DAS Technology, a leader in automotive consumer engagement SaaS AI technology and the creator of the Consumer Data & Experience Platform® (CDXP), has announced its latest innovation—the AI Engage Messaging Solution. This advanced solution combines AI-powered messaging technology with a network of skilled live moderators to streamline communication between automotive dealers and consumers across every step of the car ownership journey.

Additionally, at the 8th annual AUTOVATE conference, DAS Technology revealed the acquisition of Engage To Sell, a well-established provider specializing in live messaging communication solutions. This strategic acquisition strengthens DAS Technology’s ability to proactively engage consumers with timing and precision, enhancing dealer lead response rates and overall engagement strategies.

What is the AI Engage Messaging Solution?

DAS Technology's AI Engage Messaging Solution integrates AI with human expertise, offering consumers versatile, real-time communication options across their journey—from vehicle research to service appointments. This cutting-edge solution allows consumers to connect 24/7 with either AI tools or experienced live representatives for:

• Vehicle inquiries
• Trade-in valuations
• Service appointments
• Review requests
• Video content engagement

The system leverages AI-powered features while connecting seamlessly with live representatives, ensuring consumers receive both instant responses and personalized interactions.

Key Features of AI Engage Messaging Solution

1. AI + Human Interaction at Scale:

The AI system provides instant responses for general inquiries, while trained live moderators step in to handle more complex consumer needs. This dual approach allows for a hybrid experience tailored to consumer preferences.

2. Multi-Channel Messaging Capabilities:

The solution supports omnichannel communication across:

• Text
• Chat
• Messenger apps
  These options ensure that consumers can reach out to dealers via their preferred communication methods.

3. Integration with CRM/DMS:

The AI Engage system integrates with dealer CRMs (Customer Relationship Management) and DMS (Dealer Management Systems), enabling seamless lead tracking, follow-up, and identity resolution across platforms.

4. Lead Follow-Up & Identity Resolution:

AI Engage uses AI technology to connect leads and inquiries with actionable insights and dealer information, improving both communication rates and lead conversions.

Strategic Acquisition: Engage To Sell Integration

DAS Technology's acquisition of Engage To Sell, a leading provider in AI-driven live messaging for over 15 years, strengthens its offerings. Engage To Sell's proprietary technology and network of live moderators enhance the AI Engage Messaging Solution, offering timely and effective consumer engagement through:

• Proactive outreach
• Consumer lead insights
• Live lead response capabilities

This acquisition adds hundreds of new automotive and specialty vehicle dealer clients to the DAS Technology platform.

Real-World Impact: Success Story with Bettenhausen Automotive

One of the first dealerships to adopt the new AI Engage Messaging Solution is Bettenhausen Automotive, a well-known dealer group in the greater Chicago market. Their marketing director, John Doolin, praises the solution’s hybrid approach:

“We get higher lead conversion results by combining the value of a live person with technology to answer customer questions…The power of AI paired with a professional human moderator is a game changer.”

Bettenhausen's success highlights how AI Engage optimizes both technology and human interaction, catering to customer preferences and improving lead conversions.

CEO Statement: Driving Innovation Forward

Alexi Venneri, Co-founder and CEO of DAS Technology, commented on the innovation:

“We’re thrilled to launch AI Engage while expanding our CDXP SaaS technology to provide consumers with even more communication choices while enabling our clients to improve prospect-to-sale ratios.”

Venneri emphasized how the hybrid AI and live-moderator approach addresses customer needs in real-time and helps dealers accelerate conversions.

The AI Engage Messaging Solution from DAS Technology offers a transformative, multi-channel approach to AI-powered and live communication in the automotive industry. With its seamless integration into the Consumer Data & Experience Platform® and acquisition of Engage To Sell, DAS Technology is revolutionizing dealer-consumer communication, creating a win-win scenario for both buyers and sellers.

The combination of AI technology and live expertise allows consumers to receive immediate answers, personalized engagement, and faster resolution to their inquiries—no matter where they are in their car ownership journey.

ID.me, the market-leading digital identity wallet known for simplifying identity verification while ensuring privacy and security, has announced the appointment of Christine Purcell as its new Chief Marketing Officer (CMO). Purcell brings with her a wealth of experience, having led successful marketing strategies at major healthcare and technology companies like BeMe Health, Twin Health, and Meta (Facebook).

