Experian Marketing Services, a recognized leader in data-driven marketing and cloud-based marketing technology, today unveiled an audience management platform that will change the way the advertising industry buys and measures media. The Audience Engine platform deterministically links and matches data across the marketing ecosystem in a unified, automated platform for targeting, execution and measurement of addressable advertising campaigns. Advertisers, agencies and publishers can use Audience Engine to build and execute addressable advertising campaigns at scale in just a few clicks. Experian® developed the platform to automate the process of finding an advertiser’s audiences where they are today — at scale, across channels, networks and online and offline platforms. It provides users with a single, agnostic platform to create, understand and activate their addressable advertising campaigns leveraging a combination of first-, second- and third-party data sources. For TV advertisers, this includes linear, addressable and over-the-top audiences, such as connected TV. While in beta over the last nine months, more than 70 brands have used Audience Engine to launch addressable TV campaigns. Brands across verticals including major automotive, travel, retail and consumer packaged goods have already seen success, with an average sales lift of 67 percent. “We built Audience Engine with an open ecosystem in mind. As a result, we’ve been very successful in securing major accounts that have contributed to the impressive scale of our platform,” said Kevin Dean, president and general manager of targeting, Experian Marketing Services. “Our audience management platform allows media companies to monetize their data by making it accessible to the industry in a privacy-compliant, agnostic environment. Meanwhile, the media companies remain in control of their data and how that data is used for marketing.” Key facts about the Audience Engine platform Reach: Users of the Audience Engine platform can reach 85 percent of the entire U.S. population with addressable advertising campaigns. Advertisers can reach 100 percent of the household-level addressable TV operators in the United States through Audience Engine. People-based audiences, not cookies: Unlike a data management platform (DMP), Experian’s audience management platform generates “people-based” audiences by deterministically connecting data from across the industry, including online and offline platforms. It does not rely on cookies. Experian has direct partnerships with over 20 of the country’s largest media providers across TV, online, mobile, email and direct mail to enable deterministic matching and distribution across more than 8 billion variables. Media partners include Facebook, Yahoo, Viant, AOL, Cablevision, AT&T and Dish Network, among others. Users: Audience Engine is for users on both the buy and sell sides of advertising. End users include advertisers, agencies, media publishers and DMPs. Flexibility for distribution: Audience Engine offers users the flexibility to distribute audiences in perfect orchestration with demand side platforms (DSPs) and DMPs including Videology, Turn, MediaMath, x+1 and Lotame. Industry and partner quotes “Experian has become a critical component to today’s addressable ecosystem,” said Jamie Power, managing partner, Modi Media. “In five years, we’ll look back on this platform as a significant milestone in the ease and evolution of Advanced TV Advertising.  Their direct link to the MVPD infrastructure drastically improves our ability to implement Addressable campaigns in reasonable time with accurate data and measurement." “Experian’s Audience Engine is integral to the future of TV and advertising,” said Andre Swanston, CEO of Tru Optik, which provides media and entertainment behavioral data for Audience Engine. “Our partnership with Experian has made Tru Optik data on the consumption of streaming media content available across addressable TV, opening an entire new revenue opportunity for our company and providing media companies and agencies with the insights they need to reach consumers, who are increasingly consuming content across multiple screens.” How Audience Engine works Directly in the Audience Engine platform, users are able to: Create custom audiences by selecting from their customer files and Experian’s consumer database (the largest in the world), as well as segments from other unique, emerging data sources. Users see the quantity and scale of the target audience immediately and can export the file within minutes. View audience insights that illustrate who this addressable audience is in terms of geographic, demographic and lifestyle attributes. The audience insight tool can be exported immediately into a report. Choose the channels and portals to distribute the addressable campaign across all channels: online, mobile, email, TV and direct mail. The audience targeting file is validated seamlessly to eliminate duplicate files across audiences. Through Experian’s matching capabilities embedded within the platform, users are able to view where an advertiser’s audience is active, regardless of the channel or platform. The platform then delivers addressable audiences for advertisers and agencies to use in their campaign targeting, all in a privacy-compliant manner. Users can view performance in a closed-loop reporting environment that shows the impact of their addressable campaigns across offline and online sales. “Traditionally, advertisers and media buyers think about the channel first — whether that’s targeting an audience via TV, on Facebook or an app — before they know if their audience is active in that channel. Audience Engine reverses this process,” said Dean. “The traditional approach gives advertisers ‘reach,’ but also results in a lot of wasted money, inaccurate data and irrelevant ads. With our audience-management platform, reach can be achieved with a level of unprecedented precision.” To learn more about the Audience Engine platform, please visit Experian’s website: http://ex.pn/audienceengine.  

