Introducing the future of creator storefronts made for social with Trnd.

Trnd, the new creator commerce platform, is poised to redefine the way brands and creators convert followers to customers across all channels. Trnd is excited to introduce a solution designed to enhance the effectiveness and profitability of influencer collaborations. Although 78% of companies plan to incorporate influencers into their marketing strategies, the status quo of referral links and discount codes creates a poor experience for the consumer, eroding the brand experience program ROI, and creator value. Trnd offers a unique way for influencers to create their own multi-brand social stores that enables instant transactions without leaving their content on any channel. Unlike link trees or affiliate links that lead to multiple clicks, consumer frustration, and poor ROI, Trnd enables an elevated social shopping experience that maximizes conversion and increases revenue. 

“At Shoptalk 2024, the stage is set for unveiling the latest in retail innovation, and Trnd is at the heart of this transformation. With the pace at which social commerce is evolving, we’ve yet to see a solution that truly meets the needs of the brand, creator and consumer in a single unified platform and seamless experience. With Trnd, we are combining a superior consumer experience that drives instant social transactions from creator storefronts, with a robust brand platform that offers clear, measurable insights into the impact of creator programs. We're excited to showcase how Trnd can streamline and empower influencer marketing strategies for brands looking to navigate the future of retail,” states David Abbey, CEO and Co-Founder of Trnd.

Anticipating significant growth in social commerce, which is projected to reach USD 6.2 trillion by 2030 at a CAGR of 31.6%, Trnd addresses several main challenges: transforming the social buying experience for consumers; unlocking data and streamlining brand management for creators into a single app; and surfacing key data, ROI and analytics for brands measuring influencer campaign ROI. A staggering 91% of shoppers are more likely to return to a brand with a satisfying checkout process, according to a 2022 PYMNTS report. Unlike the status quo of social shopping experience that is riddled with friction and conversion barriers, Trnd’s instant checkout enables a positive buying experience, strengthening the relationship between the creator, the brand and the consumer.

While driving conversion is critical, measuring influencer campaign performance across the entire cycle from social engagement to sales is what’s driving program success and resource allocation. Yet, measuring performance beyond engagement metrics remains a challenge for most teams. Trnd offers a solution that bridges social engagement with sales performance, equipping brands with detailed insights and analytics for every stage of the influencer program funnel, from engagement to influencer performance to detailed CAC metrics and real-time ROI for gifting programs. For Trnd, this is a unique differentiator and delivers insights previously unavailable in a single platform. This enables precise tuning of influencer collaborations and allows creators to quantifiably demonstrate their impact on sales, marking a new standard in the creator economy.

The platform includes a customer-facing creator social storefront, a creator app for personalized product curation, and a brand platform that provides:

• Strategic business insights for decision-making with advanced analytics
• Integration with Shopify and other e-commerce platforms for seamless operations
• Instant checkout across social and digital platforms
• Automatic payouts to creators
• An automated gifting system to streamline and scale gifting programs
• A brand discovery marketplace and creator campaign flow to grow and diversify campaigns

“With Trnd, we're not just launching another platform; we're offering a scalable solution that links influencer activity with sales outcomes," Abbey explains. Our work with brands like Nena Skincare and Organifi demonstrates the power of enhancing the creator-to-consumer connection with actionable data. The possibilities are endless, when you think of click-to-sale conversion rates of 13% PushUp Chalk has seen in a single weekend.”

Shoptalk Las Vegas attendees are invited to experience Trnd's seamless social checkout firsthand and receive exclusive gifts from Organifi and Nena Skincare at Booth 1781 during Shoptalk Las Vegas.

It's a new day for your data. Cisco, supercharged by Splunk, will revolutionize the way companies harness data to connect and protect every aspect of their organizations. 

News summary

• Cisco is now uniquely poised to power, protect, and advance the AI revolution for customers
• Cisco will bring the full power of the network together with market-leading security and observability solutions
• With Splunk, Cisco becomes one of the largest software companies globally

Cisco today announced it completed the acquisition of Splunk, setting the foundation for delivering unparalleled visibility and insights across an organization's entire digital footprint.

