More than 80% of advertisers, marketers, service providers and technology developers across 17 countries believe that data plays an important role in supporting their respective efforts.
The study, from The Global Review of Data-Driven Marketing and Advertising, by GlobalDMA (an alliance of more than 25 independent marketing associations around the world) found that nearly all (92.2%) said they expect data to contribute even more substantially to their advertising and marketing efforts over the coming years.
The findings were published today in a new report, and Winterberry Group (a U.S.-based research and strategic consulting firm that specializes in the advertising, marketing, media and information disciplines). To be published annually, the report benchmarks current practices across each of its 17 participating markets—with an eye on helping practitioners better understand and act upon their addressable opportunities, challenges and market dynamics.
Chris Combemale, executive director of the DMA, commented: “The findings of the comprehensive GDMA report reaffirm what we’ve known for many years in the UK – data matters. The world’s data-driven economy is thriving, with global one-to-one marketing expenditure up over the past 12 months and every expectation of further growth over the next year.
“The report’s benchmarks of performance, confidence and practices will enable the UK’s one-to-one marketing community to learn from the insights and experiences of their overseas peers. This will cement the foundations for a future of sustainable growth.”
The Global Review’s findings were compiled through an online survey of advertisers, marketers and other industry participants (deployed between July and September 2014 by marketing associations in participating markets). Among other findings, it concluded that:
•It’s a bull market: More than three quarters (77.4 percent) of global panelists said they’re confident in the practice of data-driven marketing and advertising and its prospects for future growth. While that response was fairly consistent around the world, panelists in emerging markets—including India, Brazil and South Africa—indexed their level of optimism at higher levels than their counterparts elsewhere.
•Budgets are on the rise: Globally, 63.2 percent of panelists reported that their spending on data-driven marketing and advertising grew over the last year—with another 10 percent (73.5 percent of the panel) expecting budgets will rise yet again over the next year.
•Data is digital. And digital is data: The five promotional channels that captured the most new or expanded budget over the last year—including website/e-commerce content, social media, mobile, paid search engine marketing and online display advertising—are all native to the digital world.
•It’s all about customers: A majority of global panelists (52.7 percent) said that “a demand to deliver more relevant communications/be more ‘customer-centric’” is among the most important factors driving their data-related investments, outpacing all other relevant factors.
Key charts on customer spending from the Global DMA reprt are shown below:
“While we hear often about the contrasts that distinguish markets around the world, our research revealed one universal constant: data matters—and it matters a lot,” said Jonathan Margulies, Managing Director, Winterberry Group. “Across all of the 17 nations that were part of our analysis, we found that practitioners rely heavily on information to support a range of business objectives, ultimately supporting both marketing and consumer interests.”
The Global Review was made possible through the support of MediaMath—respective leaders in data-driven marketing strategy and technology.
“Driving a connected, seamless consumer experience is the holy grail of marketing,” said Rachel Meranus, SVP, Marketing at MediaMath. “As the study shows, data is core to this and as more and more marketers invest in data-driven marketing, they will undoubtedly see a greater marketing ROI.”
The Global Review—including its worldwide analysis and an appendix providing rich snapshots of response across each of its 17 participating markets—is available for free download at http://www.globaldma.com/survey.
“We’re looking forward to future annual editions of The Global Review, when we’ll finally have what has always been so elusive to the marketing industry: insightful historical data about how marketers and advertisers are leveraging data as a driver of innovation and growth,” said Mr. Marguilies. “We’ll be able to track what’s happening across the ‘data-driven’ economy and better understand the trends that are driving new opportunities for practitioners around the globe.”
“The research will be the foundation of a global conversation about data and its evolving role in advertising and marketing,” concluded Chris Combemale.