Christine Purcell’s Role at ID.me

As the newly appointed CMO, Christine Purcell will lead ID.me’s marketing strategy during a period of unprecedented growth and adoption. The company recently hit key milestones, including over 135 million users signed up to its digital wallet and 63 million users verified to the IAL2 consumer authentication standards. ID.me’s revenue has surged by over 370% from 2020 through 2023, signaling rapid expansion driven by trust, innovation, and strong customer experience.

Blake Hall, Founder and CEO of ID.me, shared:

"We’re thrilled to welcome Christine to ID.me as our CMO. Christine’s proven leadership experience in marketing consumer and commercial products will be instrumental in driving our growth."

Purcell’s expertise will focus on instilling trust, creating value, and enhancing the experience for ID.me’s consumers and business partners.

Christine Purcell’s Background & Expertise

Christine Purcell brings a proven track record of leadership and innovation across health tech and technology industries. Her previous roles have emphasized strategic brand building, product innovation, and market expansion. Key highlights from her impressive career include:

• BeMe Health: Served as Chief Business Officer at this innovative mental health tech company.
• Twin Health: Held the role of Chief Marketing Officer, driving strategic brand growth.
• Meta (Facebook): Led Messenger's global brand strategy as Head of Marketing, focusing on go-to-market strategies and product marketing efforts for Messenger and Messenger Kids.
• McKinsey & Company: Gained strategic insight as a consultant, leveraging business transformation strategies.

Purcell holds an MBA from Harvard Business School and is celebrated for her ability to lead growth, strengthen brand visibility, and streamline customer engagement strategies.

"I am passionate about products that empower people and keep them safe. ID.me's secure digital wallet serves people and businesses by simplifying the online experience while combating identity theft and fraud attacks," said Purcell.

Her leadership will focus on advancing ID.me's mission of simplifying online identity while upholding consumer trust and business integrity.

ID.me’s Current Market Momentum

Under Christine’s leadership, ID.me will look to maintain its growth trajectory and expand its footprint in secure digital identity solutions. Key recent successes include:

• Over 135 million users registered to its digital wallet.
• 63 million IAL2 consumer-authenticated users verified by federal standards, showing rapid growth in consumer trust and adoption.
• Revenue growth of over 370% from 2020 through 2023, fueled by superior customer solutions.

These milestones reflect ID.me’s leadership in reducing fraud risk, improving identity verification, and enabling seamless, secure online experiences for users and partners alike.

Christine Purcell’s appointment as CMO represents a strategic move for ID.me as it seeks to enhance brand trust, deepen customer engagement, and maintain its leadership in the digital identity verification space. With her extensive background in consumer, technology, and health tech marketing, Purcell is poised to bring a fresh vision to ID.me as it continues to scale.

With Purcell’s expertise, ID.me is expected to strengthen its leadership in secure identity solutions, combating fraud and identity theft while creating opportunities for seamless online experiences.

Seguno Software, the winner of Shopify's 2024 Build Award for Best App, has just launched Shopify Connect for Canva, a game-changing two-way integration that enhances the design and marketing workflows for Shopify businesses. This groundbreaking partnership with Canva eliminates the need for constant downloads, uploads, and data transfers, allowing seamless content creation between the two platforms.

Bringing Two Powerhouses Together

The new Shopify Connect for Canva integrates Shopify's e-commerce platform with Canva’s visual communication suite, simplifying design processes, saving time, and improving productivity for brands.

Chris Geiss, Co-founder and CEO of Seguno, highlighted the motivation behind this innovation:

"We were one of the first to embed Canva into our email marketing app. Over the years, a common pain point became clear: too much time is spent downloading, uploading, and hunting for product imagery when working in Canva. So, we created Shopify Connect to give that time back."

With this integration, brands can streamline product imagery and design tasks, improving visual storytelling for social media, email campaigns, direct mail, and other marketing collateral—all without leaving their creative workflows.

