Published: 12/23/2019

The start of a new year means something exciting for those of us in tech: CES 2020 is almost here!

As the world’s largest annual consumer technology event, CES presents a great opportunity to expand your network, share innovative ideas, learn from global thought leaders, and discover the industry’s hottest trends. Furthermore, the CES stage is home to groundbreaking product announcements.

Let's take a look at enhancements to this year’s conference and dive into some expected hot topics to be covered at CES 2020.

New Programming and Exhibits

Consumer Technology Association, or CTA for short, are the organizers and primary sponsors behind CES. Like all event planners, they are continuously innovating with CES programming to please the crowds, and this year is no exception. 

First off, we are super excited for the new partnership with The Female Quotient, an organization working to advance gender equality. For the first time at CES they will be implementing their famous FQ Lounge, which promotes collaboration, on the showroom floor. CES has also added additional programming called Innovation for All. This will be centered around diversity and inclusion, in particular the movement toward gender equality in our workforce — and it will surely be an attention-grabber.  

CTA is also implementing a larger exhibit space and programming showcasing resilience technologies, which are those that help maintain safety and security in the world in categories such as disaster recovery, cybersecurity, and health. Additionally, CTA has added an entirely new Tourism and Travel exhibit area.

Lastly come announcements within the health and wellness space including a newly formed partnership with the American College of Cardiology. Through this partnership, medical professionals are given the opportunity to earn Continuing Medical Education credits through educational sessions that help them maintain their medical licenses.

Global Thought Leaders and Technology Trends

Below are some of the confirmed CES speakers who are bound to impress at the conference. 

Keynotes: Delta, Quibi, Damler, and Mercedes Benz 

The first confirmed speaker for this year is Delta CEO Ed Bastian. He was announced as a keynote speaker, which makes sense, given the new focus on tourism and travel. Making his second annual appearance on the main CES stage, he is expected to focus on augmented and virtual reality, among other innovations making an impact on this industry.  

The next two keynote speakers come from the latest entertainment platform, Quibi. Meg Whitman, CEO, and Jeffrey Kratzenberg, Founder and Chairman of the Board, both have impressive backgrounds at companies like eBay, HP, Walt Disney, Paramount, and Dreamworks. They are expected to talk about disruptive trends in marketing and advertising, or what CES refers to as C Space.

Another keynote speaker is Chairman of the Board of Management of Daimler AG and Head of Mercedes-Benz Cars, Ola Källenius. He will be presenting innovations in vehicle technology, and will be introducing a new concept car to the audience.

Featured Speakers: Facebook, Apple, The Female Quotient, and Material Impact

CTA has also already announced multiple other featured speakers for CES. Two speakers who will discuss the topics of data and privacy, which will be prominent at the conference, include Erin Egan, Facebook’s newly appointed Chief Privacy Officer, and Jane Horvath, Apple’s Senior Director of Global Privacy. Before heading to these forums, you can become acquainted with these topics by reading up on data privacy on our blog.   

Another featured speaker is Shelley Zallis, who is the CEO of The Female Quotient, which we touched upon earlier. Her company was also announced as the official Equality Partner of CES 2020.

Last but not least is Carmichael Roberts, the Founder and Managing Partner of Material Impact, a venture capital firm in the materials industry. He is expected to shed light on resilient technologies.

CES Unveiled

We also looked at the CES Unveiled series, which is a miniseries of one-day events that took place this past fall around the world, meant to preview what’s to come at CES. The Amsterdam miniseries focused on how technology is improving our everyday lives through smart homes and cities, while Paris’ event focused on AI as well as entrepreneurship and innovation. Other overarching topics across the two included enterprise solutions, Internet of Things infrastructure, autonomous vehicles, 5G connectivity, and more. We expect these topics to be apparent in Las Vegas as well.

