Why marketing technology should integrate into a bigger ecosystem

Marketing Automation Published: September 17, 2020
Why marketing technology should integrate into a bigger ecosystem

“The value of marketing technology is rarely in the specific functionality of the tool, but rather its ability to be part of a bigger ecosystem.”

– Urs Blickenstorfer, CEO of iundf Marketing

 

Today, because of marketing technology, CMO’s can take a seat at the strategy table. In the early days, marketing was more about operational efficiency and excellence. But the true digital transformation that is taking place right now is propelling rapid business innovation, putting marketeers at the forefront of driving new business models.

This shift has allowed marketing teams to experiment with new digital offerings. They learn quickly what is working. This speed into nuances and trends through advanced reporting and a whole lot of data has given CMOs the ability to explain the ROI of their investments to their relevant stakeholders. As well as secure marketing budget.

But with so much new marketing technology out there, what should CMOs be considering when purchasing new tools or optimizing the old ones? And how can they centralize all the different types of data from each tool to make sense of it all and then execute a plan?

On this podcast episode of Stuff You Should Know About Our Changed New World, Urs Blickenstorfer, Owner and CEO of iundf Marketing Technology AG, joins Colin Day, Managing Director EMEA at Oktopost to answer this question and more. These two share a contagious passion for marketing technology and offer a refreshing perspective on the state of marketing today.

You can catch the conversation by subscribing to B2B Marketing Now, wherever you get your podcasts or by following Oktopost on LinkedIn, Twitter or Facebook to get the latest episodes directly to your social feeds!

Listen Now:

About urs blickenstorfer

Based out of Zurich and bringing 20+ years of experience in strategy, marketing and technology, Urs Blickenstofer is renowned for creating marketing heroes across organizations. He is the Owner and CEO of iundf Marketing Technology AG, a marketing technology consulting boutique that brings together cutting-edge technology with outstanding creative content to help brands shine across all channels.

In addition, Urs is a captivating lecturer at The University of Lucerne and HWZ Zurich University of Applied Sciences in Business Administration focusing on topics such as marketing technology, maturity assessments and business cases.

Key takeaways from urs blickenstorfer

  • Every new piece of technology needs to integrate and fit into the existing ecosystem
  • Adoption is key! Teams need the most up-to-date skills and tools to manage marketing technology
  • Customers are first and the only focal point when it comes to driving your business
  • Break down the siloed data walls by creating a data maturity model
  • Experiment often with how to use data, build use cases, results come quickly
  • Have a clear paper to regulate how data is managed in the company
  • Technology has become easier to adopt, for example, Oktopost integrates with Zapier to ensure marketing technology works together.
  • The CMO still spends more than the CIO which suggests marketeers are the heaviest spenders in technology.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the key considerations for CMOs when evaluating new marketing technology?

CMOs must prioritize how new technology integrates into their existing ecosystem. The value lies in its ability to be part of a bigger picture, ensuring seamless data flow and functionality. Adoption is also critical, meaning teams need the skills and tools to effectively leverage the technology, with a constant focus on the customer journey as the central driver for all business decisions.

How can marketing technology help CMOs demonstrate ROI and secure budget?

Advanced marketing technology provides sophisticated reporting and deep data analysis capabilities. This allows CMOs to quickly identify what is working, explain the tangible return on marketing investments to stakeholders with clear data, and subsequently secure essential budget for future initiatives.

How can B2B marketing teams centralize diverse data and break down silos?

To centralize diverse data and dismantle silos, B2B marketing teams should focus on creating a robust data maturity model. This involves establishing clear policies for data management, actively experimenting with data usage, building effective use cases, and leveraging integrations to ensure all marketing technology works together to unify data.

Why is team adoption crucial for successful marketing technology implementation?

Successful marketing technology implementation hinges on high team adoption. Teams require up-to-date skills and user-friendly tools to effectively manage new technology. When tools integrate smoothly with existing systems, it simplifies processes, reduces friction, and boosts overall team efficiency and engagement, ensuring maximum value from martech investments.

How has marketing technology elevated the CMO's role to a strategic business driver?

Marketing technology has transformed the CMO's role from operational efficiency to a strategic business driver. It enables rapid business innovation, allowing marketing teams to experiment with new digital offerings and quickly learn what resonates. This shift empowers CMOs to lead the development of new business models and secure a pivotal seat at the strategic decision-making table.

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