Communication, experience, commerce and technology are our four pillars: CVL Srinivas

Srinivas, India Country Manager, WPP, shares with exchange4media how he expects the industry to benefit from WPP Commerce 2019 held in India for the first time

e4m by Misbaah Mansuri
Published: Oct 17, 2019 8:33 AM  | 5 min read
CVL Srinivas WPP India

Needless to say that 2019 has been a year of awakening towards a new paradigm that is taking shape all around us. Old rules simply don’t work. Regardless of size and segment, brands now need to be nimble and achieve ever-faster speed to market themselves. They are now expected to take an active stance on social issues, satisfy consumer demands for ultra-transparency and sustainability, and most importantly, have the courage to self-disrupt their identity in order to win over the new generations of customers. Economic expansion is happening across Asia, with 2019 being the year that India is taking the centre stage as its economy is predicted to grow at 8 per cent a year between 2018 and 2022.

So, bringing in the deep and broad perspective of WPP and other experts in the field, the high-powered WPP Commerce 2019 kicked off on October 16 in Mumbai in a half-day format to showcase WPP’s holistic e-com offering. It will be looking at today’s realities and how they drive future trends; gaining insights; analysing the role of design, experience, shopper targeted marketing, direct to consumer, measurement and analytics. exchange4media caught up with CVL Srinivas, WPP India Country Manager, to talk about the summit.

Edited excerpts below:

What was the starting point of WPP Commerce and getting it to India?

We are excited to host WPP Commerce in India for the very first time. We have seen rapid growth within the segment of commerce and how it is challenging for businesses to navigate the landscape and make intelligent decisions and scale investments across the many platforms, apps and tools that exist. We work closely with many leading marketplaces, platforms and technology leaders and this puts us in a strong position to share such knowledge. Our aim is to simplify the process for others and enable a frictionless and more contextual commerce journey.

Can you share some insights on the themes it will cover and its relevance with today's ever-evolving landscape?

Given the speed at which the industry is evolving, there is a whole spectrum to make sense of. We will be sharing a lot of interesting data and technology knowledge around the unique preferences of consumers, from your millennials to Gen Z to mom and pop.

WPP Commerce will also present relevant case studies from both local and global perspectives. Participants can learn about the latest trends across global markets through our international speakers from VMLY&R, Wunderman Thompson and Geometry.

From a local perspective, WPP specialists like GroupM will delve into areas like how to optimise a consumer’s buying journey, understanding enterprise-level eCommerce solutions, predicting online sales through analytics, conversational commerce, how to bridge the gap between offline and online and more.

WPP partners like Adobe, Google, and InMobi will also present insights on topics around shopper engagement, personalisation, customer intelligence and scalable platforms, omnichannel shopping and in-app marketing for mobile commerce.

How do you expect the industry to benefit from this?

Indian consumers have their unique preferences, from the way they purchase to the way they interact with marketplaces and platforms. It is important for businesses and brands to learn how to differentiate and stand out to cater to consumers’ needs. We will share learning areas that can help people connect the dots. For example, how content, experience and commerce is relevant to your communication strategy in a connected world. The spectrum today is especially broad, eg from Instagram and content on a brand website to eCommerce platform content.

How can brands deal with the changing digital ecosystem and inevitability for them to evolve to be able to keep up with their competitors?

Change is a constant in today’s marketplaces and constant learning is essential for brands to keep track of the competition and keep up. Coupled with data and the right technology, the right creative approach also shines in enabling brands to stand out from the crowd. Collaboration is also important. WPP agencies work alongside many leading marketplaces, platforms and technology leaders. This is how we are able to stay relevant across the whole process, from building commerce applications to providing support through data, analytics, content and media.

A lot of brands and agencies have this aspiration of being creative but are struggling to get there. What do you think is holding them back?

Often, it’s hard to step out of the box, when there’s a traditional brand image and messaging to hold on to. The process is made easier when one understands their target audiences and their needs. Today, there’s all sorts of data, consumer intelligence, platforms and tools to support that process and to make that creative leap easier for brands.

What are the areas WPP is increasingly investing in as we go forward?

Data, technology, creative leadership and our people. We would like to take on innovative ideas that inspire audiences, build brands and help our clients grow. Our four pillars revolve around communications, experience, commerce and technology and we are focused on areas critical to delivering value and growth.

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E4M Our strategy is to target younger audiences through Sports: Rajiv Dubey, Dabur

The Head of Media at Dabur India spoke exclusively to exchange4media on the World Cup, associating with Indian Idol, the company’s digital spending and much more

e4m by e4m Staff
Published: Oct 27, 2023 6:15 PM  | 1 min read
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With quirky campaigns, memes and moment marketing, timed with the ongoing World Cup and particularly the India-Pakistan matches, Dabur India has got considerable consumer attention for its popular brands – Red Paste, Cool King Hair Oil, Chyawanprash, Dabur Vita and the recently launched Bae Fresh Gel toothpaste.

The 140-year-old company is going big on key sporting events, World Television Premiere (WTP) movies and reality shows. It is now gearing up to become the title sponsor of popular talent show ‘Indian Idol’ on Sony TV for the first time, shared Rajiv Dubey, who leads the media strategy at Dabur.

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Swapan Seth's new book 'COOL' is out

The book is a reflection of the author's 'eclectic taste across categories'

e4m by e4m Staff
Published: Oct 27, 2023 6:07 PM  | 1 min read
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Advertising professional and art collector Swapan Seth has announced the launch of his new book COOL. The book is described as "a ready reckoner to the hip and the happening, of the known and the very unknown."

