The grocery aisle is getting a brain upgrade. Wakefern Food Corp., the largest retailer-owned cooperative in the U.S., has partnered with Birdzi to deploy its customer intelligence platform—an AI-driven system designed to supercharge shopper personalization, marketing outreach, and planning.

Why It Matters

AI in grocery isn’t just about futuristic checkout kiosks. It’s about knowing what customers want before they hit the store—or the app. Birdzi’s platform blends advanced analytics with automated engagement, giving Wakefern banners like ShopRite, Price Rite Marketplace, and The Fresh Grocer the ability to run campaigns that are not only timely but highly individualized.

Darren Caudill, Wakefern’s Chief Sales Officer, put it bluntly: “As grocery retail enters an AI-driven era, working with Birdzi enables our supermarket banners to better respond to shopper needs.”

That echoes a broader trend. In 2023, 81% of grocery C-suite executives said AI would be a competitive necessity. This year? That number jumped to 93%.

From Pilot to Rollout

Pilot campaigns using Birdzi’s platform already delivered strong ROI for Wakefern, with added benefits such as:

• Sharper personalization – More relevant offers tailored to individual shoppers.

• Smarter planning – Data-backed forecasting to attract and retain customers.

• Deeper insights – Analytics that map shopper behavior with granular detail.

Now, Wakefern is scaling those efforts across its cooperative network, leveraging Birdzi’s Visper campaign engine—a system built to dynamically personalize promotions at scale.

AI as the New Loyalty Play

For Wakefern, personalization is more than a marketing tactic—it’s a survival strategy in an era where loyalty is increasingly fluid. Retail giants like Walmart and Amazon have been experimenting with their own AI assistants (Sparky, Rufus), but adoption remains limited. Birdzi offers something different: AI fine-tuned for large grocers that want real impact across hundreds of locations.

Shekar Raman, CEO of Birdzi, said the partnership validates years of development: “With over 80% of Birdzi customers operating 100+ store locations, the platform is mature and equipped to handle the needs of large-scale retailers.”

What’s Next

Birdzi will showcase its platform at Groceryshop 2025 in Las Vegas (Sept. 28–Oct. 1), where AI-powered grocery innovation is expected to dominate the floor. The Wakefern deal is likely to stand out as a case study of how legacy retail cooperatives can adopt cutting-edge AI without losing their community-focused DNA.

For shoppers, the result could be grocery lists that feel less like guesswork and more like personal concierge service. For competitors, it’s a reminder that AI personalization is moving from pilot projects to industry standard—fast.

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Apollo Silver Corp. (TSX.V: APGO; OTCQB: APGOF; Frankfurt: 6ZF0) is turning to outside expertise to step up its visibility in the capital markets. The Canadian mining company has engaged Capital Analytica, a Nanaimo, BC-based marketing and social media firm, to amplify its presence across digital channels and sharpen investor awareness strategies.

The deal, signed on September 22, 2025, is a six-month contract worth $120,000, paid in two tranches. Services include social media marketing, capital markets consultation, and social engagement reporting. While the arrangement is subject to approval from the TSX Venture Exchange (TSXV), it reflects a broader trend in the mining sector: companies leaning on specialized communications firms to cut through the noise in an increasingly competitive capital markets environment.

Why This Matters

Mining is capital-intensive and visibility often equals investor confidence. With global exploration activity climbing and competition for investor dollars intensifying, firms like Apollo Silver can’t rely solely on drill results to keep attention. Instead, they’re borrowing tactics from B2B tech—where content marketing, targeted engagement, and data-driven social media campaigns are now table stakes.

Capital Analytica isn’t a household name, but in mining and metals circles, it’s carved out a niche helping juniors and mid-tiers stay relevant online. While $120,000 for half a year may sound steep, the spend highlights just how much companies are willing to invest in digital-first investor relations.

A Leadership Update

Alongside the marketing move, Apollo Silver has also made a boardroom adjustment. CEO and President Ross McElroy is now stepping into the company’s Board of Directors.

McElroy is no stranger to the mining spotlight. With nearly four decades in geology and leadership roles across uranium, gold, and multi-metal projects, he’s helped shepherd several world-class discoveries from exploration to production. His accolades—including The Northern Miner’s Mining Person of the Year (2013) and PDAC’s Bill Dennis Award (2014)—add weight to Apollo Silver’s leadership bench at a time when credibility is as critical as capital.

The Bigger Picture

The move underscores a balancing act playing out across the mining industry: companies must not only prove the geological potential of their assets but also market themselves as investable stories. With digital communication strategies blurring lines between mining IR and mainstream brand marketing, the question is no longer whether a junior miner needs a marketing plan—but how fast they can adapt one.