I’m pleased to share that Experian has taken another important step in the transformation of our Consumer Services business, having signed an agreement to acquire CSIdentity Corporation (CSID). The name CSID may not be familiar to most, but it’s a major provider of identity theft and fraud detection solutions in the United States. CSID is the technology platform that sits behind many other identity solution providers, and it’s CSID’s innovation that powers many of the core features of identity protection products marketed under other brands. Experian is familiar with CSID as we have partnered with them in the past, given the synergistic nature of our products. Helping Consumers and Businesses … Beyond being a very important step for our business in North America, I want to highlight how joining forces will help businesses and consumers alike. The combination of our products and services creates a powerful solution in the identity theft protection world. By bringing together Experian’s industry-leading Consumer Services products with the proprietary technology and innovation of CSID’s identity protection platform, we will be able to offer consumers and clients best-in-class credit and identity solutions. This acquisition significantly enhances our ability to address consumers’ advanced needs for tools to protect their identity and detect fraud. CSID has developed a sophisticated and patent-protected technology platform that discovers when identity information has been possibly compromised, and notifies consumers of the activity so that immediate action can be taken. By combining Experian’s credit expertise and CSID’s enhanced capabilities in identity management, we will be able to provide consumers with the ability to manage both their credit and their identity information in one proposition. This two-level approach using credit and identity information enables us to proactively inform consumers that their identification data has been compromised using CSID identity solutions, and advise them that stolen identity information is actively being used in credit inquiries and new account openings. Business Strategy … Consumer adoption of identity-related services is growing globally, driven in part by identity-related trends such as increasing digital activity and the threats around cybersecurity. We now have clear sight of a larger and more dynamic market that provides us with greater opportunities to leverage the entire range of Experian data and analytics capabilities to address the growing needs of consumers. And identity theft protection is a big part of our growth plan. This effort puts the consumer at the center of our decisions. Our aim is to significantly enrich the consumer experience by providing access to a broad range of information, including credit, automotive, health, and identity to help consumers make more informed decisions and control their information. CSID has existing contracts with many industry participants. I’m confident Experian’s breadth of data and analytics capabilities could add real value to these relationships. The Details … As is common in a deal such as this, the agreement is subject to Hart-Scott Rodino regulatory approval. Once that is concluded, we will be in a position to talk in even greater detail about how and why this acquisition will be a powerful win for helping businesses and consumers navigate the modern era of personal identity theft protection services. We’re delighted by the opportunities the acquisition of CSID brings, and we look forward to welcoming the CSID team to Experian. Craig Boundy Experian North America CEO

On Tuesday, Experian held a press conference and ribbon cutting ceremony with San Diego Mayor, Kevin Faulconer to announce and celebrate the expansion of the data and innovation lab in North America. The new 10,000 square-foot state-of-the-art facility will allow Experian to use breakthrough experiments to good things with data.  Mayor Faulconer spoke about creating innovative jobs and opportunities in San Diego and welcomed the growth, ingenuity and creativity that Experian’s talented employees will bring to San Diego. Eric Haller, Executive Vice President of Experian’s DataLabs, joined Mayor Faulconer in addressing the three major broadcast news networks in San Diego, as well as reporters from the San Diego Business Journal, San Diego Union-Tribune and Reuters. “At this point, I’d like to think of this not as a finish line for our labs but a starting point. We have a lot of great opportunity ahead of us, and we hope that in this lab we'll start to achieve our vision around the future of banking, retail and automotive,” said Haller. Experian DataLabs currently staffs 30 employees in San Diego and plans on doubling the team within this year. Click the links below to view media coverage from the event. http://app.criticalmention.com/app/#clip/view/22084420?token=f65a02f2-ab51-4766-9f99-deeee5ec8788

