Singapore – Independent data and digital transformation company ADA, has recently forged a partnership with data and AI company Databricks, aiming to provide best-in-class technology solutions to boost the company’s corporate value. 

In this collaborative endeavour, ADA intends to combine its data and AI skills with Databricks, focusing on better ecommerce and marketing analytics. Specifically, they are set to establish a data intelligence platform centred around addressing business challenges across the 12 regions in APAC where ADA operates.

For this particular platform, ADA will use powerful data and AI accelerators which encompass bespoke ecommerce data models. As such, this will provide organisations with essential insights and predictive analytics to help them fine-tune their online operations.

Furthermore, ADA’s dynamic pricing model will enable real-time market adaptation, optimizing revenue potential. It will also enhance data marketplace offerings leveraging its proprietary X-ACT data and integrating services like Composable Customer Data Platform (CDP), demand forecasting, and price optimization. 

This provides a versatile framework for businesses to effectively utilize customer data for personalized engagement, underlining ADA’s commitment to equipping businesses with cutting-edge, data-driven tools on Databricks Platform.

Speaking about this venture, Greg Taylor, vice president, partners, APJ, at Databricks, said, “The ability to uncover actionable insights from data has never been more important as enterprises look to adapt, innovate and better prepare for the future in this AI age. ADA has deep industry experience in creating value for both B2B and B2C organisations by leveraging data for applications such as customer acquisition and customer data clean rooms, to name a few.”

“We’re excited to be working with ADA as they leverage the power of Databricks Data Intelligence Platform to help organizations solve their toughest problems with data,” he added. 

Srinivas Gattamneni, chief executive officer at ADA, also shared his enthusiasm for the project, stating, “We’re excited about our partnership with Databricks, a pivotal step in revolutionizing data and digital transformation in APAC. By integrating our Data and AI solutions with Databricks’ cutting-edge Data Intelligence Platform, we are actively redefining the future of data analytics and transformation. 

“This alliance is a testament to ADA’s dedication not only to advancing AI-driven analytics but also to providing comprehensive data transformation services that enable businesses to navigate and excel in an increasingly digital world, ” he concluded. 

By enhancing the company’s data marketplace offers, this particular initiative spotlights ADA’s commitment to provide companies with modern, data-driven solutions as well as flexible frameworks that leverage customer data for personalised engagement.

Petaling Jaya, Malaysia – Dattel Asia, an ASEAN consumer data & analytics company, has recently launched UPLIFT Malaysia – an initiative to empower 10,000 businesses by offering them a free consumer data & training package. 

A total of RM 50M has been allotted for the program, where each free package’s worth equates to RM 5K (US$1,223). The package will provide businesses with actionable insights on the latest consumer behavior as well as exclusive training on how to grow one’s business with data. 

The company said the initiative was developed with the aim to help individuals who have lost jobs or businesses that are being impacted by the recent economic downturn to recuperate sustainably.

Businesses’ access to the package is subject to approval. Applications for the UPLIFT data fund are open to any individuals or companies on its website, especially those interested in consumer-facing business such as retail, fashion, and F&B as well as fitness, beauty, and health, or snacks.

Upon review, successful applicants will receive access to the package as well as weekly updates on consumers’ COVID-19 sentiment and behaviors. Access to the package is only limited to the first 10,000 eligible applicants.

Ashran Dato’ Ghazi, CEO, Dattel Asia

Dattel Asia shared that one of the inspirations for the program was when CEO Ashran Dato’ Ghazi met many entrepreneurs struggling with the abrupt shift in consumers’ behavior due to COVID-19 outbreak. 

“The behavioral shifts caused many consumer-facing businesses uncertain about how, or even if, they should respond to the changes. With so many changes happening at an unprecedented rate, companies do not have the necessary insights that are up-to-date and comprehensive for them to pivot their business or marketing strategy,” Dattel Asia said in a press statement.

Dattel Asia has partnered with several powerhouses in the industry for the program such as university network BAC Education Group, business process outsourcing firm Transcosmos Malaysia, and ZBRA Business Research & Analytics. 

UPLIFT has also gained the support of government-supported entrepreneurial capacity building agency Institut Keusahawanan Negara (INSKEN), business academy and venture builder Owners Circle, and the and the country’s Ministry of Entrepreneur Development and Cooperatives (MEDAC) Kementerian Pembangunan Usahawan dan Koperasi. Dattel Asia hopes more industry players will come forward and contribute to the initiative.

USA – Social media giant Facebook has named a new chief marketing officer, its vice president for analytics Alex Schultz.

Last August, the news on the resignation of then CMO Antonio Lucio made headlines with Lucio making the announcement on a Facebook post, revealing his desire to focus on advocating for diversity and inclusion.

Just like his predecessor, Schultz took to the platform the official announcement. He said that Lucio left a great team behind as well as some huge shoes for him to fill.

“Gracias, Antonio for being a great friend, colleague, creative leader and voice of experience and wisdom for this company. I am sorry to see you go and grateful for your support through this process,” wrote Schultz.

“You have strengthened our ability to tell meaningful, culturally relevant stories with our family of brands. I hope to build on this and bring my experience in segmentation, targeting, and measurement to bear as we work to reach people more meaningfully through our product,” added Schultz.

https://www.facebook.com/alexschultz/posts/10103824175653500

Schultz has been with Facebook’s analytics team since 2007, where he started as an analyst before eventually rising the ladder to become vice president. Prior to Facebook, he was marketing manager for eCommerce platform eBay.

In the post, Schultz took the liberty to make a deep backtrack of his background. He shared that his expertise has been specially built around direct response online marketing and analytics.

“My background is direct response online marketing and analytics. I did that as a hobby at high school, helped pay for college with it,” shared Schultz.

“I have grown up in online marketing and believe deeply in the economic empowerment it can bring, its ability to show people more tailored, relevant, less annoying ads, and the fact it allows us to serve everyone by offering our products for free,” he added.

Schultz also touched on the growing criticism towards technology and stands firm on Facebook’s positive mission.

“I believe deeply in the good Facebook’s products do. We have all seen it through this pandemic as billions of people have connected with family and friends socially online while staying physically apart and slowing the spread of the virus. At the same time, I think scrutiny of any new technology is appropriate and there are ways we can, and should, improve without losing all the good.

In the concluding statement of his post, the new CMO took the opportunity to reveal that he is “openly gay,” to which he said is something that he “couldn’t say” when he moved to America and joined the industry.

“Facebook is the first place I have felt truly safe to be gay and be open about it. I’m really grateful for that and the fact Mark [Zuckerberg] built a company where that was possible. The bar, of course, keeps raising on this but the difference from [15years ago] when I started out to today, is truly remarkable.”