Apollo Silver’s partnership with Capital Analytica, paired with its boardroom update, signals a company preparing for both operational and reputational growth. The market will now be watching to see whether investor engagement follows suit.

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Netwatch, known for its AI-enabled proactive video monitoring, has partnered with 3Si Security Systems to integrate its service with 3Si’s DirectToDispatch™ (DTD) platform. The goal: deliver verified video and location intelligence directly to law enforcement in real time, trimming down response lag and boosting officer safety.

In practical terms, that means dispatchers and first responders won’t just get a call about “a break-in.” They’ll see validated video, paired with precise location data, before they even arrive at the scene.

Smarter, Faster, Safer

“This partnership is about giving first responders the information they need when every second matters,” said Netwatch CEO Kurt Takahashi. By combining visuals with geolocation, officers can walk into a situation already knowing what to expect — a huge leap from traditional “blind” dispatching.

For 3Si customers, the deal also unlocks access to Netwatch’s live intervention monitoring, where trained operators detect and deter suspicious activity in real time. The joint solution aims to mitigate threats, reduce theft, and improve operational control for businesses, while providing law enforcement with clearer, faster intel.

Meeting Modern Policing Challenges

The timing isn’t accidental. Law enforcement agencies across the U.S. face shrinking budgets, staff shortages, and increasingly complex threats. “Access to real-time, verified intelligence is more essential than ever,” said 3Si CEO Matt Kushner. By streamlining how intelligence flows to dispatchers, the companies argue they’re helping agencies do more with less while keeping officers safer.

Industry Context

The partnership reflects a growing trend: security tech companies are moving beyond prevention and into intelligence-sharing ecosystems. With AI-driven monitoring, automated alerts, and direct-to-dispatch integrations, the security industry is increasingly bridging the gap between private systems and public response. Rivals like Motorola Solutions and Axon have been pushing similar integrations — and now, Netwatch and 3Si are signaling they don’t plan to be left behind.

If the collaboration delivers, it could reshape expectations for how private security providers support law enforcement, particularly in high-risk environments where seconds matter.

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The data integrity giant is making it easier for enterprises to operationalize “AI-ready” data — and it’s betting natural language and LLM flexibility are the keys.

Data quality has long been the unsung hero (and sometimes the Achilles’ heel) of enterprise AI projects. Precisely, a global leader in data integrity, is rolling out new AI-driven upgrades to its Data Integrity Suite that aim to finally make high-quality, AI-ready data accessible at scale.

The release introduces a set of features designed to shrink the gap between business and technical teams, reduce deployment time, and give enterprises more freedom in how they use AI. The big promise? Faster, more reliable data pipelines without the usual manual bottlenecks.

What’s New: Natural Language Meets Data Quality

At the core of the upgrade is a push toward natural language interfaces. Instead of coding data quality tasks line by line, users can now describe what they need in plain English — and the system will automatically generate the custom code.

Other highlights include:

• AI-powered rule and description generation: Automating the creation of rules and documentation, slashing hours of manual work.

• AI-generated sample data: Automatically producing test datasets to validate logic and accelerate deployments.

• LLM integration in pipelines: Bringing large language models directly into transformation workflows, with support for “bring your own LLM” to ensure enterprises aren’t locked into a single provider.

Why It Matters

The updates come at a moment when AI adoption is skyrocketing, but many organizations are stalling out on poor data quality. According to multiple industry surveys, over 70% of enterprise AI projects struggle to scale due to messy, incomplete, or siloed data.

By blending AI automation with its trusted governance framework, Precisely is positioning itself as the bridge between cutting-edge AI ambitions and the practical realities of enterprise data management.

“Organizations don’t just need AI — they need reliable AI,” noted Chris Hall, Chief Product Officer at Precisely. “This release is about making high-quality data faster, more accessible, and more flexible than ever.”

The Bigger Picture

This move also reflects a broader industry trend: data management vendors racing to embed AI in their toolkits. Collibra, Informatica, and Talend have all announced AI-powered data governance enhancements this year. Precisely’s differentiator is its emphasis on choice and control — letting customers plug in their own LLMs while staying within a secure, governed framework.

For enterprises, that could mean avoiding vendor lock-in while still accelerating AI initiatives. And with data integrity now a make-or-break factor for digital transformation, Precisely is clearly aiming to stay ahead of rivals by blending automation with flexibility.

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Alison Simpson’s tenure has transformed CMA into a future-focused hub for Canadian marketers, setting the stage for continued leadership in the sector.