To thrive in the new digital era, organizations must connect and protect all that they do. They need to connect the people, places, applications, data, and devices that power their business while protecting their entire digital footprint from cybersecurity threats, downtime, and other critical business risks.

Cisco will bring the full power of the network, together with market-leading security and observability solutions, to deliver a real-time unified view of the entire digital landscape, helping teams proactively defend critical infrastructure, prevent outages, and refine the network experience.

"We are thrilled to officially welcome Splunk to Cisco," said Chuck Robbins, Chair and CEO of Cisco. "As one of the world's largest software companies, we will revolutionize the way our customers leverage data to connect and protect every aspect of their organization as we help power and protect the AI revolution."

"Uniting Splunk and Cisco will bring tremendous value to our joint customers worldwide," said Gary Steele, Executive Vice President, General Manager, Splunk. "The combination of Cisco and Splunk will provide truly comprehensive visibility and insights across an organization's entire digital footprint, delivering an unprecedented level of resilience through the most extensive and powerful security and observability product portfolio on the market."

Cisco will Power and Protect the AI Revolution

The adoption and impact of AI are outpacing that of any technology introduction we have ever seen.

Effective use of the right data at massive scale is critical to enable the meaningful benefits of AI and help organizations drive outcomes never before possible. To truly reap the benefits of AI, organizations need the infrastructure to power it, the data to develop it, a security platform to protect it, and an observability platform to monitor and manage it in real time. Cisco will be able to do all four together.

"Cisco and Splunk is a transformative combination that will allow customers to do things that weren't possible before," said Stephen Elliot, Group Vice President, I&O, Cloud Operations, and DevOps at IDC. "With the close, Cisco has created a unique set of solutions for networking, security, and operations executives in the market. When you add that to their channel and AI investments, customers should be considering the higher levels of business value that can now be unlocked."

"Accenture congratulates Cisco on the acquisition of Splunk," said Julie Sweet, Chair and CEO Accenture. "We have enjoyed long-term partnerships with both companies and look forward to the opportunities this collaboration presents to our clients in the future.

Better Together: How Cisco and Splunk will Benefit Customers, Partners and Developers

The combination of Cisco and Splunk will provide customers with:

Better Security. A highly comprehensive security solution for threat prevention, detection, investigation, and response for organizations of any size, utilizing cloud, network, and endpoint traffic for unparalleled visibility.

Better Observability. A highly comprehensive full-stack observability solution for delivering amazing digital experiences across a multi-cloud hybrid environment.

Better Networking. A leading secure networking solution delivered on intelligent, resilient, and continually optimized network infrastructure.

Better AI. Cisco's networking portfolio combined with enhanced security, full-stack observability, and a comprehensive data platform  empowers customers to securely harness the power of AI throughout their organizations and applications.

Better Economics. Cisco and Splunk's platform approach will help our customers consolidate numerous point products delivering better business outcomes and reducing costs.

Cisco and Splunk also bring together global developer and partner communities with extensive experience extending security, observability, and data platform capabilities with pre-packaged applications and solutions for customers. Our collective partner ecosystem can create new profitable revenue streams through high-value services and by deploying innovative new applications and AI-powered solutions.

Ticketbud, today announced the launch of its Reserved Seating Ticketing, opening up to a wider range of event organizers wanting to switch to the ticketing provider emerging as a new industry favorite.

Reserved Seating by Ticketbud includes venue mapping and custom seating charts, with interactive selection allowing ticket buyers to choose their preferred seats with ease. This feature elevates the attendee experience and gives organizers flexibility to set custom pricing for various seating areas, maximizing revenue potential.

Eve Mason, of Velocity Dance Competition, who utilizes Ticketbud Reserve Seating for their year end Gala in Las Vegas said; "Having tried other ticketing services, I was seeking a more tailored experience. Ticketbud surpassed my expectations by offering customized ticketing sales, prompt assistance from a representative, and on-site support for our event. They truly went the extra mile to ensure our event was a success."

