Automatic Speech Recognition (ASR) technology continues to advance but has reached a plateau in accuracy improvements for English pre-recorded content. According to the latest State of ASR report by 3Play Media, human review remains essential to meet accessibility standards for captioning and transcription.

Insights from the 3Play Media Report

• ASR Accuracy Plateau

  • Remarkable progress has been made, but error rates across leading ASR engines still fall short of accessibility requirements.

  • The gap between top-performing engines and others has widened.

• Study Scope

  • Evaluated 205 hours of diverse audio content, a 30% increase from last year, spanning multiple industries and use cases.

  • Included testing of eight ASR engines and Gemini, a multimodal large language model (LLM).

• Engine Performance

  • Whisper X showed improved accuracy and avoided hallucinations found in earlier Whisper versions.

  • AssemblyAI’s Universal-2 and Whisper X outperformed Speechmatics, with all three ahead of other tested engines.

• Industry Variations

  • ASR accuracy varies by industry, highlighting the need for tailored solutions based on content type.

  • Sports content remains most challenging due to noisy environments and complex terminology, with error rates three times higher than top-performing industries.

• LLMs and Future Trends

  • Large language models are not yet ready to replace dedicated ASR engines for transcription.

  • Future ASR innovation will likely focus on real-time processing and support for non-English languages rather than further improving English pre-recorded content accuracy.

While ASR technologies are becoming more sophisticated, 3Play Media’s report emphasizes the ongoing necessity of human-in-the-loop workflows to ensure captioning and transcription meet accessibility standards. The report also suggests that future ASR developments will shift toward new applications and broader language capabilities.

Canva, the popular visual communication platform, announced a strategic partnership with Nitro Software, a leader in document and workflow productivity. This collaboration enables enterprise customers to purchase Canva and Nitro solutions together with attractive bundle discounts, enhancing productivity and creativity across organizations.

Highlights of the Partnership

• Combining Strengths

  • Canva offers intuitive design tools used by hundreds of millions globally.

  • Nitro provides enterprise-grade PDF and eSign solutions trusted by 95% of Fortune 500 companies.

• Seamless, Scalable Solutions

  • The partnership delivers a flexible, integrated offering that scales with business needs.

  • Designed to improve document creation, sharing, and management across departments.

• Enhanced Collaboration and Productivity

  • Bundled solutions aim to streamline complex document and design workflows.

  • Helps teams work more efficiently and collaboratively, driving better business outcomes.

• Customer Benefits

  • Enterprises can access exclusive bundle discounts on Canva and Nitro products.

  • The combined platform provides an alternative to inflexible legacy systems.

Executive Insights

• Rob Giglio, Chief Customer Officer at Canva, emphasized the goal of combining powerful functionality with excellent user experience to help businesses innovate quickly.

• Cormac Whelan, CEO of Nitro, highlighted the partnership as a way to free businesses from overpriced, rigid systems and maximize ROI through greater flexibility and creativity.

The Canva-Nitro partnership addresses the growing demand for simplified, integrated productivity tools that empower enterprise teams. By combining their complementary platforms, they offer a compelling alternative to traditional legacy software suites, enhancing business agility and collaboration.

At the recent Accelerate 2025 conference, Varicent, a global leader in sales performance management (SPM), announced the winners of its annual Partner Awards. These awards celebrate partners who transform strategy into impactful results and shape the future of SPM.

Award Winners and Contributions

• Global Partner of the Year: Deloitte

  • Engaged executive stakeholders in global transformation initiatives.

  • Focused on certification and delivery readiness to speed up deployments and outcomes.

• North America Partner of the Year: ZS

  • Led Sales Planning initiatives that improved forecasting and sales effectiveness.

  • Helped clients uncover new revenue opportunities and rethink planning processes.

• Joint Impact Award: Argano

  • Actively participated throughout sales cycles, supporting discovery and demos.

  • Helped close key deals and accelerate project starts.

• Partner Success Award: OpenSymmetry

  • Emphasized customer success as a competitive advantage.

  • Supported faster go-lives and higher adoption with experienced teams and learning forums.

• Go-To-Market Partner of the Year: Accenture

  • Brought enterprise opportunities and collaborated closely with sales teams.

  • Helped win competitive deals and position Varicent solutions strategically.

• Innovation Partner of the Year: KPMG

  • Delivered actionable insights impacting product strategy and delivery.

  • Addressed complex implementation challenges supporting long-term growth.

• Breakthrough Partner Award: Workday

  • Fostered collaboration between sales and operations teams.

  • Enabled faster deployments and efficiency gains through early involvement.

Varicent’s Partner Awards highlight the vital role of strategic collaborations in accelerating sales performance management success. The recognized partners exemplify innovation, dedication, and impact, driving client growth and operational excellence worldwide.

AEG Presents, a global leader in live entertainment, has promoted Joe Jaeger to Vice President, Integrated Marketing and Strategy within its Global Partnerships division. Jaeger will expand his role to lead strategic development across AEG’s live music portfolio while continuing to head the marketing team.

