: FuseIdeas and DC Lottery praised Blis for providing comprehensive insights and demonstrating the true business impact of their campaigns.

Client Testimonials

• Tracie Chinetti, VP of Integrated Media, FuseIdeas: Highlighted Blis' ability to deliver full-funnel offerings and precise reach at scale.
• Jayre Reaves, Director of Marketing and Communications, DC Office of Lottery and Gaming: Emphasized the importance of holistic, privacy-first campaign insights provided by Smart Holdout Groups.

Blis' Smart Holdout Groups offers a groundbreaking solution for omnichannel campaign measurement. By leveraging advanced technology and privacy-first principles, it provides marketers with the tools needed to achieve accurate, comprehensive, and actionable insights.