Ticketbud is rapidly gaining popularity with more event organizers wanting to move away from ever restrictive providers and their high ticketing fees. Ticketbud CEO, Kayhan Ahmadi explains, "It's not just the venue mapping and reserve seating, but the granular features that our event organizers love. The ability to pick your own seats at a gala table, or book out a whole table at a discounted rate. Our goal at Ticketbud is to continually innovate and provide solutions valuable to event organizers. We are committed to making advanced ticketing solutions accessible".

Reserved Seating is now available to all Ticketbud users. Whether it's a gala dinner, theater, stadium, or more custom seating requirements, Ticketbud can now better support these events.

Ticketbud is offering complimentary customized mapping and setup to the first 50 event organizers who request reserved seating.

Veteran SaaS marketing executive tapped to drive global marketing strategy and expansion

parcelLab, the premier global retail, e-commerce, and post-purchase customer experience platform, today announced the appointment of Noel Hamill as Global Chief Marketing Officer. Hamill will define and execute parcelLab’s global go-to-market strategy and vision, overseeing all marketing functions and helping to transform the customer journey to fuel the company’s next stage of business growth. 

Tobias Buxhoidt, Founder and CEO of parcelLab said: “Noel is a proven industry leader with an unmatched track record driving significant and sustained global growth through creative, data-driven marketing programs. His proven experience will help us expand our market share, elevate our global brand and usher in a new era of customer success as we continue to bring global brands closer to their customers.”

Hamill brings more than 20 years of experience in leadership roles for dynamic, private equity-backed SaaS companies. He most recently served as Global Chief Marketing Officer at PG Forsta, a SaaS technology platform providing technology, data, and expertise for research, healthcare, and customer experience measurement. Hamill was previously CMO of Ladbrokes Coral, where he was responsible for brand development and strategy, voice of the customer, public relations, social media and events.

"parcelLab is a high-growth company that is committed to driving innovation, customer satisfaction and share of wallet for global brands, and I’m thrilled to work with this amazing team at such an exciting stage in its growth journey,” said Hamill. “I look forward to helping parcelLab expand our market opportunities and accelerate customer adoption of our solutions around the world as we continue to revolutionize the post-purchase experience.”

Equifax® has joined forces with VTEX, the composable and complete commerce platform for premier B2C and B2B brands, to help fortify fraud prevention capabilities for merchants across the globe. This strategic partnership, which started in 2023, combines the fraud detection and prevention expertise from Equifax with the robust VTEX commerce platform, empowering enterprise customers to better secure their businesses while delivering unmatched customer experiences.

The collaboration enables customers on the VTEX platform to seamlessly integrate with the Equifax Kount Payment Fraud solution, an advanced anti-fraud solution that is used by more than 20,000 businesses operating in over 40 countries around the world to better engage with their customers while combating fraud. The integration is designed to offer real-time fraud protection during payment events, helping to safeguard transactions without disrupting the checkout flow. This includes:

• Scalable Artificial Intelligence-based decisioning and flexible business policies tailored to the needs of customers, financial institutions, and other businesses that conduct digital customer interactions.
• Access to an industry-leading global network that delivers a proprietary set of Equifax digital and physical identity data attributes that is bolstered by more than 60 billion annual transactions. 
• Robust reporting and analytics capabilities that deliver actionable insights for businesses of any size.

VTEX, one of the world's most recognized digital commerce platforms trusted by 2,600 customers across 43 countries, recognizes the value of equipping its merchants with sophisticated anti-fraud tools. "As enterprise businesses navigate the evolving commerce arena, heightened cybersecurity is undeniable. It's not just a shield against potential threats; it's the bedrock of sustainable success," said Santiago Naranjo, CRO at VTEX. "Our partnership with Equifax showcases our unwavering commitment to cybersecurity, bolstered by a focus on enhancing trust in every transaction. Our partnership isn't just about protection; it's about continued prosperity of customers worldwide."

The partnership aligns with the rising demand for robust fraud prevention measures globally in the e-commerce landscape. Worldwide e-commerce fraud is increasing, with enterprise losses from online payment fraud expected to exceed $362 billion between 2023 to 2028. With the rise of e-commerce orders, enterprises are increasingly vulnerable to various forms of fraud, including card testing, phishing, identity theft, and more. The collaboration between Equifax and VTEX addresses this challenge head-on, providing customers with advanced tools to combat fraud and help protect their revenue.

