Smartly

The biggest conversations in marketing happen when the right people are in the room. This September 29, ADVANCE welcomes leaders from Meta, Google, WPP, Reddit, Inc., DoorDash, and more to explore what’s driving the next wave of innovation across advertising, media, and AI. Hear how they’re approaching today’s biggest challenges, exchange ideas with peers, and leave with insights you can put into practice. Sign up today: https://lnkd.in/eZeV-5c4

The Croisette may be behind us, but the real test of Cannes isn't just what inspired you during the week, it's what sticks once you're back at your desk. It's easy to slip back into familiar routines after one of the industry's busiest weeks. Before the pace of everyday work takes over, consider this your reminder to revisit the ideas shaping what's next in marketing and advertising. We've rounded up four key takeaways from Cannes Lions 2026 to keep in your back pocket. From creating more meaningful personalization from data-driven insights to breaking down silos between creative and media teams, make sure you are applying these takeaways in your day-to-day work to drive growth. Read the full recap: https://lnkd.in/e7uy2sej

AI is changing how marketers work, but its greatest value isn't replacing strategy. It's creating more space for it. In today’s Leadership Series conversation, Smartly Chief Revenue Officer Matt Bush shares how AI can eliminate manual work, improve visibility into future performance, and help marketers forecast revenue with greater confidence than ever before. At Smartly, we believe the future of AI isn't about taking marketers out of the equation. It's about giving them more time to focus on the strategic decisions that drive growth. Watch for Matt's perspective on revenue-driven growth. To dive deeper into the conversation, register for ADVANCE: https://lnkd.in/egrUqBtW

During Cannes Lions 2026, WPP CEO Cindy Rose OBE joined Smartly CEO Laura Desmond for a conversation about the new agency operating model. The two explored a tension that's been on the minds of many leaders: the industry wants everything to change and everything to stay the same. And with change comes opportunity: • The marketing flywheel is now measured in days, not months. Leading brands are running 24-48 hour cycles of insight, activation, learning, and optimization. The long brief is a relic—AI is compressing the entire loop between idea and outcome. • A brand's data is its competitive advantage. As AI becomes table stakes, unique customer insight becomes the only thing that can't be replicated. The businesses that are strategic about their own data will be the ones that pull ahead. • When it comes to the use of AI, the instrument matters - but so does who's playing it. What bets are you placing on change? #SmartlyatCannes2026 #AgencyTransformation #AI

Connect with forward-thinking peers and gain exclusive industry insights at ADVANCE, happening September 29 in NYC. We're excited to welcome Ndidiamaka Oteh, Global CEO of Accenture Song, and Bill Ready, Chief Executive Officer of Pinterest, to this year's speaker lineup. Together, they'll explore how the convergence of performance, creativity, and technology is shaping the future of marketing and business. Don't miss the opportunity to hear their perspectives and connect with industry leaders. Sign up today: https://lnkd.in/eZeV-5c4

In a fragmented media landscape, communities have become one of the few places where loyalty is built over time. Sports has always understood that. At Smartly Penthouse, co-hosted with Amazon, we welcomed WNBA legend Diana Taurasi alongside leaders from Amazon, SharkNinja, and MassMutual to explore what brands can learn from the world's most passionate fans. The strongest partnerships between athletes and brands are built through real relationships. They require the right collaborations, consistent investment over time, and a commitment to creating something fans genuinely want to engage with. That looks different for every brand. MassMutual goes deeper with fewer athlete partnerships. SharkNinja has built the capability to amplify authentic moments in real time. Amazon sees live sports as the start of the customer journey, with opportunities to continue that conversation long after the game ends. For Diana Taurasi, it starts even earlier. The best partnerships begin with taking the time to understand the athlete before asking them to tell a story. She reflected on collaborating with a longtime brand partner to design a product that would help her perform at her best every day. That kind of collaboration builds trust long before it becomes a campaign. Technology has made it easier than ever to move at the speed of culture. Communities still move at the speed of trust, and the brands with longevity understand how to do both. Thank you to Diana Taurasi, Kristin Tallman Lane, Dave Kersey, Tanner Elton for a fantastic conversation at #CannesLions2026. #SmartlyatCannes2026 #SportsMarketing #BrandBuilding

Scaling high-volume user acquisition across multiple languages and distinct markets usually demands an exhausting amount of manual overhead. To break through this bottleneck, delivery giant talabat rethought their approach to Google Ads. By integrating Smartly’s dynamic Automation Feeds and AI-driven Creative Templates, they unified their App Campaigns and Performance Max asset workflows into a single, automated ecosystem spanning eight markets. The shift successfully turned localized campaign execution into a rapid growth driver. Today, the partnership delivers over 1,000 customized creative variations, a 90% reduction in asset setup time, and a 15% drop in overall cost-per-acquisition (CPA). Read the full breakdown here: https://lnkd.in/eFuGHJUj

The first phase of AI was about adoption. The next phase is about transformation. That's the thinking behind this year's Smartly Connect Singapore and why we've chosen #BuiltForReinvention as our theme. As AI becomes the new operational baseline, competitive advantage will no longer come from moving faster. It will come from how effectively organisations unite creative, media, and data to drive meaningful business outcomes. Join the Smartly community in Singapore for a morning of fresh perspectives, practical insights, and meaningful conversations around what comes next.

Long after Cannes comes to a close, it’s the experiences you remember most. Looking back on Cannes Lions 2026, we’re grateful to our partners for helping us create experiences at the Smartly Penthouse that guests could carry with them beyond the festival. With Pinterest and Galimard, we invited guests to slow down and create custom fragrances inspired by the South of France. Blending notes like jasmine, citrus, lavender, and vetiver, they crafted signature scents they could take home and smell weeks later. Later in the week, