With this acquisition, HubSpot expands commerce capabilities for subscription billing and quote-to-cash automation to help customers close deals faster

HubSpot, Inc., the customer platform designed for scaling businesses, has announced a definitive agreement to acquire Cacheflow, a leading B2B subscription billing management and configure, price, quote (CPQ) solution. This strategic acquisition aims to enhance HubSpot's Commerce Hub by integrating robust subscription billing management and CPQ tools.

Strengthening Commerce Hub

Since launching Commerce Hub in 2023, HubSpot has processed over $1 billion in Gross Merchandise Value (GMV). The addition of Cacheflow will further enhance the Commerce Hub, particularly improving the customer experience in the buying process. This acquisition is expected to simplify the quote-to-cash process and accelerate revenue collection, making HubSpot's commerce offerings more accessible to a broader range of businesses.

Yamini Rangan, CEO of HubSpot, stated, "We've seen strong year-over-year growth with Commerce Hub, which gives our customers an easy way to manage payments and unify their customer and transaction data. With Cacheflow, we're doubling down on our vision for commerce by addressing two important areas of the buying experience: subscription billing and configure, price, quote (CPQ). Cacheflow is a leader in this space and has helped companies automate the purchase process to capture revenue faster. We're excited about the impact they will have on customers of Commerce Hub."

Cacheflow’s Innovative Solutions

Cacheflow simplifies B2B software selling and buying through its billing and subscription management solutions. Their user-friendly, connected platform automates the SaaS sales flow process without the need for coding. Customers can easily configure quotes, close deals with interactive links, and manage upsells and renewals.

Sarika Garg, Co-Founder of Cacheflow, remarked, “We made it our mission to reimagine the old CPQ and billing space, helping businesses automate revenue management, shorten the sales cycle, and get paid fast. We believe deeply in the power of our solution and are thrilled to join HubSpot and the Commerce Hub team.”

Future Outlook

Upon completion of the transaction, Cacheflow will operate as a wholly owned subsidiary of HubSpot, further solidifying HubSpot's commitment to enhancing its commerce offerings.

Forward-looking statements: This press release includes certain “forward-looking statements” as defined by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements reflect HubSpot's current views regarding plans, intentions, expectations, strategies, and prospects. Actual results may vary significantly due to various risks and factors, including those outlined in HubSpot's SEC filings. HubSpot assumes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements as new information becomes available.

Fully compliant UCaaS solution, Global RingEX Select™, backed by certifications from DoT & TRAI, now available across India via new PAN-India license

RingCX™ native contact center brings robust omnichannel and AI-powered capabilities to agents/supervisors for enhanced customer experiences

RingCentral Inc., a global leader in AI-powered business communications, has announced its receipt of a PAN-India license from the Department of Telecommunications (DoT). This milestone allows RingCentral to operate across all 22 telecommunications circles in India, positioning itself as the first cloud provider to offer fully-compliant Unified Communications as a Service (UCaaS) and Contact Center as a Service (CCaaS) solutions in the region.

1. Global RingEX Select:

   • Connects multinational organizations with their India branch offices.
   • Facilitates seamless communication and collaboration through messaging, video, and phone services.

2. RingCX:

   • A user-friendly omnichannel contact center solution.
   • Provides personalized, high-quality customer experiences.

3. Combined Benefits:

   • Together, Global RingEX Select and RingCX enhance customer service and optimize workforce collaboration.

Insights from Leadership

• Sathesh Murthy, SVP of Engineering and GM India:
  • Highlights the significance of the PAN-India license as a transformative opportunity for RingCentral.
  • Emphasizes the reliability and security of their cloud solutions for multinational organizations.

Customer Testimonials

• Philippe Bourdon, CIO at Mastech Digital:
  • Shares the challenges faced with previous providers and praises the peace of mind that comes with RingCentral’s compliant solutions.
  • Notes the rapid deployment of services, enhancing communication within 10 days.

Transformative Value of UCaaS and CCaaS

• Streamlined Workflows: Reduces technology overhead and enhances operational efficiency.
• Consistent Customer Experience: Improves engagement strategies across all communication touchpoints.

Key Benefits

• Fully Compliant Cloud Phone: The first global cloud phone service in India, certified by DoT and TRAI.
• Reliable Service: Offers 99.999% uptime with top-tier security.
• Native Omnichannel Experience: Enables seamless customer interactions across various channels.
• AI-Powered Customer Engagement: Enhances agent performance through real-time guidance and automated monitoring.

