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New research from Boston Consulting Group (BCG), commissioned by Google, found that best-in-class digital marketers benefit from 1.4 times greater cost benefits and up to 2.5 times revenue impact.
This new research builds on what BCG found in its initial study last year – that just 2% of brands are best-in-class at data-driven marketing. Yet best-in-class brands drive up to 20% more revenue and 30% more cost savings as a result. So there’s a lot of value being left on the table.
The initial research also uncovered the specific practices that leading marketers follow to achieve these compelling growth results. Some of these top practices include:
To measure the specific value achievable by applying these key practices of digitally-mature marketers, BCG ran tests with six brands.
Through 16 tests, 200 brand surveys, and more than 40 expert interviews, this new research revealed how the most successful marketers are driving impressive results:
BCG’s latest study shows that after just four to six weeks of tests using advanced data-driven technology, advertisers saw increases of up to 50% in online transactions. These resulted in significant growth results, with up to 33% in return on ad spend, alongside up to 44% drop in cost per action.
While the available technologies are powerful, ongoing input from people remains critical in driving performance. Businesses must have people in place to make smart strategic decisions, optimise the technology, and decide how best to apply machine learning-based algorithms to campaign objectives, category characteristics, and customer behaviours.
According to BCG, companies using advanced data-driven technologies can produce up to 20% better campaign metrics over time, and that adjustments to the campaign by people can add another 15% to performance.
BCG’s survey of over 200 global brands showed that more than 85% of those in the two most advanced stages of data-driven marketing maturity (Connected and Multi-moment) also have high organisational maturity.
The new study shows that advertisers who apply both technical and organisational best practices get better results. In fact, organisationally mature brands are seeing 1.5 times greater cost benefits and up to 2.5 times the impact on revenue from their data-driven marketing efforts than low-maturity marketing organisations.
The BCG research indicates that before scaling up, marketers need to create momentum by systematically testing, learning, and showing clear value to senior stakeholders.
Looking longer term though, companies’ success will require breaking down internal silos, embedding expertise with in-house teams, and establishing strategic partnerships.
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