Key Benefits of Shopify Connect for Canva

1. Save Time with Streamlined Workflows

• The integration eliminates repetitive tasks like downloading, uploading, and searching for product images.
• Users can now directly search Shopify product media within Canva and drag-and-drop designs effortlessly.

2. Two-Way Media Movement

This integration allows seamless movement of content in both directions:

• From Shopify to Canva: Users can add product images and designs to their visual content effortlessly.
• From Canva to Shopify: Edited and custom-designed images can be exported back into Shopify directly.

3. Improved File Management

• Shopify Connect provides instant access to media assets, improving organization and reducing friction in content workflows.
• Businesses can easily maintain consistency across product photos and design campaigns.

4. Enhance Marketing Channels

Users can now quickly scale their design efforts across:

• Social media campaigns
• Email newsletters
• Direct mail campaigns
• Sales presentations
• Product packaging

Early reports indicate that Shopify Connect for Canva reduces design task time by up to 50%.

Canva's Perspective

Anwar Haneef, Head of Ecosystem at Canva, shared his thoughts on the integration's value:

"Time is at a premium for every marketer and business owner. With this more streamlined workflow, Canva and Shopify users will be able to focus more on crafting engaging content and growing their businesses."

This partnership highlights how businesses can prioritize creativity and strategy instead of navigating cumbersome workflows.

How It Works

To fully utilize this integration, users will need to install both apps:

• Shopify Connect for Canva (via Shopify)
• Canva Connect for Shopify (via Canva)

The integration ensures that workflows between Shopify and Canva are seamless, reducing barriers to efficient design and content sharing.

The new Shopify Connect for Canva by Seguno marks a significant step forward for Shopify and Canva users looking to streamline design, save time, and boost creative workflows. By integrating these two essential tools into a frictionless experience, Seguno empowers brands to focus less on technical hurdles and more on storytelling, design, and growth.

adMarketplace, the leading provider of native search advertising, has successfully completed its System and Organization Controls (SOC) 2 Type I and Type II audits. This milestone underscores adMarketplace's commitment to adhering to the highest industry standards for data security, availability, and integrity, ensuring trust and protection for its partners.

What is SOC 2 Compliance?

Developed by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants (AICPA), SOC 2 standards are a framework that validates how companies manage sensitive customer data. The SOC 2 audits focus on five key trust principles:

• Security: Protecting systems and data against unauthorized access.
• Availability: Ensuring reliable system performance and uptime.
• Processing Integrity: Ensuring data processes are complete, valid, and accurate.
• Confidentiality: Ensuring sensitive information remains private.
• Privacy: Protecting customer information from unauthorized use.

The rigorous SOC 2 standards ensure that companies demonstrate proper controls, policies, and practices for handling customer data.

Why This Matters to adMarketplace's Partners

By completing the SOC 2 Type I and Type II audits, adMarketplace demonstrates that its security controls meet industry-leading standards. This provides confidence to its partners—advertisers and publishers—about the protection and integrity of their data when partnering with adMarketplace.

Adam J. Epstein, Co-CEO and President of adMarketplace, shared the significance:

"adMarketplace is committed to innovating native search advertising solutions, and ensuring data security helps us build forever partnerships. Achieving SOC 2 compliance reinforces a mutual level of trust with our partners that critical business data is safe in our hands."

This certification builds transparency and confidence by showcasing adMarketplace's dedication to data security and operational excellence.

Certification Details

adMarketplace worked with Johanson Group LLP, a leading certification body specializing in global compliance standards. Johanson Group verified that adMarketplace's information security controls align with the stringent SOC 2 requirements for security, availability, and data protection.

This partnership highlights adMarketplace's proactive approach to maintaining a secure and trustworthy digital advertising environment.

Completing the SOC 2 Type I and Type II audits positions adMarketplace as a trusted leader in native search advertising solutions while emphasizing its commitment to data security and compliance. This step ensures partners can confidently trust that their data is secure, confidential, and handled with the highest standards in mind.

In today’s dynamic digital advertising landscape, brands and retailers grapple with the challenge of delivering vast amounts of personalized, multi-channel creative content. ShopLiftr, a leader in digital media solutions, simplifies these processes through its SMART platform, offering dynamic, data-driven advertising solutions that optimize efficiency, scalability, and impact.