Career Highlights and Role Expansion

• Joe Jaeger is now Vice President, Integrated Marketing and Strategy at AEG Presents, reporting to Alexandra McArthur, Senior VP of Global Partnerships.

• Based in Los Angeles, Jaeger has been with AEG Presents for seven years.

• He has contributed significantly to brand partnerships and marketing for major festivals such as Stagecoach and Portola, as well as numerous AEG venues nationwide.

• Jaeger’s leadership focuses on connecting brands with live music fans through strategic thinking and creativity.

Previous Experience

• Before AEG Presents, Jaeger spent nearly four years at iHeartMedia in New York City, focusing on marketing solutions for national live events.

• He began his entertainment career at Fiur Productions and later worked at MTV’s Integrated Marketing division, developing branded content and sponsorship activations.

Leadership Vision

• Jaeger expressed enthusiasm about his new role, emphasizing AEG Presents’ strong ecosystem of festivals and venues.

• He aims to develop innovative partnerships that enhance both fan experiences and brand relationships.

Joe Jaeger’s promotion reflects AEG Presents’ commitment to strategic growth in live entertainment marketing. His expanded leadership role will help drive impactful partnerships and elevate experiences across AEG’s portfolio.

Forrester has announced Brenntag and e& as the recipients of its 2025 Customer-Obsessed Enterprise Award for the Europe, Middle East, and Africa (EMEA) region. This award recognizes organisations that prioritize customer-centricity at every level to boost sustainable growth, loyalty, and employee engagement. The winners will be celebrated at the CX Summit EMEA event in June 2025.

Highlights of the Award and Winners

Brenntag: Championing Customer Obsession in B2B

• Brenntag is a global leader in chemicals and ingredients distribution, operating in 72 countries.

• The company integrates customer obsession through initiatives like the CX ambassador programme, training over 500 employees as customer experience champions.

• The CX war room task force works cross-functionally to resolve systemic customer pain points.

• Brenntag’s approach focuses on personalized, impactful customer experiences beyond transactional interactions.

• Malc Magee, Director of Customer Experience, highlights the importance of listening, acting, and caring to build long-term customer loyalty.

e&: Driving Customer-Centric Transformation in Technology

• e& is a global technology group recognized for its comprehensive, three-year customer-centric transformation.

• The transformation aligns corporate strategy closely with the customer journey by actively listening and acting on customer feedback.

• Initiatives include the monthly "Customer Hour" for organization-wide collaboration and the "Beyond the Desk" program that fosters empathy among leadership.

• Chris Lipman, Chief Customer Experience Officer, emphasizes the commitment to customer satisfaction at all organizational levels.

Significance of the Award

• The award distinguishes firms leading customer obsession in both B2B and B2C sectors.

• It highlights the value of embedding customer-centricity into every business decision, driving measurable business success.

• Martin Gill, Forrester’s VP and Research Director, praises the winners as examples of embedding customer centricity beyond isolated interactions.

The recognition of Brenntag and e& underscores the growing importance of customer obsession in driving sustainable business growth and loyalty. Their strategies and programs serve as models for organizations aiming to place customers at the core of their leadership, operations, and strategy.

Theorem, a digital marketing solutions provider, today announced a strategic partnership with Firework, the world’s leading AI-driven video commerce and engagement platform. This collaboration introduces an end-to-end, fully integrated video commerce solution designed to simplify and accelerate adoption for DTC and retail brands worldwide.

The partnership launches a series of joint initiatives, beginning with a co-branded Commerce Roadshow kicking off in July 2025 in New York City.

Driving the Next Evolution in Digital Commerce

As consumer behaviors evolve, video commerce has become essential for brands seeking to deliver immersive, instant, and interactive shopping experiences. Brands leveraging video commerce have reported:

• Up to 246% increase in conversions

• 130% increase in engagement time

• 38% increase in repeat purchases

• 33% reduction in product returns
  (Source: Firework)

“Video commerce is more than content—it’s a strategic imperative enabling brands to accelerate the path to purchase,” said Unni Kurup, Director of Consulting at Theorem. “Together with Firework, we are helping brands operationalize video commerce at scale without the heavy lift.”

Partnership Highlights

• Theorem contributes a proven proprietary commerce framework and deep MarTech expertise to help brands navigate video commerce strategy and scaling.

• Firework provides best-in-class technology including shoppable video, video showrooms, virtual 1:1 chat, and AI video assistants to boost engagement and conversions.

• The partnership delivers a fully integrated, white-label video commerce platform enabling seamless scale and measurable KPIs such as average order value (AOV), conversion rates, and customer lifetime value (CLV).

Leadership Insights

“Video commerce represents the future of digital sales—interactive, immersive, and engaging,” said Jay Kulkarni, CEO and Founder at Theorem. “By combining Theorem’s expertise with Firework’s cutting-edge technology, we offer brands a scalable solution to embrace and grow video commerce efficiently.”

“Our partnership with Theorem is grounded in shared values—strategic execution, measurable impact, and innovation,” said Sam Horton, VP of Strategic & Alliance Partnerships at Firework. “Together, we are empowering brands and retailers to deliver personalized, data-driven video experiences across the customer journey that drive sustainable growth.”