RingCentral’s expansion into India marks a significant advancement in global communication capabilities, aligning with the country's digital transformation initiatives. With its innovative cloud solutions, businesses of all sizes can enhance their communication and customer engagement strategies effectively.

Advertible, the leading native-as-a-service platform, has announced a significant leadership transition with the appointment of Co-Founder and COO Priti Ohri as its new Chief Executive Officer. This change marks a pivotal moment in Advertible's journey toward redefining native advertising within the programmatic ecosystem.

• New Leadership: Priti Ohri succeeds Tom Anderson, who played a crucial role in launching Advertible’s innovative platform and establishing key partnerships with Tier 1 Supply-Side Platforms (SSPs).
• Industry Recognition: During Anderson's tenure, Advertible received an honorable mention for “Best Industry Startup” at the 2024 AdExchanger Awards.
• Priti Ohri's Background:
  • Over 20 years of experience in adtech, media, and retail.
  • Recognized as one of the Top Women in Media and Ad Tech by Ad Monsters & AdExchanger.
  • Co-founded DesiUS, a community for South Asians in adtech, promoting diversity and opportunity in the industry.

Priti Ohri's Vision for Advertible

• Gratitude for Leadership: Ohri expressed her appreciation for Tom Anderson's contributions in steering Advertible to its current position.
• Evolving Native Advertising: Ohri emphasizes the rapid evolution of native advertising and Advertible’s unique position to lead this transformation.
• Focus on Innovation: With a commitment to delivering impactful results, Ohri plans to push boundaries and enhance the platform's capabilities.

Advertible’s Native-as-a-Service Platform

• Meeting Demand: The platform is designed to address the increasing demand for native advertising, which offers higher engagement and profitability than traditional formats.
• Cutting-Edge Tools: Incorporating AI-driven placement design, Advertible empowers SSPs to unlock new revenue streams and optimize ad performance.

Commitment to the Future

• Navigating Change: This leadership change highlights Advertible's commitment to innovation, especially as the digital advertising landscape moves towards a cookieless future.
• Positioned for Growth: Under Ohri's leadership, Advertible is set to lead the next phase of innovation in native ads, ensuring that SSPs of all sizes can seize emerging growth opportunities.

Priti Ohri's appointment as CEO of Advertible marks a transformative moment for the company and the native advertising industry. With her extensive experience and visionary approach, Advertible is well-positioned to continue its trajectory of success and innovation, adapting to the evolving needs of the digital advertising ecosystem.

Continues global launch of Smart Holdout Groups, its patent-pending measurement solution, to help marketers get the full picture of omnichannel campaign impact

Blis, the leader in geo-powered advertising technology, has announced the global release of its innovative measurement solution, Smart Holdout Groups. This patent-pending, privacy-first framework connects reporting across previously siloed channels, such as Digital Out of Home (DOOH), Audio, and Connected TV (CTV). Marketers can now assess omnichannel campaign impact more effectively, moving beyond disconnected metrics to what truly matters.

• Industry Recognition:

  • Already being utilized by brands like Bloomingdale's and UKTV Play.
  • Shortlisted for multiple awards, including two Digiday Technology Awards for Best Measurement Solution and a Mediapost OMMA Award.
  • Nominations for The Drum Awards, highlighting campaigns with DC Lottery and UKTV Play.

• Innovative Measurement Framework:

  • Designed to address traditional measurement challenges in a privacy-centric environment.
  • Developed without relying on cookies or IDs, ensuring compliance with consumer preferences.

• User Testimonials:

  • Amy Fox, Chief Product Officer: Highlights Blis’ commitment to solving measurement issues in an evolving landscape, emphasizing that traditional measurement approaches are outdated.
  • Hamid Habib, MD of Havas Entertainment UK: Praises Smart Holdout Groups for providing accurate, insightful measurements that can enhance planning and media mix modeling.

How Smart Holdout Groups Works

• Cookie-Free Measurement:

  • Enables marketers to measure critical outcomes such as sales lift, store visit lift, and brand lift across all programmatic channels.
  • Moves beyond proxy metrics, offering a clear view of advertising effectiveness.

• Geo-Based A/B Testing:

  • Automatically creates statistically robust A/B holdout groups based on zip code or postal district.
  • Utilizes machine learning to ensure both exposed and controlled groups contain similar audience profiles.

