First-party data is the future of advertising: At least that’s what Omnicom thinks, as it signs a historic deal to use NBCUniversal’s clean room solution.
Pulling out of Russia is great for brands—on paper, that is: Apple, Shell, Nike, and others may face long-term repercussions from the Russian government for their departures.
Another bank sets up a metaverse HQ that consumers haven’t asked for: Siam Commercial Bank has become the second major financial institution to enter the metaverse.
The closure of an ad-free YouTube app is a reminder of ad blockers’ prominence: Digital advertising efforts are at odds with the experience most internet users want.
Biometrics are poised for wider adoption: Consumers aren’t happy with the status quo for identity verification—and most of those who tried newer methods liked them, according to a PYMNTS and Pindrop survey.
APIs take off among banks: They’re critical for “as a service” innovations, but APIs raise the challenge of working with legacy tech stacks and finding developers during a talent shortage.
Personalization is at the forefront of a new Macy’s initiative: The retailer aims to distinguish itself from its competitors with a website overhaul and personal stylist training for in-store staff.
War in Ukraine could extend the chip shortage: Energy and logistics costs are rising, while inflation threatens to balloon and inhibit economic growth for Western Europe and the world.
While other rapid grocery startups fold, Getir attracts more funding: The Turkish-based delivery company is in talks to raise another $800 million
Facing accusations of greenwashing, retailers step up their sustainability efforts: As government authorities crack down on bogus eco claims, companies like adidas and Unilever try to prove their sustainability bona fides.
Shoppers can buy real-life products in the metaverse: A partnership between Babylist and Obsess lets customers interact virtually with items before adding them to their cart.
Merging > Bundling: That’s according to Warner Bros. Discovery’s incoming CFO, who says that Discovery Plus and HBO Max will (eventually) meld to create what they hope to be a Netflix killer.
Pay TV is in free fall, as more and more families cut the cable cord. By the end of 2023, less than half of US households will have a traditional pay TV subscription. The total number of pay TV households will drop to 65.1 million, a 4.8% decrease from 2022.
Metaverse takes center stage at SXSW events: However, Meta’s vision for the concept finds few conference believers.
There’s a disconnect between Starbucks’ progressive initiatives and some of its actions: The retailer is installing EV charging stations and phasing out its iconic cups at the same time it fights unionization efforts.
US consumers pined for pre-pandemic pleasures in Q4 2021, with the delta wave receding and omicron just entering the frame—and it showed in their search behavior. Organic Google search visits to travel sites increased 41% year over year that quarter. Meanwhile, retail and consumer goods took a hit: Visits to those sites decreased 14% as the prospects of in-store shopping improved.