Market Outlook

Though 95% of digital commerce still occurs on traditional eCommerce sites, scaling video commerce has been hindered by strategy and execution challenges. Theorem and Firework aim to transform this landscape with a simplified, scalable approach.

With the video commerce market expected to grow from $695 billion today to $3.7 trillion by 2029 (CAGR 32%), this partnership positions brands to capitalize on one of the fastest-growing trends shaping retail and commerce’s future.

Antenna Group, a global marketing and communications agency, today announced a strategic investment acquiring a minority ownership stake in No Logo, an AI-powered creator platform. This partnership enables Antenna Group to offer clients in the climate, real estate, and health sectors an efficient, frictionless tool to identify and collaborate with authentic creators who are passionate advocates of their missions.

No Logo connects purpose-driven brands with creators specializing in advocacy and social impact, sustainable living, fitness and wellness, and other meaningful areas. Operating across the Americas and Europe, No Logo has supported campaigns with leading global brands such as Adobe, Meta, REI, and the United Nations, reaching over 100 million followers on platforms including TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube.

Benefits of the Partnership

• Enhanced Authenticity: Antenna clients gain access to a platform that prioritizes genuine creator-brand partnerships, essential for resonating with socially conscious audiences.

• Broader Reach: No Logo’s vast network enables engagement with creators who influence millions worldwide across multiple social channels.

• Sector Focus: The integration will particularly support brands in climate, real estate, and health sectors to craft purpose-led influencer campaigns.

Executive Commentary

“Adding No Logo to our technology stack supercharges our partnerships with conscious brands, organizations, and enterprises that are driving the world forward in a progressive and redemptive direction,” said Keith Zakheim, CEO of Antenna Group. “Influencer marketing has become foundational to storytelling in today’s media landscape, and for conscious brands, authenticity is paramount. No Logo empowers our clients to engage audiences in deeper, more meaningful, and enduring ways.”

“Authentic partnerships are at the core of our company; not just with creators, but with the strategic partners we choose to grow with,” said Nicholas Guy, Founder of No Logo. “Our collaboration with Antenna, built on shared values and a creator-first mindset, positions us to shape the next generation of creator partnerships, helping B2B and B2B2C brands engage with creators at scale with authenticity and impact.”

Market Insights

• Research indicates that 65% of B2B decision-makers trust third-party content, such as influencer endorsements, during product research.

• 80% of B2B marketers leveraging influencer marketing report improvements in brand credibility and accelerated pipeline development, according to LinkedIn.

Strategic Growth

Antenna Group’s investment in No Logo complements its recent global growth initiatives, including the acquisition of Czech Republic-based Rubikon PR and the launch of its “Fully Conscious” brand identity earlier this year.

At Piperfest 2025 today, Qualified, the agentic marketing platform featuring the world’s leading AI SDR agent, announced the launch of Spotlight—the industry’s first observation layer for agentic marketing. Spotlight offers B2B marketers unprecedented transparency into Piper, the AI SDR Agent’s decision-making process, enabling real-time visibility into how Piper thinks, reasons, and strategizes to autonomously generate pipeline at scale.

What Spotlight Enables Marketers to Observe:

• Lead Context: Piper comprehends each lead’s identity, role, and stage in the buying journey, enabling personalized selling experiences tailored to each buyer.

• Account Context: Piper integrates account data—including segment, buying committee, and intent level—to deliver a unified, account-based sales approach focused on the entire buyer ecosystem.

• Behavior Monitoring: Piper continuously tracks buyer engagement across websites, emails, and other channels, adapting strategies dynamically based on buyer behavior.

• Goals and Guardrails: Operating within defined marketing goals and guardrails, Piper strategically drives meetings booked and pipeline generated for each unique buyer.

Each user’s Spotlight is unique, with Piper simultaneously executing hundreds of thousands of tailored strategies to maximize conversion.

Executive Insights

“Never before have marketers had such clear insight and confidence in the decision-making of an AI agent,” said Kraig Swensrud, Founder and CEO of Qualified. “Spotlight unlocks a new, transparent view into the data, context, and goals shaping Piper the AI SDR Agent, empowering marketers to fully trust and leverage AI agents in their workflows.”

Piper and Qualified’s Agentic Marketing Platform

Launched just one year ago, Piper the AI SDR Agent has rapidly become trusted by industry leaders such as 6sense, Adecco, Asana, Box, Brex, Clari, Crunchbase, Delinea, Lattice, and Plaid. Piper autonomously engages and converts inbound qualified leads, driving scalable pipeline generation around the clock.

“Agentic marketing is the most disruptive movement we’ve seen in decades,” said Shannon Duffy, CMO of Asana. “Since hiring Piper, we’ve grown pipeline generation by 22%. Piper generates pipeline even while we sleep—truly the holy grail for marketers.”

The Qualified Agentic Marketing Platform is available now. Spotlight will roll out to customers on Qualified Agentic Marketing Plans starting August 2025.