The Canadian Marketing Association (CMA) today announced that President and CEO Alison Simpson will retire in May 2026, concluding a transformative period marked by innovation, growth, and industry leadership. Simpson, who assumed the role in November 2022, leaves behind a legacy of measurable impact on Canadian marketing professionals, brands, and the broader economy.

A Career Defined by Modernization and Growth

During her leadership, Simpson spearheaded initiatives designed to future-proof the profession, expanding membership, professional development, and industry advocacy. Among her most notable contributions:

• AI and digital resources for marketers navigating emerging technologies.

• Modernized Chartered Marketer (CM) program, aligning Canada’s only professional marketing designation with evolving industry needs.

• CMA Marketing Week, launched in 2024, which has rapidly become a marquee event attracting thousands of marketers nationwide.

• Digital Marketing Skills Canada (DMSC) program, upskilling 1,800+ marketers from underrepresented groups and supporting 700 SMEs within its first 18 months.

• Equity, Diversity & Inclusion (ED&I) initiatives, including an annual national survey and workplace discussion guides to drive sector-wide inclusion.

Under Simpson, CMA membership surpassed 450 organizations, welcoming 100 new members since 2023. The number of Chartered Marketers more than doubled, and member satisfaction reached record highs. The association also played a leading role in national advocacy, addressing digital sales tax and interprovincial trade barriers affecting SMEs.

Leadership Transition

The CMA Board of Directors has launched a search for Simpson’s successor with Boyden Canada, led by Vice Chair Meghan Nameth. The board emphasized that Simpson’s vision and strong team culture leave the CMA well-positioned for continued success.

“Alison has made a lasting impact on the CMA and Canada’s marketing community,” said CMA Board Chair Alan Depencier. “Her leadership has strengthened the Association and positioned it for continued success. We are grateful for her dedication and commitment to a smooth transition.”

Simpson, reflecting on her tenure, said:

“Leading the CMA has been the high point of my career. I’m proud of what we’ve accomplished and confident the CMA will continue to thrive.”

Simpson plans to devote more time to board work and advisory roles within the marketing industry following her retirement, marking the next chapter in a career spanning over two decades in senior marketing leadership.

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AI-powered engagement earns Braze a third consecutive year at the top of Gartner’s Magic Quadrant.

Customer engagement platform Braze (NASDAQ: BRZE) has been recognized as a Leader in Gartner’s Magic Quadrant for Multichannel Marketing Hubs, marking the third consecutive year the company has earned the distinction. The evaluation assessed both Completeness of Vision and Ability to Execute, highlighting Braze’s AI-driven personalization capabilities and scalable engagement solutions.

“This recognition underscores our commitment to help brands turn action into interaction,” said Bill Magnuson, cofounder and CEO of Braze. “As a Leader, we’re passionate about advancing the customer engagement industry by offering intelligent, adaptable, and composable personalization solutions that deliver strong business outcomes.”

AI and Innovation at the Core

Braze has doubled down on product innovation, integrating AI throughout its platform with tools like BrazeAI™ and the OfferFit acquisition, which enable marketers to ideate, test, and optimize campaigns more efficiently. Other enhancements include:

• Native support for new channels like RCS messaging and banners.

• Braze Data Platform, providing greater data agility and integration capabilities.

• Expanded reporting and analytics, giving marketers deeper insights into customer journeys and engagement performance.

By combining AI-powered personalization with multichannel delivery, Braze allows marketers to engage consumers at scale while maintaining relevance, timeliness, and context. The platform’s emphasis on composable solutions means brands can tailor campaigns to specific audiences without being locked into rigid workflows.

Why It Matters

Gartner’s Magic Quadrant offers a market-wide snapshot of technology providers, grouping them as Leaders, Challengers, Visionaries, or Niche Players. Being placed as a Leader signals that Braze not only executes well today but also has a strong vision for future customer engagement innovation.

The recognition positions Braze alongside other top-tier platforms in an increasingly competitive landscape, where AI, real-time analytics, and multichannel orchestration are no longer optional—they’re expected. For marketers navigating digital transformation and rising consumer expectations, platforms like Braze provide both scale and intelligence to drive measurable results.

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Mobile-first CX leader Airship joins Gartner’s Magic Quadrant, validating its approach to seamless cross-channel experiences.

Airship, the mobile-first customer experience platform, has been named for the first time in Gartner’s 2025 Magic Quadrant for Multichannel Marketing Hubs (MMH), marking a major milestone for the company. Previously a six-time recognized vendor in Gartner’s Market Guide for Mobile Marketing Platforms, Airship’s debut in the MMH report highlights its mobile-first expertise and customer-centric approach, which extends beyond messaging to optimizing app and website experiences.