• Granular Geographic Approach:

  • Unlike traditional methods that rely on larger geographic areas, Smart Holdout Groups provides more precise audience comparisons.
  • Offers advertisers enhanced accuracy with zip code-level analysis, avoiding skewed results caused by differing behaviors in broader regions.

Blis' Growth Acceleration

• Leadership Expansion:
  • The launch comes as Blis experiences growth, appointing ad-tech veteran Alex Boras as US President and Steve Tschosik as Regional Vice President for the Midwest.
• Record Growth in the UK:
  • Achieved a remarkable 90% year-on-year revenue growth and over 20% increase in team size in the region.

The introduction of Smart Holdout Groups by Blis represents a significant advancement in omnichannel measurement, empowering marketers to gain accurate insights into their campaigns while adhering to privacy standards. With innovative technology and a strong leadership team, Blis is well-equipped to navigate the evolving advertising landscape and drive future growth.

Advanced offering brings unparalleled monetization and streaming capabilities across CTV and OLV for broadcasters, publishers, and advertisers

JW Player (JWP), a premier video streaming and data insights platform, has announced its merger with Connatix, a leading solution for video delivery and monetization. This strategic alliance forms JWP Connatix, establishing the industry's most comprehensive independent video technology and monetization platform for broadcasters, publishers, and advertisers.

The Context of the Merger

• Transformational Changes in Digital Video:

  • The digital video landscape is rapidly evolving as consumers increasingly opt for Connected TV (CTV) and streaming services, leading to significant shifts in global advertising expenditure.
  • By 2024, global CTV ad revenue is expected to exceed $30 billion, with the top ten streaming services approaching 1 billion subscribers.

• Adapting to Viewer Expectations:

  • Publishers, broadcasters, and advertisers must innovate their video strategies to align with changing viewer habits and business requirements.

Statements from Leadership

• David Kashak, Co-founder and CEO of Connatix:

  • Emphasized the need for media companies to adopt innovative solutions for audience engagement and revenue optimization across diverse monetization models, including advertising, subscriptions, and commerce.
  • Highlighted that JWP Connatix is positioned to meet these demands by leveraging premium video technology and monetization experiences.

• Dave Otten, CEO and Co-Founder of JWP:

  • Expressed enthusiasm about the merger, noting that the complementary strengths of both companies will enhance their market offering.
  • Stressed the importance of combining their teams' expertise to shape the future of digital video.

Key Benefits of JWP Connatix

• Global Reach and Reliable Scale:

  • Streams 7 billion minutes of video-on-demand (VOD) and live content to over 1 billion unique users across all screens globally.

• Hybrid Monetization Models:

  • Supports diverse business models—subscription, advertising, and e-commerce—leveraging insights from content and audience data to maximize revenue.

• Unique Insights for Optimized Outcomes:

  • Utilizes AI to analyze trillions of contextual, consumption, and monetization data signals, enhancing audience engagement with targeted content and ads.

• Single End-to-End Platform for OLV and CTV:

  • Provides a streamlined video management platform that enables various monetization opportunities across content, commerce, and creative endeavors.

Future Outlook

• Leadership Structure:

  • Following the merger, Dave Otten will serve as CEO of the newly formed company, while David Kashak will take on the role of Chairman.

• Headquarters and Offices:

  • JWP Connatix will be headquartered in New York City, with additional offices in London, Cluj-Napoca, Eindhoven, Skopje, and Tel Aviv.

The merger of JW Player and Connatix to form JWP Connatix heralds a new era in digital video technology. By unifying their strengths, the combined company is poised to enhance the video experience for broadcasters, publishers, and advertisers, ultimately reshaping the future of the digital video landscape.

Zoom’s AI Companion custom add-on triggers actionable workflows in ServiceNow Now Assist to keep projects moving forward

At Zoom’s annual partner and customer event, Zoomtopia 2024, ServiceNow and Zoom announced an expanded strategic alliance aimed at enhancing collaboration and productivity across enterprises. This partnership will integrate their generative AI technologies ServiceNow Now Assist and Zoom AI Companion in the first half of 2025, enabling advanced workflow automation for tasks and activities across both platforms.

Meeting the Demand for AI Tools

• Rising Demand for AI:

  • Organizations increasingly seek AI tools that enhance productivity and facilitate seamless project management across critical business applications.
  • According to Gartner®, 92% of employees express a desire for AI to assist with administrative tasks and summarize information effectively.