Key Challenges in Digital Advertising

• Increasing demand for personalized, multi-channel creative content.
• Proliferation of retail media networks (RMNs), intensifying creative complexities.
• Need for efficient, cost-effective solutions to manage diverse ad variations.

ShopLiftr’s SMART Platform: A Comprehensive Solution

1. Retail Agnostic Media Platform (RAMP)

• Supports any ad size and integrates seamlessly across digital display, video, and digital out-of-home (DOOH) channels.
• Provides unmatched flexibility for advertisers, agencies, and retailers.

2. Dynamic Creative Flexibility

• Enables limitless variations of digital ads with advanced automation.
• Delivers precise geotargeting and programmatic ad serving for enhanced relevance.
• Supports translation and localization in English, Spanish, and French.

3. Real-Time Personalization

• Tailors ads based on weather, location, and other local factors.
• Increases ad engagement and campaign effectiveness.

4. Scalability and Efficiency

• Processes high volumes of trade data to generate thousands of creative variations.
• Streamlines production costs while maintaining brand consistency across platforms.

Success Stories

1. Beverage Brand Campaign

• Managed 6 NFL teams, 48 SKUs, and 88,500+ creative variations in a 6-week campaign.
• Delivered targeted, impactful results across multiple channels.

2. Retailer Campaign Automation

• Automated weekly production of 4,792 ad units across 479 stores.
• Produced 2,875 video ad units and 1,917 display ad units weekly.
• Demonstrated the platform’s agility and scalability.

Industry Leadership

Gord Crowson, President & COO at ShopLiftr:

"Our SMART platform transforms advertising by simplifying dynamic creative services, delivering targeted campaigns that achieve real-world results on any screen, in any size."

ShopLiftr’s SMART platform is setting a new benchmark in digital advertising by automating and simplifying creative processes. By providing scalable, personalized, and dynamic ad solutions, ShopLiftr empowers advertisers to focus on strategic growth while achieving superior campaign results.

PubMatic, a leader in digital advertising technology, has announced an expansion of its collaboration with Western Union. This partnership will now include Western Union's commerce media business, aiming to boost onsite monetization and extend audiences offsite via PubMatic’s advanced capabilities.

1. Leveraging PubMatic’s SSP for Enhanced Monetization

   • The expanded partnership enables Western Union to utilize PubMatic’s Sell-Side Platform (SSP) for optimizing on-site monetization.
   • Western Union will also use the Convert tool to extend their reach offsite, targeting diverse, global audiences.

2. Combining First-Party Data for Greater Targeting Precision

   • Western Union’s rich first-party data is a key asset in creating tailored advertising experiences.
   • The collaboration allows advertisers to target highly relevant messages, ensuring they resonate with multicultural audiences across premium digital channels.

3. Unified Tech Stack for Streamlined Operations

   • By consolidating its monetization strategy through PubMatic’s unified tech stack, Western Union can enhance operational efficiency.
   • The partnership minimizes fragmentation and boosts the scalability of advertising initiatives.

4. Impactful Campaigns for Multicultural Audiences

   • Western Union Media Network offers businesses an effective channel to engage multicultural consumers across a variety of digital platforms.
   • Combined with PubMatic’s inventory, brands can extend their campaigns to a wide range of devices and channels, reaching difficult-to-target audiences.

5. Projected Growth in Financial Media Networks

   • eMarketer forecasts a major rise in ad spending within financial media networks, expected to grow from $350 million in 2024 to $1.5 billion by 2026.
   • This partnership positions both companies to capitalize on this explosive growth and drive impactful advertising campaigns.

The expanded partnership between PubMatic and Western Union enhances both companies' ability to deliver innovative advertising solutions. By combining advanced technology with valuable first-party data, this collaboration aims to set new standards in reaching diverse global audiences. As ad spending in financial media networks grows, the partnership is positioned for long-term success, ensuring impactful, scalable campaigns for brands targeting multicultural consumers.

Searchspring, a leader in ecommerce site search, merchandising, and personalization, has launched a next-gen analytics suite. This new offering empowers merchants with advanced visibility into shopper behavior, enabling them to refine their search functionality, optimize merchandising strategies, and enhance the overall shopping experience. With actionable insights and intuitive visualizations, Searchspring is setting a new standard for ecommerce intelligence.