Now that your wheels are turning, it’s time to get your bags packed and Vegas-ready! In the meantime, be sure to check out our CES Survival Guide, which is jam-packed with expert tips and tricks to help you become the most savvy attendee possible!

The post The Future of Technology: The Industry’s Hottest Trends at CES 2020 appeared first on Cuebiq.

With the new year right around the corner, it's time to start gearing up for one of the most anticipated technology industry events of the year: CES 2020!  

For those who are new to the scene, CES, short for Consumer Electronics Show, is a four-day conference that takes place in Las Vegas — and is the world’s largest annual consumer technology event. In fact, today, CES draws in crowds nearing 180,000 attendees, along with 4,500 exhibitors and over a thousand speakers.

With this year marking the 52nd anniversary of CES, we decided to take a stroll down memory lane to see which major technologies have been announced over the years.

52 Years of Product Innovation in Review

When first held in June 1967, right here in the Big Apple, CES captured less than 1% of exhibitors and less than 10% of attendees seen today, according to the history of CES. Needless to say, the event has grown exponentially. One thing that hasn’t changed, though, is that life-changing technologies are often debuted there.  

The 1960s: The Birth of CES

The 1960s were the birth decade of CES. During these first few years, consumers were introduced to the first model of a computer mouse and ARPANET, which, little did we know, would become the technical foundation of the internet!

The 1970s: A New City & Apple’s First Personal Computer

Due to increasing popularity of CES, the 1970s brought a change in the host city, introducing Chicago and Las Vegas as additional conference locations, and amped up the show’s presence to twice a year. The announcements of the first-ever VCR, followed by VHS, a computer floppy disc, and Apple’s first personal computer, all came during this time. 

The 1980s: Record-Breaking Attendance & the First Cell Phone

As demand continued to soar, reaching a milestone of 100,000 attendees, the 1980s marked a time for innovation in the world of music with the introduction of the CD and CD player. Also during this time we were introduced to the first color TV, cell phones, and the camcorder.

The 1990s: Transformation of How We Watch TV

And who could forget the 1990s? This decade brought huge TV improvements, such as DVD players and flat-screen plasma TVs, as well as the first Dolby home theater system.

The 2000s: Upgrades to Household Technologies

The 2000s continued to bring household improvements — cell phones and digital cameras were combined into one and 3G cellular network became available, TVs were upgraded (once again) with plasma HDTV and 3D HDTV, and the radio was transformed into HD and satellite radio — and this is just naming a few.

The 2010s: Internet of Things & More

Finally, we arrive at our current decade, when the Internet of Things became a major buzzword. Most notably, this decade has brought us Ultra HDTV, Flexible OLED, 3D printers, tablets, connected TVs, and virtual reality. And as for 2019, this past year has boasted advancements in AI, drones, health tech, TVs, and according to Fast Company, virtual assistant technologies from Google and Amazon.

Excited to see what CES 2020 has in store for us? We are too! Stayed tuned for our next blog, which will discuss expectations on what’s to come.

And if you'll be attending CES 2020, be sure to set up a meeting with our executive team there!

The post The Innovation of Technology: A Review of Past Groundbreaking Product Announcements as CES Celebrates 52 Years appeared first on Cuebiq.

Cannes Lions, a place where all key stakeholders of the international marketing and advertising industry gather for one week each year. Endless panels, endless yachts, and (of course) endless rosé. Each year we walk away with inspiring ideas to take back to the office, trends that will shape the industry, and lasting connections.

But Cannes Lions is a busy week, so if you didn’t get to see enough content or you preferred the breezy boat-side atmosphere, here are 2018’s top takeaways.

Embrace Risk and Purposeful Advertising

“The technology, innovation, and ideas will redefine and transform what marketing is.” — Andy Kauffman, Marriott

Short consumer attention span is not new, and advertising noise is not going away. With AI, VR, voice, and other “cooler” types of marketing coming into play, breaking through that noise is only going to get more difficult. To break through the clutter, marketers and advertisers will need to infuse their strategies with purpose and calculated risk.