• Streamlining Processes:

  • The new integration of GenAI aims to expedite and streamline workflows, allowing employees to maintain momentum in their projects.

Leadership Insights

• Bill McDermott, Chairman and CEO of ServiceNow:

  • Emphasized that CEOs are transitioning from mere fascination with AI to implementing AI-led business strategies for significant operational improvements.
  • Highlighted the integration's goal of transforming conversation into immediate action, saving time, and reallocating resources to focus on critical tasks.

• Eric S. Yuan, Founder and CEO of Zoom:

  • Noted the collaboration enhances user experiences across both platforms through GenAI capabilities and embedded user interfaces.
  • Stressed the integration’s potential to elevate productivity by minimizing administrative time and streamlining workflows.

Enhancing Efficiency with Generative AI

• Seamless Information Flow:

  • The integration aims to create a smooth exchange of information during team collaborations.
  • For instance, during virtual meetings, the Zoom AI Companion will summarize and transcribe discussions, turning actionable items into tasks linked to ServiceNow workflows.

• Post-Meeting Automation:

  • After meetings, the AI Companion will collaborate with Now Assist for Strategic Portfolio Management (SPM) to initiate the appropriate workflows.
  • This includes automatically creating tickets, assigning tasks to team members, and sending email notifications to attendees with insights and summaries of deliverables.

Expanding the ServiceNow-Zoom Partnership

• Transforming Conversations into Actionable Data:
  • This integration builds on the existing partnership, taking unstructured conversations and converting them into structured data connected to intelligent workflows.

The expanded alliance between ServiceNow and Zoom, highlighted at Zoomtopia 2024, marks a significant step toward leveraging generative AI to enhance collaboration and productivity in the enterprise space. With this integration, organizations can look forward to streamlined workflows, improved task management, and an overall boost in efficiency, paving the way for a new era of intelligent work environments.

AD-ID, the industry standard for registering creative advertising assets, has released the results of a new Harris Poll survey involving over 2,000 U.S. adults aged 18 and older. Among the respondents, 1,921 identified as "viewers" who watch TV or consume streaming content. The survey reveals significant insights into viewer sentiment regarding ad frequency and its effects on their viewing experiences.

• Negative Impact of Repeated Ads:

  • 59% of viewers report that seeing the same ads repeatedly negatively affects their viewing experience.
  • 50% of viewers express annoyance due to ad repetition, while 26% indicate it has adversely influenced their purchasing decisions.

• Ad Frequency and Purchasing Intent:

  • 61% of respondents say that frequent ads make them less inclined to buy products or use services from the brand.
  • Nearly 49% have chosen not to purchase a product after encountering an ad too frequently.
  • Certain demographics, including men, adults under 55, parents with children under 18, are notably more likely to share these sentiments.

Industry Implications

• CEO Insights:

  • AD-ID CEO Nada Bradbury emphasized the growing pressure on brands and agencies to maximize efficiency and effectiveness in their advertising strategies.
  • She stated, “They need to take advantage of all available tools to eliminate guesswork and ensure creative works harder on their behalf.”

• AD-ID's Solution:

  • Established by the Association of National Advertisers (ANA) and the American Association of Advertising Agencies (4A's), AD-ID addresses the challenge of ad frequency by providing unique identifier codes for ads. This allows for better-targeted ad delivery, minimizing oversaturation.

Positive Aspects of Targeted Advertising

• Viewer Preferences:
  • The poll found that 76% of viewers want to see ads better aligned with their interests.
  • 33% stated they are open to watching ads that are relevant to them.
  • 63% have purchased a product or service they were previously unaware of due to an ad, while 18% say targeted ads have positively influenced their purchasing decisions.

As the landscape of converged TV evolves, the need for a universal ad tracking solution becomes increasingly critical. AD-ID’s focus is to help advertisers identify effective strategies while minimizing oversaturation. By leveraging these insights, brands can better connect with their audiences and enhance their advertising effectiveness.

• Next generation of Zoom AI Companion to pull in information from across Zoom Workplace, empowering users to get more done

• New custom add-on for AI Companion to offer advanced customization capabilities, including new Zoom AI Studio

• Zoom Tasks expands Zoom Workplace capabilities to help users detect, recommend, and complete tasks throughout their workday

Today, Zoom Video Communications, Inc. launched Zoomtopia 2024, unveiling groundbreaking AI-first innovations designed to enhance communication, collaboration, and productivity within teams. The new features aim to empower customers to maximize their work efficiency and achieve more.