1. Next-Gen Analytics for Enhanced Ecommerce Insights

   • The new suite includes 10 comprehensive reports to optimize every stage of the shopper journey.
   • Merchants gain clarity into shopper behavior, enabling data-driven decision-making and improved online experiences.

2. Key Reports to Improve Shopper Engagement

   • The Zero Results Report highlights unmet customer demands, helping merchants reduce abandonment rates and seize lost opportunities.
   • The Search Report provides insights into shopper intent through analysis of search trends, filtering, and sorting behaviors.

3. Optimizing Merchandising Strategies

   • Reports on customer refinement behaviors, including the most-used filters and sorting options, help merchants streamline navigation and align inventory planning.
   • The A/B Experiments Report enables retailers to evaluate and refine merchandising strategies to boost conversion rates.

4. Streamlined Data for Actionable Insights

   • Unlike traditional dashboards overloaded with data, Searchspring’s analytics suite simplifies complex information, focusing on results that matter—like reducing search abandonment and improving average order value (AOV).
   • Advanced drill-down capabilities and intuitive dashboards allow merchants to act on insights immediately, improving the overall shopper experience.

5. Empowering Merchants to Drive Growth

   • Enhanced features, such as detailed dashboards and seamless data sharing, allow merchants to capitalize on buying behavior, refine product discovery, and boost conversions.
   • Searchspring’s innovations position the company as a leader in ecommerce technology, helping retailers stay ahead of industry trends.

Searchspring’s next-gen analytics suite is transforming how ecommerce merchants approach data. By providing actionable insights and intuitive tools, this suite empowers retailers to optimize the shopper journey, enhance merchandising, and drive greater engagement and conversions. As the ecommerce landscape evolves, Searchspring remains at the forefront of innovation, enabling merchants to make data-driven decisions and achieve sustained growth.

Amagi, a global leader in cloud-based SaaS technology for broadcast and connected TV (CTV), has announced the acquisition of Argoid AI, a cutting-edge AI company specializing in recommendation engines and programming automation for over-the-top (OTT) platforms. This acquisition aligns with Amagi’s mission to provide media companies with intelligent solutions for content planning, distribution, and monetization, driving growth in the streaming space.

1. Strengthening Amagi’s AI-Powered Solutions

   • Amagi’s acquisition of Argoid AI integrates advanced AI algorithms into its product suite, including Amagi NOW and CLOUDPORT.
   • The integration enhances content recommendations and programming automation, enabling faster, smarter, and more personalized scheduling for media companies.

2. Transforming Content Programming with AI

   • Argoid AI’s innovative solutions have improved viewer engagement and optimized channel operations by enabling real-time programming decisions.
   • The AI-driven features will support personalized content programming, metadata enrichment, and recommendations for enhanced streaming experiences.

3. Expanding Amagi’s AI Capabilities

   • The acquisition deepens Amagi’s expertise in AI and machine learning (AI/ML), reinforcing the company’s commitment to transforming the media and entertainment industry.
   • Amagi aims to tackle key challenges such as content discoverability, viewer retention, and intelligent programming through this integration.

4. Boosting Amagi’s Product Offering for Media Companies

   • With this acquisition, Amagi continues to expand its suite of cloud solutions for channel creation, distribution, and monetization.
   • The combined technologies will empower media companies to streamline operations and improve monetization strategies, offering greater value to customers.

5. Strategic Expansion and Expertise

   • Argoid’s talented engineers and data scientists, including its founders, Gokul Muralidharan, Soundararajan Velu, and Chackaravarthy E, will join Amagi to contribute to future AI integrations.
   • The acquisition positions Amagi to further revolutionize OTT and streaming content programming in the digital era.

Amagi’s acquisition of Argoid AI marks a significant milestone in the company’s strategy to enhance its cloud-based solutions with advanced AI technologies. By integrating Argoid’s cutting-edge AI capabilities, Amagi is poised to offer even more intelligent and personalized content scheduling solutions for OTT platforms. This collaboration will address critical challenges in the streaming industry and empower media companies to optimize content delivery, engagement, and monetization.