Clever tag lines that catch eyes, short videos that produce contemplation, and social media that induces laughter are the new ballgame. Brands that are forging ahead with risk, purpose, and boldness in their advertising — such as Wendy’s, Adidas, Axe, and General Electric — are winning with consumers. Brands with mundane messaging, however, will be left behind as they lose a share of that attention span.

Know Your Brand’s Beliefs Before You Act

“You have to be humble and take an active participation in the consumer’s journey.” — Lars Silberbauer, LEGO

Be bold, have purpose, take risks — but know your beliefs first. Brands are adapting to a world where they must be socially relevant and socially conscious; they are now judged by who they are, what they do, and how they back up words with action. As cliché as it is, the expression “put your money where your mouth is” has never been more relevant. To connect with consumers, it is no longer good enough to support a cause with words only; advertising, marketing, and the entire brand experience must back up the company’s beliefs.

To avoid social flops and backlash, there must be a deep understanding of what the brand stands for and how messaging will relay those beliefs.

Are you connecting with your audience in a meaningful way? Read our post on Maping the Consumer Journey with Location Data.

Make the Transition to People-Centric Marketing and Advertising

“Look for small drivers of joy and you’ll get a lot back.” — Alexander Schlaubitz, Lufthansa

As the industry shifts towards purposeful messaging and embraces involvement in social good, it only makes sense that there also be a shift to people-centric products and experiences. No longer can marketers think only of the message they want to send; there must be conscious thought and consideration for what the consumer needs at each touch point along their journey.

Brands must begin thinking about changes they can make to ease the small irritations of daily life. Whether it’s a simple concept such as Dollar Shave Club or something as disruptive as Uber, the industry at large must now connect with consumers by making life more convenient. Delivering the right message, with the best experience, and adding convenience along the way will be integral in producing a lasting response that leaves consumers wanting more. Brands that are able to to get ahead of this curve will provide the most benefit to their consumers and win their loyalty.

Improve Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence With Human Input

“Innovation isn’t fast, sexy, shiny. It’s slow, it’s a lot of spreadsheets, and it’s people yelling at each other.” — Dave Meeker, Isobar

Artificial intelligence and machine learning have been buzzwords for a number of years, but technology is now catching up to make it all a plausible reality. As these technologies move forward, there must be an understanding that AI and ML cannot stand alone without human assistance. Only humans fully understand how other humans behave, think, and react.

Keeping in line with consumer-centric innovation and experiences, humans must code technology to understand how other humans experience the world. Brands will need to be thoughtful in building these AI, virtual, and voice experiences. Designing and testing for human use and being more predictive, rather than reactive, will be a game changer.

For more event recaps or news on industry events, visit our blog.

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Last week, Times Square hosted more than just the typical array of Sesame Street costumed characters and Broadway show attendees. A major marketing event also took place there: Social Media Week New York. I had the pleasure of attending and got the opportunity to hear from experts on topics ranging from influencer marketing to blockchain technology. Yet the session that stood out to me the most was on a slightly more meaningful topic: “Brand Purpose 2.0: When Doing Good Drives the Bottom Line.”

More and more, consumers are only supporting brands whose values align with their own. According to eMarketer, 58% of US internet users surveyed in 2017 did not make a purchase because they didn’t believe in what a company stood for. So, it’s critical for brands to build “doing good” into their DNA. This was a key theme of the session I attended, which featured three marketers representing a range of purpose-first brands: Sonos, Peace First, and Absolut Elyx of Pernod Ricard. By the end of the discussion, one thing was clear to me — brands can no longer rely exclusively on CSR teams to carry out community outreach and sustainability efforts. Instead, they need to integrate purpose into their business models from the start.