Experian has expanded its growing North America DataLabs in San Diego to further innovation and enable leading data scientists to help clients and businesses solve strategic marketing and risk management problems through advanced data analysis processes, research and development. This new state-of-the-art facility will be equipped with beacons, biometrics and emerging technologies to keep Experian on the forefront of innovation. “We are proud that Experian has selected San Diego as home for its new innovation lab facility. This commitment from an information services giant like Experian is further validation that companies are expanding, growing and helping us to create more jobs in San Diego,” said San Diego Mayor Kevin L. Faulconer. “San Diego is indeed a world-class city of innovation, and our highly skilled scientific and technology talent is clearly helping to make San Diego a destination for new businesses, jobs and opportunities.” Experian DataLabs is staffed by teams of Ph.D. scientists and applied research practitioners with expertise in advanced analytics and modeling, as well as other statistical methods. The labs provide access to Experian resources such as broad and secure consumer and commercial credit data and demographics, which can guide Experian clients in determining their approaches. Projects often tackle high-dimensionality problems where computer science, applied mathematics and business acumen intersect to create solutions that can be   implemented cost effectively. The first innovation lab was launched five years ago to provide clients with innovative techniques and applications to capture the value hidden within their data assets. The labs allow data scientists to conduct breakthrough data experimentation to present a larger picture and deliver greater competitive advantages. “We want to provide our team with an environment that will further inspire them, spark their powerful creativity and drive innovation for Experian and our clients,” said Eric Haller, executive vice president, Experian Global DataLabs. “I’m so very proud of the team and to be part of a truly innovative and entrepreneurial company like Experian that had the foresight five years ago to allow us to create these labs. The future is bright for us and our clients, and I can’t wait to see the good things with data that will come out of this new facility.” Experian DataLabs operates globally with labs in San Diego, Calif.; London, England; and São Paulo, Brazil. Click here to view video coverage from yesterday's ribbon cutting ceremony featuring San Diego Mayor Kevin Faulconer and Executive Vice President of Experian DataLabs, Eric Haller.

Experian Marketing Services released its 2016 Digital Marketer Report. The eighth annual study reveals the challenges, priorities and other key issues impacting marketers worldwide. This year, the top challenge marketers faced also is their top priority: knowing their customers’ needs, wants and attitudes. Thirty-eight percent of marketers cited knowing their customers as their top challenge in 2016, and 52 percent named enhancing their customer knowledge as one of their top three priorities. Other top challenges indicated by marketers include increasing visibility over competitors and staying ahead of new marketing trends. The integration of technology and collecting, linking and managing data also were key priorities. “The future of marketing is being driven by sophisticated, channel-agnostic consumers who expect exceptional experiences every time. This reality poses a real challenge for organizations, as consumer intolerance for mediocre brand interactions puts more pressure on brands to leverage their data and technology,” said Ashley Johnston, senior vice president of global marketing at Experian Marketing Services. “Today’s brand marketers realize the significance of knowing their customers, but it’s still problematic. Our research found that regardless of the company size or industry, marketers around the globe still find this to be a top challenge.” Findings from the study will be explored in detail during a live Webinar on April 13, 2016, which will include an insider look at how Publishers Clearing House has overcome data and technology challenges to center its marketing programs on the customer. Webinar attendees will receive an exclusive Digital Marketer cheat sheet that highlights the report’s top statistics. To reserve your spot for the Webinar, sign up at https://www.experian.com/marketing-services/digital-marketer-report.html. Experian Marketing Services surveyed more than 1,000 marketers worldwide to identify the biggest opportunities and challenges for marketers around the world. The annual report benchmarks the key issues that brands face as they try to engage audiences with relevant messages in an often complex digital environment. Additional findings of interest from the 2016 Digital Marketer Report:   Eighty-one percent of marketers report challenges in achieving a single customer view Enterprises cite making messages contextually relevant as their top challenge Seventy percent of respondents work in marketing teams that are integrated either fully or somewhat, up from 61 percent in 2015 Personalization helps achieve a 158 percent increase in click rate Sixty-six percent of marketers plan to implement predictive modeling over the next year and 68 percent plan to run mobile campaigns Eighty-six percent of marketers build segmented audiences for paid advertising “Now in its eighth year, the Digital Marketer Report contains key insights and trends that thousands of marketers have come to rely on every year,” added Johnston. “Our research and analysis focus on the areas we anticipate being the most impactful for marketers moving forward — particularly for brands that are committed to surprising and delighting their customers with every interaction.” The full 2016 Digital Marketer Report can be downloaded here: http://go.experian.com/dm16report. Past editions of the Digital Marketer Report have been recognized with awards such as the Killer Content Award (Demand Gen Report) and Stevie Award® (American Business Awards).

As automotive leasing trends to new heights, a rapid influx of off-lease vehicles are returning to market. Experian Automotive’s latest infographic explores the surge in off-lease vehicles, including which models and vehicle segments are most popular. Click here to download this infographic.

