MAM
GUEST COLUMN: Digital innovation in the advertising industry
Mumbai: While the age-old basic tenets of advertising (4Ps) remain the same, digital innovations have opened more channels than ever before. Back in the day digital innovations ran speedily and dynamically changed how marketeers approached these basic tenets. But, today there are no drastic innovations, only steady transformation. New technologies have now become an integral part of marketing strategies and their ecosystems.
Having said that, are we future-proofing our marketing strategies? No, but there are a few innovations that will grow on us and become fundamental to how we are going to develop marketing concepts.
Amalgamation:
Gone are the days of linear model. Today, technological innovation and consumer behavior have created a complex reality. The key to combat this challenge is to amalgamate creativity with data to maximise consumer experience. While storytelling will remain fundamental to the process but data will give the marketing strategies an impactful edge. Art and science have always sat on different silos in the traditional method but in the new world they will converge and we will have to think holistically.
Decentralisation:
Many agencies have a centralised marketing structure, but nearly half of them plan to decentralise their operations in the near future. As data hacking becomes more common, demand for decentralisation will rise, and decentralisation is a solution since it places a greater emphasis on privacy and security.
Here are a few more advantages of decentralisation:
1. It has a higher level of customisation for brand-specific campaigns.
2. Content is distributed much more quickly.
3. It will enable agencies to be more innovative and work more quickly for their clients.
4. It will assist you in making quicker decisions.
AI, ML, IoT, and NFT:
When we talk about the future of going digital, we’re talking about AI, machine learning, and the Internet of Things (IoT). The new world would not exist without it, because these technologies provide us with the dynamism of what our future can be and how we can shape it. Personalisation at scale requires AI, which collects enough consumer data to see trends and offer more relevant communications to their target audience. It can learn new information as it comes in using machine learning, and then make modifications to increase performance without having to be programmed to do so. IoT improves performance across the board, from content to interactive advertising. In the year 2021, the globe will also witness a recent innovation known as NFT. A digital asset, such as a patent, can now be owned by anybody.
CTV advertising:
TV advertising will work harder as a result of smart TV and the entire web and connected devices ecosystem. People are already replacing their televisions with Smart TVs, which is causing a significant increase in the Indian market share for TVs. It will play a major role in the commercial experience as the traditional linear TV format loses its relevance. Connected to the internet platforms it is paving the way for selective, targeted, and flexible advertising formats. The CTV evolution has already entered India and has made significant inroads (growing in double digits month on month), as the web ecosystem is enabling connectivity through smart TVs, dongles, gaming consoles, etc.
Just when we thought that we have mastered Facebook, metaverse caused unimaginable disruption. The treadmill of innovation doesn’t show any sign of slowing down in the near future. In such a scenario how creativity will pan across devices, experiences and platforms, how you will tell your story effectively through voice-enabled, geo-tagging, and wearable chatbots will now become crucial to us dream merchants. We will have to adapt fast and adapt with humility as we break down silos and embrace the new world order.
(About Author: Arun Fernandes is the Hotstuff Medialabs founder and CEO)
AD Agencies
WPP and Ogilvy top the global charts as India joins the creative elite: Warc rankings
A record five-year streak for Ogilvy while India secures a top five global spot
MUMBAI: The global advertising world has a familiar king, but a new powerhouse is gatecrashing the palace. In the latest Warc Creative 100 rankings, the industry’s definitive audit of excellence, WPP has once again been crowned the top holding company. Not to be outdone, its crown jewel, Ogilvy, has secured the top network spot for a staggering fifth consecutive year.
It is a “five-peat” that proves Ogilvy’s creative engine is not just running but purring. While many networks rely on one or two superstar offices to carry the load, Ogilvy’s dominance is a team effort across the globe. Hot on their heels is sister agency VML, which took the silver medal for networks, ensuring a WPP clean sweep at the very top of the podium.
The biggest noise, however, is coming from the East. India has officially vaulted into the top five most creative nations on Earth. Once viewed primarily as a back-office for production, the country is now a front-row leader in imagination. Driven by the brilliance of agencies like Ogilvy Mumbai and Leo Burnett India, the nation is proving that its work does more than just look good on a trophy shelf. In a market where every rupee must work twice as hard, Indian campaigns are blending high-concept artistry with ruthless commercial effectiveness.
The individual accolades saw Heineken toast to success as the top brand, finally knocking Apple off its perch. Unilever remains the world’s most awarded advertiser, proving that big business can still have a big heart through its work for Dove and Vaseline.
The title of the world’s most creative campaign went to Publicis Conseil Paris for their AXA “Three Words” initiative. By subtly adding “and domestic violence” to insurance policies to provide immediate relocation cover, the agency proved that the best advertising doesn’t just sell a service, it provides one.
The 2026 rankings also signal a shift in the industry’s DNA. The era of boring business-to-business marketing is dead, with B2B campaigns cracking the top ten for the first time. Meanwhile, artificial intelligence has moved past the gimmick stage. The winners this year used tech not for the sake of a trend, but to drive genuine human emotion.
Whether it is Paris providing a safety net for the vulnerable or India redefining the global creative order, the message from this year’s Warc rankings is clear. The best work in the world is no longer just about catching the eye, it is about changing the world.