For example, Digital Director Jeremie Moritz, the representative from Absolut Elyx, illustrated how sustainability and philanthropy are core to their business model. Not only does Absolut Elyx use only exceptional raw ingredients in production, but they also use sustainable techniques (think: paper straws instead of plastic) and recycle whenever possible. Additionally, with water being an essential component of vodka, Absolut Elyx is partnering with Water For People in a five-year mission to provide access to safe water to over 100,000 people worldwide.

Following Absolut Elyx’s lead, brands should focus on taking a comprehensive approach to social responsibility. At Cuebiq, we have taken steps to achieve this through our Data For Good initiative, which we launched in 2017. By sharing our anonymous location data with researchers at top universities and nonprofit organizations, we are able to help them identify patterns to improve quality of life in underserved communities, aid with natural disaster planning and relief, and develop smart cities. Finding opportunities to use our data for the greater good is part of our responsibility as a leading location intelligence company. In this way, purpose is paramount to us.

The post Why Brands Must Integrate Purpose Into Their DNA appeared first on Cuebiq.

CES is almost around the corner and the event is ALWAYS filled with thousands of exhibitors, journalists, tech fanatics, media and tech executives and more. They will descend upon the Las Vegas strip to learn and sample the latest and greatest technologies, drink and gamble, and see firsthand how Uber surge rates work. The show is definitely overwhelming but at the same time one of the highlights of the year when it comes to technology. We’ve put together a few tips in our CES Survival Guide we think will be handy for anyone attending the event for the first time or show veterans who are looking for some new tips.

Tip #1: Travel Light - Don’t bring extra baggage to this event 

Typically big trade shows like CES have a lot of security, don’t let this trip you up. Pack light and bring only what you need to survive when hitting the floor. Rolling bags are not permitted on the floor and each guest can only carry up to two bags. Make sure you have what you need, but leave some extra room for that swag!

Tip #2: Bring USB Battery Packs - Don't be caught with a dead phone

Don’t be one of those attendees you normally see at trade shows looking for that outlet that’s hidden under miles of poorly laid carpet. When you're coming to CES you need to be prepared that if there are any extra outlets they will already be taken. Make sure to pack fully charged USB battery packs so you can enjoy the show, take great pictures, email clients and communicate with your coworkers on the floor.

 Tip #3: Give yourself Extra Time - Get a map

You need to understand that this event is in Vegas! That means that wherever you are staying, the path to the event convention centers might not be so easy. Whether it is weaving your way through the Venetian’s slot machines or walking through the Mirage hotel’s insanely huge lobby,  you will need to give yourself extra time. If you're one of those unlucky people who did not book a hotel in advance…make sure to take even more time when using shuttle buses or taxis, because there will be traffic and the floor waits for no one.

Tip #4: Pack Comfy Shoes - Take care of your feet

CES is spread over two convention centers and countless hotels along the Las Vegas strip. Most shows hours extend far beyond the show floor times...so you’ll need footwear that is comfortable because your feet will need to last the entire event.

Tip #5: Hydrate, Hydrate & Hydrate - Remember You'll be in Vegas

This may be obvious but Vegas is an unforgiving desert and she will punish you for not taking the time to hydrate. Not only will you be attending an amazingly long and tiresome show, you will also need to make sure you are able to juggle multiple clients, track down leads, handle booth conversations and then network at late night events. Don’t get sick or tired - stay hydrated, remember you are in Vegas now!

Tip #6: Rest Up - Don’t let those late nights win 

Yes, I know the event is held in Las Vegas, a city which is basically the antonym of a good night’s sleep. However, keep in mind that you’re here to work, and you’ve got some long days ahead of you. Set a decent bedtime, stay hydrated and fed, and do everything in your power to avoid the roulette game next to the elevator.

Tip #7: Go to the Afterparty - Get the most out of CES 

The floor is filled with amazing technology and sights to see but you need to network as well. The trick is to never say no to an invite. There will be so many different parties and you need to choose wisely. Overcommit and get on as many lists as possible, it will be easier to make your decision toward the end of each day. Take time to pick the best party that will help you get the most out of your trip to Vegas.