"While merchants can benefit from the rapid adoption of e-commerce to achieve significant revenue growth, they're also faced with increased rates of digital fraud and chargebacks," stated Adam Gunther, Senior Vice President and General Manager of the Digital Solutions team at Equifax. "The strategic partnership we've forged with VTEX exemplifies our commitment to enabling merchants globally with advanced technology to efficiently secure online transactions, protect and recover revenue, deliver great customer experiences, and focus on their core business rather than fraud."

The Equifax commitment to empowering businesses with industry-leading Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning technology, real-time fraud protection, and customizable solutions is at the core of this partnership. As merchants face the evolving landscape of fraud, the Equifax and VTEX partnership offers a proactive approach to minimizing false positives, improving fraud capture rates, and ensuring secure payment experiences.

"When faced with a fraud issue, time is of the essence, and dedicating weeks to development is simply not feasible," said Cody Stapleton, Co-CEO & Chief Commercial Officer, Jeffers Pet. "The seamless integration of the Kount Payment Fraud Solution within the VTEX platform proved to be remarkably efficient, swiftly addressing a cybersecurity gap that we were acutely aware of. We were operational within just one hour."

30-year Customer Experience and Customer Service Technology Veteran to Lead Market Intelligence and Evangelism for Five9

Five9, provider of the Intelligent CX Platform, today announced the appointment of Steve Blood as Vice President of Market Intelligence and Evangelism at Five9. Based in Europe, Blood will focus on shaping and elevating Five9’s positioning as it expands its global leadership in customer experience. 

“As one of the most prominent industry analysts in CX, Steve’s addition to the Five9 team underscores our role as an innovator,” said Five9 CMO Niki Hall. “His profound understanding of market demands will help amplify Five9’s thought leadership and his invaluable contributions will undoubtedly bolster our mission to deliver unparalleled CX solutions across all scales and sectors. We are beyond thrilled to welcome Steve and look forward to achieving remarkable milestones together."

Blood was most recently a Vice President and Analyst in Gartner’s Customer Service and Support team, part of the Sales & Customer Service practice. His research primarily focused on customer service and support technologies, with a specific expertise in market insights, contact center applications, digital customer service and customer service analytics. During his tenure at Gartner, Steve served as an advisor of customer service technology to end users and buyers of mid, large, and enterprise organizations across multiple continents. He authored industry-defining research, including most recently the Gartner® Magic Quadrant™ for Contact Center as a Service, Predicts 2024: Customer Service and Support Strategy and Leadership, and Market Guide for Digital Customer Service and Support.

“Five9 has achieved strong brand recognition and demonstrability in a market that was dominated by legacy customer experience and service technology,” said Blood. “I’ve been watching this market for decades and have always been impressed by how Five9 has grown organically to one of the largest CCaaS players today. I believe in the power of the collective – and Five9 has always embraced collaboration as a core strength, which aligns firmly with my beliefs. The opportunity is immense, and I am excited to be a part of Five9’s next chapter of growth.”

Prior to Gartner, Blood worked in product marketing at Rockwell Electronic Commerce, where he was responsible for marketing its next generation contact center portfolio in EMEA. Before that, he spent 10 years in the U.K. telecommunications industry in product management, sales and technical support roles for BT, Mercury Communications and NTL.

Jenner brings over 25 years of technology experience from Splunk, Salesforce, and Microsoft

Today, monday.com Ltd., a work operating system (Work OS) where organizations of any size can create the tools and processes they need to manage every aspect of their work, announced the appointment of Petra Jenner to its Board of Directors, effective April 1, 2024. 

Jenner has over 25 years of wide international experience in the digital space. In her current role as Splunk’s Senior Vice President and General Manager for Europe, Middle East, and Africa (EMEA), Jenner oversees the company’s go-to-market strategy and growth in the region. Prior to Splunk, she held various executive positions of increasing responsibility during her six-year tenure at Salesforce and leadership roles with Microsoft, Checkpoint Software, and Pivotal. At Salesforce, Jenner was responsible for the transformation of the company’s business in Europe, which became one of the fastest-growing regions during her tenure. Based in Munich, she studied International Management at the Stanford Graduate School of Business in Singapore and holds a Masters Degree in Business and IT.

