Martechvibe

We are thrilled to present our Top 15 Interviews of the Year! This handpicked selection highlights conversations that transcend regions and industries, tackling universal challenges and offering actionable insights. It's Christmas Week and we extend our merry gratitude to you incredible industry leaders for sharing your expertise with our readers. Adam Smart, Global Director of Product—Gaming at AppsFlyer Amr Helmy, Marketing Director at Red Bull Anuj Nagpal, Former Director – Supply & Ads Monetisation at Swiggy Asma Beljaflah, Head of Emirates Islamic Contact Centre at Tanfeeth Dipti Khalate, Head of Growth at ZALORA Group Joshua Foo, Senior Retention Marketing Manager at Chronos Agency Kartik Mittal, Head Ad Sales & Monetisation Revenue at Snapdeal | AceVector Group Luke Jamieson, Global CX / EX / Future of Work Thought Leader Manpreet Kour, Director – Experiential Marketing at Cvent Dr Melanie Van Rooy, CMO at Clicks Group  Dr. Raul Villamarin Rodriguez, Cognitive and Behavioural Psychology Expert Simon Kriss, Author of The AI-Empowered Customer Experience Sindhu Sreenath, Managing Director, EMEA at QuestionPro Subhash Dawda, Head Marketing, RazorpayX Vita Nikolaieva, Marketing & Communications APAC at Columbia Shipmanagement https://lnkd.in/dYJGcy8H

According to preliminary insights from Mastercard SpendingPulse, US retail sales, excluding automotive, increased 3.8% year-over-year from November 1 through December 24. Mastercard SpendingPulse measures in-store and online retail sales, representing all payment types and is not adjusted for inflation. “The holiday shopping season revealed a consumer who is willing and able to spend but driven by a search for value as can be seen by concentrated ecommerce spending during the biggest promotional periods,” said Michelle Meyer, Chief Economist, Mastercard Economics Institute. “This holiday season, we saw consumers motivated by deals and retailers respond with promotions to meet the demand,” said Stephen Sadove, senior advisor for Mastercard and former CEO and chairman of Saks Incorporated. https://lnkd.in/d8AYB_s2

Rewind 2024: Immersive experiences are here to take the customer away from the ordinary. Technologies like AR, VR and AI are at the helm of this, where customers won’t accept an experience that doesn’t offer virtual engagement. AR Trial Rooms are Transforming Shopping AI Is Becoming A Favourite Music Streaming Partner by Roman Shimansky How Can XR Drive the Next Era of Air Travel by Gaynelle Brautigam https://lnkd.in/dCz9PcYZ

With data and innovation at their core and a portfolio of prime real estate, they aim to redefine the luxury shopping experience. Richard Baker, Executive Chairman of SAKS GLOBAL, said, “With data and innovation at our core and a portfolio of prime real estate, we aim to redefine the luxury shopping experience.” Marc Metrick, CEO, Saks Global Operating Group, said, “As one company, we have an opportunity to transform the way we serve consumers, blending art and science to ensure each customer’s experience is unmistakably their own.” https://lnkd.in/dkKYT2YZ

By integrating Edgility, Axtel gains enhanced edge computing capabilities, including deeper network visibility, real-time performance monitoring, and advanced analytics. “The first application positively impacts their bottom line by enabling them to deliver exceptional service to their customers, and the next set of applications will drive significant revenue growth to the top line,” said Jason Hyatt, General Manager at Telco Systems | Edgility. https://lnkd.in/dHzn3XGU

Rewind 2024: From imaginative capacities like injecting creativity into ads and campaigns to more technical capabilities like optimised targeting and advanced fraud detection, artificial intelligence has offered immense utility to marketers. The following articles highlight how genAI enhances the multiple facets of marketing operations. GenAI: The Right Hand for Creating Custom Audiences by Mateusz Rumiński How Innovative AI is Changing The Advertising Perspective in 2024 by Vikram Bhalla Generative AI Bridges The Gap Between Hype and Reality Harnessing The Power of AI-Driven Conversations by Ali Hussain https://lnkd.in/dpV7CQ4n

Together, they aim to accelerate the delivery of #embeddedfinance solutions for all of their clients, “Our Board conducted a thorough strategic review process together with our financial advisors, having evaluated numerous acquisition, commercial partnership, and other opportunities, and concluded that the Transaction is in the best interests of the Company,” said Marco Margiotta, CPA, Payfare Inc. CEO, and Founding Partner. “Payfare has built a reputation as an innovator in workforce payments for gig-economy companies,” said Frank Bisignano, Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer of Fiserv. https://lnkd.in/draYZfb3

Rewind 2024: This curated content dives into three critical and evolving aspects of digital advertising—mobile-centric consumer behaviour, challenges with Made For Advertising (MFA) websites, and the shift towards privacy-first advertising. Each provides actionable insights and thought-provoking perspectives on the current landscape of advertising strategies. Privacy Shouldn’t be a Problem. Here’s Why by Maor Sadra Why Does the MFA Mayhem Continue to Persist? What are the Critical Factors Reshaping Advertising Strategies? with insights from Oussama Yousfi https://lnkd.in/dGeNvD8S

Ho Ho Ho! Merry Christmas from Martechvibe! May your day be filled with joy, laughter, and all the magic of the holiday season. Whether it’s unwrapping presents or indulging in festive treats, we hope your celebrations are nothing short of spectacular!

Squad leverages its expansive network of influencers and creators to suggest alternative talent options at various price points. Anthony Adamovich, CEO and Founder of SQUAD, said. “This marketer-first approach drastically streamlines the process for connecting brands with the best ‘squad’ of creators that align with the advertisers’ goals and values for maximum results.” Evan Britton, Founder of Famous Birthdays, said, “Our exclusive partnership with Squad is a pilot program that utilises the public Famous Birthdays website to connect advertisers and creators, facilitated by Squad’s expertise in executing influencer campaigns.” https://lnkd.in/dpvRpehG