Tip #8: Don’t Forget to Take Pictures - Make sure you learn something 

CES is a great event and showcases new and amazing technology each year. While you might be attending the event for many different reasons, don’t forget to take time to smell the roses and take some pictures. Make sure you come away from the event with some new learnings to tell your boss along with some great swag to share at the office.

Download our CES Survival Guide for on-the-go tips or take a look the below for a quick read while on the plane!

Find more industry news and event information on our blog.

The post How to Survive CES and Other Large Trade Shows appeared first on Cuebiq.

We recently had the opportunity to join LiveRamp's RampUp Virtual Summit and spend a few powerful hours listening and sharing insights and real-life applications around LiveRamp’s people-based measurement.  As a marketer, I experience firsthand how challenging it can be to effectively manage today’s complex ecosystem of channels and technologies.  Identifying, mapping, and measuring consumer behaviors is a must for marketers seeking to connect with target consumers and, in return, prove ROI on our marketing investments.  However, connecting the dots has become more and more challenging.  As Martech leaders took the RampUp! virtual stage, all conversations revolved around these critical questions, and these suggested paths on how to get to the best answers:

Bridging the Gap Between Online and Offline Consumer Behavior

The customer journey is not always as linear as seeing an ad and then buying online or in store.  The ability to map the consumer journey is critical for today’s marketers in order to create a well-rounded marketing strategy that reaches the right consumers with meaningful messaging, impacting their path to purchase.  With so many different types of communication, it’s critical for marketers to understand how their brand initiatives are performing and which channels are delivering the best results.  

The how-to:

Thanks to technology advances in recent years, such as high quality, vast scale mobile location data, customer journeys can now be more intricately tracked. Location data supports the customer journey by crafting the true map of how a consumer finds their way to a brand, a store, and a purchase. Beyond attribution of a digital media impression to a website, location data extends customer journey insight to the car, the errands being run, the mall, and into the store.

Engaging Target Customer Along Path to Purchase

As marketers face the touchpoint fragmentation along the consumer journey, it is not only important to understand what worked and what didn’t, but also what went wrong, in order to avoid repeating the mistake over and over.

The how-to:

Leveraging the right data combination and applying incremental testing can help marketers solve for this challenge, arriving at a measurement solution that not only maps and measures the customer journey but also dissects touch points that might make or break a purchase.  Incremental measurement aims at adding more color around the steps that lead to a purchase, testing outcomes to understand causality, revealing potentially costly blind spots, and pointing to more efficient allocations of marketing dollars.

Making Sure Social Media Advertising Investment is Paying Off

Social media budgets have been dramatically increasing over the past few years, however measuring its effectiveness and ROI can be challenging, hindering marketers’ ability to justify the spend.  

The how-to:

Marketing intelligence tools that are able to measure social media effectiveness and connect the dots with other touch points and channels the advertiser uses to connect and engage with its target consumers can be a true game-changer for marketers to validate social budgets and complete the picture of the role that social media plays within the larger marketing ecosystem.

Hungry for more?  Check out all the recordings from RampUp's Virtual Summit here. And for more news on industry events and happenings from the Cuebiq team, visit our Events page.

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“Your brand is what people say about you when you are not in the room.” - Jeff Bezos

The marketers and advertisers that attended JD Power AMR this year were in for a serious treat. JD Power put together a stellar lineup of speakers and an interesting array of content. From artificial intelligence and messaging techniques to in-store experience and the changes the industry needs to make moving forward, JD Power was full of powerful thought leadership. Here are a few key takeaways:

1. Marketers Need to Close the Online-Offline Loop

With the ability to search any topic from their pockets, consumers are taking their time researching purchases online. On average, auto consumers spend 16 weeks researching a car purchase before setting foot in a dealership. Coupled with the increasing adoption of ad blockers, marketers have a large obstacle to overcome to close the online to offline loop. Marketers must figure out when someone is in-market without much knowledge about them. To come out on top brands must find the tools that fit their marketing strategies, and provide the most accurate campaign reporting to garner ROI and revenue.

