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BARC India on role of big data in ad effectiveness: Zee MELT 2016
MUMBAI: BARC India’s Think session on ‘Role of Big Data in Driving Ad Effectiveness’, at the just concluded Zee MELT, delved into the need for Big Data and its use in ad campaigns. The session featured Romil Ramgarhia, Chief Business Officer, BARC India, Bjoern Kroog, Global Head POS Analytics and Integrated Market Intelligence, GfK and Sukanyya Misra, Senior Vice President, Mastercard Advisors Shared Services, India.The session was moderated by Senior Journalist Gurbir Singh.
Romil opened the session by centering the conversation on the aim of ad campaigns: which is to increase sales, uplift brand KPI, stay ahead of competition and help sales forecasting.
Romil underlined the need to drive ad effectiveness, especially in the highly fragmented Indian market, with 8000+ advertisers, 12000+ brands, and 90000+ new campaigns every year. He said that a combination of data engines, machine learning algorithms and advanced analytics are key to ensuring ad effectiveness, which would in turn lead to incremental uplift in sales for each rupee spent, understanding of cross channel synergies, less uncertainty with effective prediction, optimum utilisation of media budgets, real time analysis and sharper targeting.
Sukanyya, spoke about transforming big data into actionable insights. She said, “We should focus on not just big data but the right data.” According to her Big data can yield benefits with right testing and learning.Speaking from the perspective of MasterCard, she elaborated on how purchase patterns can help infer motivations, priorities and preferences of consumers.
Bjoern took the position that it is smart data and not just big data that drives ad effectiveness. He said that big data can be combined with reference data to yield smart data. He offered insights into how big data can be transformed into smart data. While globally Digital has already taken over print and is forecasted to become more important in TV in 2018 in terms of spending, in India he showed that based on surveys the majority of respondents watch TV and read newspapers on a daily basis. Therefore, instead of taking an either-or position, smart integration of big data and traditional approaches will guarantee valid and deep insights.
NEW DELHI: Hamdard Laboratories gathered a cross-section of India’s achievers in New Delhi on Friday, handing out the Hakeem Abdul Hameed Excellence Awards to figures who have left their mark across healthcare, education, sport, public service and the arts.
The ceremony, attended by minister of state for defence Sanjay Seth and senior officials from the ministry of Ayush, celebrated individuals whose work blends professional success with a sense of public purpose. It was as much a roll call of achievement as it was a reminder that influence is not measured only in profits or podiums, but in people reached and lives improved.
Among the headline awardees was Alakh Pandey, founder and chief executive of PhysicsWallah, recognised for turning affordable digital learning into a mass movement. On the sporting front, Arjuna Awardee and kabaddi player Sakshi Puniya was honoured for her contribution to the game and for pushing women’s participation onto bigger stages.
The cultural spotlight fell on veteran lyricist and poet Santosh Anand, whose songs have echoed across generations of Hindi cinema. At 97, Anand accepted the honour with characteristic humility, reflecting on a life shaped by perseverance and hope.
Healthcare honours spanned both modern and traditional systems. Manoj N. Nesari was recognised for strengthening Ayurveda’s place in national and global health frameworks. Padma shri Mohammed Abdul Waheed was honoured for his research-backed work in Unani medicine, while padma shri Mohsin Wali received recognition for his long-standing contribution to patient-centred care.
Education and social development also featured prominently. Padma shri Zahir Ishaq Kazi was honoured for decades of work in education, while former Meghalaya superintendent of Police T. C. Chacko was recognised for public service. Goonj founder Anshu Gupta received an award for his dignity-centred rural development initiatives, and the Hunar Shakti Foundation was honoured for empowering women and young girls through skill development.
The Lifetime Achievement Award went to former IAS officer Shailaja Chandra for her long career in public healthcare and governance, particularly in the traditional systems under Ayush.
Speaking at the event, Hamdard chairman Abdul Majeed said the awards were a tribute to those who combine excellence with empathy. “These awardees reflect Hakeem Sahib’s belief that healthcare, education and public service must ultimately serve humanity,” he said.
Minister Seth struck a forward-looking note, saying India’s young population gives the country a unique opportunity to become a global destination for learning, health and wellness by 2047.
The ceremony also featured the trailer launch of Unani Ki Kahaani, an upcoming documentary starring actor Jim Sarbh, set to premiere on Discovery on 11 February.
Instituted in memory of Unani scholar and educationist Hakeem Abdul Hameed, the awards have grown into a national platform that celebrates those building a more inclusive and resilient India. For one evening at least, the spotlight was not just on success, but on service with substance.