Key Announcements at Zoomtopia 2024

• AI Companion 2.0: A significant upgrade to Zoom's AI Companion, offering customizable and personalized features for users.
• Zoom Tasks: A new tool to streamline actions across Zoom Workplace.
• Enhanced Employee and Customer Experience Innovations: These enhancements leverage cutting-edge AI technology.

Transforming the Work Experience

Eric S. Yuan, founder and CEO of Zoom, emphasized the company's commitment to revolutionizing the work experience. “Our vision is to create an AI-first work platform for human connection that empowers teams to achieve more than ever,” he stated. The AI Companion's existing capabilities are already enhancing productivity, transforming the way users engage with their work.

Zoom's AI Innovations

Zoom’s AI-first approach enables individuals and teams to optimize their workflows, allowing them to concentrate on what matters most: meaningful connections and impactful work.

• Federated AI Approach: Zoom dynamically selects from various AI models to deliver high-quality outputs while ensuring user controls and responsible AI use. AI Companion is available at no additional cost for paid Zoom services, making it accessible for all users.

AI Companion 2.0 Features

Zoom is committed to improving the AI Companion experience, introducing several new capabilities:

• Persistent Engagement: A persistent side panel for AI Companion provides constant access throughout Zoom Workplace.
• Expanded Contextual Understanding: Enhanced ability to offer intelligent suggestions based on user interactions and content.
• Advanced Synthesis: Capability to summarize content and interactions by pulling data from various connected applications.
• Real-time Web Access: Users can receive answers to queries and information from the web.
• Action Automation: AI Companion can track and complete tasks within Zoom Workplace to increase efficiency.

AI Companion 2.0 will be available soon at no additional cost with eligible paid services.

Custom Add-On for AI Companion

Zoom is introducing an optional add-on for AI Companion that allows for a tailored user experience. Key features include:

• Customized Experience: Businesses can create bespoke AI interactions with custom dictionaries and knowledge collections.
• Integration with Third-Party Apps: Comprehensive insights from apps like Atlassian, Workday, and more.
• Personal Coaching: Personalized coaching capabilities to support staff development and time savings through AI-generated content.

The custom AI Companion add-on will be priced at $12 per user per month and is set to launch in the first half of 2025.

Enhancements to Zoom Workplace

Stay Productive

With Zoom Workplace, users can stay organized and enhance their productivity through:

• Zoom Tasks: Utilizing AI to detect and recommend tasks based on conversations.
• Real-time Zoom Phone Enhancements: Providing live summaries and personalized voicemail greetings.

Effective Collaboration

• Meeting Support: AI Companion aids in generating agendas and summaries to keep meetings focused and productive.
• Video Content Creation: Access to a library of pre-selected avatars for professional video content generation.

These enhancements are included at no extra cost for Zoom Workplace users.

In-Person Meeting Innovations

Zoom is expanding AI Companion capabilities for in-person meetings, offering:

• Meeting Summaries and Action Items: Accessible via the Zoom Workplace app.
• Workspace Reservation Enhancements: AI recommends optimal office days and meeting rooms based on team schedules.

Employee Engagement Solutions

Zoom has introduced AI-first employee engagement solutions, such as:

• AI Companion for Workvivo: Streamlining content creation to keep employees informed and connected.
• Workvivo Employee Insights: Measuring engagement and performance levels.

Business Services Enhancements

Zoom is improving customer experience solutions, including:

• Enhanced Self-Service Capabilities: Multi-intent detection in Zoom Virtual Agent for more complex customer interactions.
• AI Virtual Voice Agent: Integrating voice call capabilities for better customer service experiences.
• Auto Quality Management: Providing supervisors with insights into agent performance.

Industry-Specific Solutions

Understanding the diverse needs of different industries, Zoom has rolled out tailored solutions:

• For Frontline Workers: A mobile-centric experience with AI Companion-generated shift summaries and work management tools.
• For Healthcare: Custom AI Companion options with access to electronic healthcare records and specialized dictionaries.
• For Education: Features like lesson planning and personalized feedback, plus a custom AI Companion add-on for educational institutions.

Zoom’s innovations unveiled at Zoomtopia 2024 reflect its commitment to an AI-first work platform that enhances collaboration and productivity. These advancements empower organizations to streamline workflows, optimize employee engagement, and adapt to the evolving digital landscape.