2. Marketers Must Learn to Engage Consumers With No Brand Loyalty

Younger generations are not brand loyal, they take months to do research, they are averse to advertising, they use ad blockers and incognito settings, and they typically begin their car search with no more than two cars in mind. Because of this, auto marketers have an interesting challenge in front of them: figuring out how to place relevant advertisements in front of these consumers without much insight.

To get on the “short list” of these younger generation consumers, brands must own their voices, be insightful by leading messaging with value and insights, and be anticipatory but unselfish. These younger generations abhore “fake”, “self-serving” advertisements and they will not give them any attention. Thoughtful, targeted advertisements and accurate campaign measurement have never been more important.

3. Brands Must Update the In-Store Experience

The auto in-store experience has remained relatively unchanged for far too long and it needs to innovate now. Incredibly, the in-store experience in the auto industry can last up to 5.5 hours, 1.5 of them spent solely filling out paperwork. AI and AR experiences could change the face of the in-store experience.

What if you could answer a few questions about style and preferences and a computer showed you side-by-side comparisons of cars you would like? What if you could personalize a car from top to bottom in 3D? The brands that innovate and gear in-store experiences to customer satisfaction by anticipating frustration points and customer needs will be the brands that succeed.

At the conclusion of the discussions and presentations, it was clear the auto industry has a lot of room for growth. It was also clear, however, that with the use of new technologies and creative innovation the industry can thrive. As the auto marketers search for revenue among a tech-savvy and advertising averse audience strong branding, thoughtful messaging, and quality insights will generate coveted ROI.

Read more insights and recommendations from the Cuebiq team. Visit our blog for the latest updates.

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The biggest thing that stuck out to me during this year's Advertising Week was the WEATHER! I mean it was in the high 80s in late September. But all jokes aside, this year's event featured amazing speakers, innovative brands and insightful discussions about what the future of advertising might look like. From technology to data, there was way too much great content to write about just in one blog post. However, with events like Advertising Week, they tend to give us some great buzzwords to focus on. Let's take a look at one in particular...AI

Yes, I know everyone has heard of this buzzword - its not new, but still very important.

How AI Will Transform Advertising

The power of AI will have the ability to transform Advertising, giving brands and marketers new tools to enhance their business and marketing strategies. Automation will unlock a whole new part of our economy. In 2016, Bank of America released a report to it's investors stating that the rise of AI will lead to cost reduction and new forms of growth that could amount to $14-$33 trillion annually, what they called a "creative disruption impact." In some expert opinions, this might just be the tip of the iceberg.

What's Behind the Explosion of AI in Advertising

But whats behind this explosion of AI? Well, its data! While "big data" can be a misunderstood buzzword in advertising, there's no denying that the recent AI and machine learning push is dependent on huge amounts of data.  Advisory firm Ovum predicts that the big data market—currently at $1.7 billion—will swell to $9.4 billion by 2020. While the power of AI can't be denied, it's ability to be truly impactful is dependent on data quality. AI and Machine learning systems are only as good as the data they ingest. AI is able to learn on the fly and optimize to become more efficient, but with bad data AI could make itself actually dumber in the process. Think about that for a second...

AI was the star of this year's event - however, data still played a major role in most of the discussions. After attending a few panels myself, it became increasingly clear that the power of AI is contingent on the data. Good, high quality data is more important than ever. Brands and marketers with the assistance of AI will be able improve their advertisement investments.

With millions and millions of advertising dollars at stake, everyone must be aware that if AI technology is the future, good data must be the foundation. Ask as how we can help you use good data to transform your advertising strategies. Contact Cuebiq today.

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