Tru Optik, the only audience measurement and data management platform built for OTT and Connected TV, has partnered with Experian Marketing Services to offer a service providing real-time census-level viewer data for over-the-top (OTT) TV programs and ad exposure across all screens. Tru Optik clients will be able to measure and segment content and ad exposure based on lifestyle, demographic and purchase behavior powered by Experian’s ConsumerView marketing database. Tru Optik has the world’s largest database of OTT media and entertainment consumption. Experian’s ConsumerView is the world’s largest and most accurate consumer marketing database. Together this will allow for comprehensive metrics for valuing advertising on OTT networks and platforms, and close a conspicuous gap in TV audience measurement. It’s widely accepted that digital is the future of TV. One third of Millennial television viewing already occurs “over the top,” mainly via Connected TV (CTV) devices such as Roku, Apple TV, smart TVs and gaming consoles that stream OTT content to TV screens. While OTT offers the possibility of reaching TV viewers with unprecedented precision, barely one percent of TV advertising dollars flow through OTT. There are three reasons why advertising dollars are not catching up to viewership: No measurement – advertisers have no visibility to OTT ad exposure, and can’t relate it to other media;  Fuzzy targeting – the advertising industry relies on cookies or SDK’s (device-specific software development kits) to capture consumer data for ad targeting. However, CTV is a cookie-less ecosystem accessible via dozens of devices, rendering cookies useless making SDK’s impractical; No attribution – lack of measurement means there’s no way to connect OTT ad expenditures to desired outcomes like purchases. Tru Optik CEO, Andre Swanston, sums up the problem: “If you can’t fully measure it, you can’t fully monetize it. Tru Optik’s technology and first-party data combined with Experian’s data will enable media companies and advertisers to understand and value audiences for OTT content. In other words, it will provide the currency that is necessary to truly open not only the OTT ad market, but also provide better insight as to the value of product placement and licensing of content to subscription video services like Netflix and Amazon." By providing census-level audience measurement and profiling data for programming and ad exposure across OTT platforms and connected devices, Tru Optik and Experian Marketing Services have removed all three barriers to OTT advertising and monetization. Tru Optik and Experian Marketing Services use cookie-less methods that allow anonymous, aggregated behavior and profile information to be connected and protected across all digital devices belonging to the same individuals or households, including CTV. This enables “cross device” OTT and addressable campaign analysis, which is critical for accurate attribution. “Tru Optik is at the forefront of empowering media companies and brands to harness the power of CTV. By partnering with Experian they are adding a trusted and reliable source of audience and consumer data to enhance their measurement and segmentation ability,” said Kevin Dean, President and General Manager of Targeting, Experian Marketing Services. Tru Optik is careful to distinguish its offering from traditional audience measurement products. “This is not a panel based ‘ratings’ service,” said Swanston. “With respect to media companies and marketers, your data belongs to you; it is not part of a Co-op.” “Experian Marketing Services is far and away the industry leader in audience creation for addressable TV, connecting advertisers to 100 percent of the household-level addressable TV operators in the U.S. “ said David Wiesenfeld, Tru Optik’s Chief Strategist. “With Tru Optik already having the world’s largest media consumption database, the addition of purchase, preference, and profiling information from Experian will give clients unmatched insight into their audiences and marketing efficacy.”

In recent years, leasing has strongly returned as an option for consumers to choose when looking to get into a new vehicle and maintain an affordable monthly payment. Experian Automotive’s latest infographic examines the lift in leasing, as well as key attributes in the auto finance market. Click here to download the PDF.

Experian had the honor of celebrating innovative achievements in marketing with a few of our superstar clients at the 2016 Marketing&Tech Innovation Awards presented by Direct Marketing News and The Hub. The second annual awards program honors achievements in marketing leveraging data and technology. Three Experian Marketing Services’ client programs were recognized for their innovation in analytics, email marketing and omnichannel marketing. Hosted in New York City as part of the 2016 Marketing&Tech Innovation Summit, Delta, Golf Golfsmith International, Delta Airlines and American Eagle Outfitters were all recognized alongside Experian for innovative marketing campaigns that used the Experian Marketing Suite, a flexible cloud-based marketing platform. What’s hard to believe is how much marketing has changed due to data technology… and much of the credit for innovation within the space goes to the exceptional tech talent. Experian Marketing Services’ chief technology officer, Emad Georgy was recognized with a “2016 Star of MarTech” award for Marketing Technologist of the year. Through the development of the Experian Marketing Suite, Georgy created a marketing product that allows the interactions between a brand and its customers to be meaningful and engaging, every time. Georgy is an advocate for what he calls “a more human tech culture” because scalability is not just about technology and architecture — it also is about people and growing leaders. His team of developers, engineers, strategists, data scientists and technologists support clients across more than 30 countries. We published more information about the award-winning campaigns in a press release, here is a link: http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/experian-recognized-with-four-awards-at-2016-marketingtech-innovation-awards-300237326.html Emad Georgy as well as all three client campaigns are featured in articles in the April edition of Direct Marketing News which are available online here.