Closing the “Experience Gap”

Airship CEO Brett Caine emphasized the platform’s unique focus on where customers actually engage — their mobile devices.

“Airship’s mobile-first platform makes it fast and easy for non-technical teams to optimize every customer journey across apps and websites,” said Caine. “This recognition by Gartner confirms why leading brands choose Airship — we deliver mobile-first expertise that turns every interaction into lasting value and loyalty.”

The acknowledgment comes as brands face a growing “experience gap” — a disconnect between customer expectations and the experiences brands deliver. Airship aims to close that gap with native, in-app, and web experiences that drive conversion, loyalty, and long-term business value.

What Sets Airship Apart

The platform’s key advantages include:

• Seamless Cross-Channel Experiences: Airship empowers brands to deliver dynamic, no-code native app and web content that converts when it matters. Ulta Beauty, for instance, reported 2.8× higher purchase conversion rates among users who experienced Airship’s intelligent personalization.

• Hyper-Segmentation & Personalization: Airship enables real-time, behavior-driven in-session experiences, collecting zero-party and behavioral data to improve engagement precision over time. Orange France credits the platform for dramatically increasing customer survey response rates.

• Mobile Expertise & Innovation: Airship’s legacy innovations — from commercial push notifications to Live Activities and AI-powered tools like Airship Journeys AI and Airship AI Agents — allow brands to accelerate time-to-value while providing seamless experiences across apps, websites, and channels.

Gartner notes that MMH platforms can deliver transformative productivity gains, enabling small teams to compete with larger marketing organizations through faster, more tailored experiences. Airship’s recognition reflects its strength in meeting these demands.

Why It Matters for Marketers

Airship’s Magic Quadrant inclusion underscores a broader trend: mobile-first customer engagement is no longer optional. Brands seeking to remain competitive must optimize in-app and web experiences alongside cross-channel campaigns, leveraging AI and composable architectures to drive measurable business outcomes.

With this recognition, Airship solidifies its position among top-tier multichannel marketing hubs, providing marketers a platform that balances advanced technology, ease of use, and actionable insights for mobile-centric consumer engagement.

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As cookies crumble and privacy rules tighten, advertisers are scrambling for ways to reach audiences who’ve become invisible to traditional targeting systems. Enter Anonymised, a privacy-enhancing ad tech startup, and Bedrock Platform, a modular demand-side platform (DSP) designed for data sovereignty.

The two companies announced a new partnership that makes Anonymised’s ID-less audiences natively available on Bedrock. For the first time, advertisers using Bedrock can directly tap into these anonymized datasets and run precision campaigns across premium inventory—without relying on third-party IDs.

Why It Matters

Safari and iOS users—representing a massive slice of high-value audiences—have long been adland’s blind spot. Apple’s privacy-first stance left many platforms unable to measure or target effectively, resulting in under-monetized inventory and missed opportunities. Anonymised and Bedrock aim to fix that.

The integration essentially brings “walled garden-level” precision to the open web, letting advertisers chase incremental conversions while keeping brand safety and user privacy intact. Publishers benefit too, by monetizing audiences that were previously unaddressable.

Features and Benefits

• Native Integration: Anonymised’s ID-less audience data is directly embedded into Bedrock’s platform.

• Cross-Channel Reach: Advertisers can extend campaigns across screens, devices, and browsers.

• AI-Driven Tools: Bedrock provides curation workflows, deal management, and real-time activation powered by machine learning.

• Safari & iOS Unlock: One of the partnership’s headline features is making high-value Safari audiences measurable and addressable.

The Bigger Picture

The move reflects a growing trend: privacy-first targeting that doesn’t sacrifice performance. Competitors like The Trade Desk and Google are racing to solve similar ID-loss challenges with their own frameworks (UID 2.0, Privacy Sandbox). But Anonymised and Bedrock’s collaboration could stand out for its simplicity and focus on incremental conversions in low-bid, high-quality environments.

Voices from the Field

“This is exactly the kind of programmatic innovation the industry needs,” said Mattia Fosci, CEO at Anonymised, emphasizing the measurable conversions possible from unaddressable audiences.

For Bedrock, the integration hits at its core mission. “We’re equipping buyers with tools to engage premium audiences while upholding the highest standards of user privacy,” added Shane Shevlin, CEO of Bedrock Platform.

Market Impact

If it works as promised, this could be a blueprint for the post-cookie era—where advertisers don’t have to choose between privacy and precision. For brands with long purchase cycles and multi-device audiences, the Bedrock-Anonymised combo could be a serious competitive advantage.

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