“We are pleased to welcome an accomplished technology veteran of Petra’s caliber to monday.com’s Board of Directors,” said Roy Mann and Eran Zinman, co-CEOs of monday.com. “Her expertise in scaling businesses, passion for digital transformation, and familiarity with future work models are powerful assets to both our Board and company. We’re confident that Petra will add invaluable perspective as we take on our next stage of growth.”

“I’m honored to have the opportunity to serve on monday.com’s Board and help deliver on the company's mission of running all core aspects of work,” said Jenner. “It is an exciting time to join the monday.com team, especially with the vast opportunities on the horizon as the company continues to expand upmarket. I look forward to contributing my expertise in delivering innovative solutions and scaling businesses to further grow monday.com and deliver enhanced value for shareholders.”

Collective Audience, Inc., a leading innovator of audience-based performance advertising and media, has launched AudienceDesk™ powered by AudienceCloud™.

The powerful new AdTech and MarTech solution brings together publisher supply, brand and agency demand, together with unique audience data, into a unified cloud platform.

AudienceCloud’s AI-driven capabilities and data infrastructure empowers users with a next generation technology stack. It includes applications that enable them to easily and cost-efficiently build, reach, connect and monetize using the singular AudienceDesk interface. The easily deployed AudienceCloud API can also be used to integrate the technology into existing third-party platforms and environments.

AudienceCloud’s groundbreaking modern infrastructure is built with the most advanced, customizable modules designed to take on today’s new cookieless, audience data-driven advertising world. It introduces the industry’s first open audience-based ecosystem for digital advertising and media with powerful features and benefits:

• Full-stack ad server with pre-bid programmatic and third-party DSP integrations that serves Collective Audience’s unique ad units or any other ad network.
• Cookieless targeting with semantic exact match keywords and phrases.
• Unique GenAI enabled, attention-based, conversational performance advertising units that are customizable to drive any type of transaction in the ad unit, empowering publishers and brands with the ability to collect zero party audience data via ad campaigns, surveys or quizzes. Try live demo here.
• API integrations to and from any environment for any of the AudienceCloud modules.
• Low-code integration provides publishers real-time semantics and customizable end-to-end ad infrastructure in just minutes, so they can manage their entire ad stack on a single platform.
• Publishers and brands are empowered by their data being generated with the ability to gain insights, create audience segments, and route to their DMP, CDP or CRM — all in real-time.
• Transparent revenue for publishers and advertisers—no more separate charges for absorbing, programmatic, creative or data. Increases inventory ROI with a clean direct supply path.

The AudienceDesk interface gives publishers and advertisers a single unified trading desk to create, forecast, serve, monetize, measure and optimize with greater user engagement, higher brand recall and more precise user data:

• AudienceDesk Creative Studio™ self-serve environment delivers vastly more efficient creative for a 2.9x brand lift.
• Customizable interactive templates with dynamic creatives that connect to external catalogs.
• GenerativeAI solutions for publishers and creative campaign managers.
• AudienceDesk Ad Manager™ enables agencies and brands to buy ad space on all collective sites.
• Publishers can easily enrich content, capture data, and build their own advertising or audience survey campaigns.
• Distributed functionality within third party AdTech platforms, DSP, SSP, DMP, tracking and others.

“It is time for change,” stated Collective Audience CEO, Peter Bordes. “Increasing complexity and costs has caused fundamental, far-reaching problems for AdTech and the digital media world. And it’s just not one thing that needs to change, it’s everything. So, we have pulled apart, rearchitected and built up from a new foundation a solution that solves the many challenges and roadblocks we face.

“AudienceCloud creates direct connections that allows us to finally automate the entire supply path process, and empower publishers and advertisers with next generation performance advertising units for the attention economy. The intuitive and easy-to-use AudienceDesk interface provides the unmatched ability to generate meaningful zero- and first-party data from their audiences in way that unlocks tremendous value.”