The book is a reflection of the author's "eclectic taste across categories: from boltholes to exotic hideaways."

COOL has been published by Simon & Schuster India and is available on Amazon.

Seth is an ad veteran with a long and illustrious career in the industry. He became the youngest-ever Creative Director at Clarion at age 24. He was VP at 26 at Trikaya Grey. Two years later, he started his agency Equus.

He writes for publications such as The Economic Times, Hindustan Times and India Today. This is his second book and he has previously published THIS IS ALL I HAVE TO SAY.

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Disney Star signs 9 sponsors for Asia Cup PAK

Charged by Thums Up, Nerolac Paint+, Amazon Pay, Jindal Panther, My11Circle, MRF, Samsung Galaxy Z Flip5, Wild Stone and Thums Up come on board

e4m by exchange4media Staff
Published: Aug 26, 2023 11:48 AM  | 1 min read
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e4m Staff Disney Star has signed nine broadcast and digital streaming sponsors for the upcoming Asia Cup.

Charged by Thums Up, Nerolac Paint+, Amazon Pay, Jindal Panther, My11Circle, MRF, Samsung Galaxy Z Flip5, Wild Stone and Thums Up have come on board for the upcoming tournament.
As reported earlier by exchange4media, Disney Star has sought Rs 26 crore for the co-presenting sponsorship on TV and Rs 30 crore for Disney+ Hotstar.

According to industry sources, the associate sponsorship on Star Sports has been priced at Rs 19.66 crore, whereas for the ‘powered by’ sponsorship on Disney+ Hotstar, the broadcaster is seeking Rs 18 crore.

As per the information available with exchange4media, Disney+ Hotstar has three sponsorship tiers-- co-presenting (Rs 30 crore), powered by (Rs 18 crore) and associate sponsorship (Rs 12 crore). The broadcaster is offering an estimated reach of 120-140 million for co-presenting sponsors, 90-100 million for powered by and 60-70 million for associate sponsorship.

A spot buy for 10 seconds has been priced at Rs 25 lakh for the India vs Pakistan matches, while for the non-India matches, the ad rate for 10 second is Rs 2.3 lakh. The India matches plus the final for ODIs has been priced at Rs 17 lakh per 10 seconds.

Asia Cup is scheduled to be held from 30 August, 2023, to September 17, 2023.

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Sorted 360 wins creative & social media mandate of Reliance Mall

The agency will manage offline and online campaigns for Reliance Mall

e4m by exchange4media Staff
Published: Aug 26, 2023 10:54 AM  | 1 min read
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Sorted 360, an integrated creative and social media agency, has won the mandate to providing brand solutions for Reliance Malls across India.

“Sorted 360 is set to enhance Reliance Malls' market presence with their unparalleled creative prowess and strategic thinking,” read a press release.

“Sorted 360's commitment to pushing the boundaries of creative communication aligns perfectly with Reliance Malls' ethos. With a pan-India presence spanning across 19 cities and growing, Reliance Malls has consistently captivated customers by offering an array of Reliance brands and third-party fashion & lifestyle brands. The mall has established an unparalleled connection with its patrons through superior quality, a remarkable value proposition, and an unmatched shopping experience,” it read further.

"We are thrilled to welcome Sorted 360 as our trusted partner in advancing our brand presence across the nation," said the Head of Marketing at Relaice Malls. "Their proven expertise in retail, shopping center management, and innovative creative strategies make them the perfect fit for our vision."

"Partnering with Reliance Malls is a testament to our commitment to shaping extraordinary brand experiences," remarked Prerana Anatharam, Co-founder of Sorted 360. "We are excited to leverage our strategic and creative acumen to further elevate Reliance Malls as the epitome of convenience, choice, and excellence."

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e4m by exchange4media Staff
Published: Aug 25, 2023 4:39 PM  | 1 min read

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e4m by exchange4media Staff
Published: Aug 25, 2023 4:38 PM  | 1 min read

KlugKlug onboards Hemang Mehta as Country Manager for Indias

Mehta was most recently Head of Agency Relationships at Network 18 Media & Investments

e4m by exchange4media Staff
Published: Aug 24, 2023 3:35 PM  | 1 min read
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KlugKlug has appointed Hemang Mehta as its Country Manager for India.

Mehta will play a pivotal role in driving KlugKlug's growth and expansion within the Indian market and be responsible for Sales & GTM Strategy

Prior to that, he has also represented organisations like Exponential (now VDX.tv), India Today Digital and Rediff.com. His expertise spans various domains including digital media sales, mobile marketing, media planning, and buying, social media marketing, and more.

Hemang Mehta expressed his enthusiasm about joining KlugKlug, saying, "I am thrilled to be a part of KlugKlug, a forward-thinking platform that is reshaping the influencer marketing landscape. As much as I look forward to collaborating with the exuberant team at KlugKlug, I am super excited to interact with the brands to deliver powerful data-backed Influencer solutions that will guarantee business outcomes."

Commenting on the appointment, Kalyan Kumar, Co-Founder and CEO of KlugKlug, stated, "We are excited to welcome Hemang Mehta to our team as the Country Manager for India. His extensive experience in digital media sales and marketing will be instrumental in driving our efforts to provide influencer marketing solutions to our clients. We believe Hemang's leadership will be key in scaling our operations and expanding our reach within the Indian market."

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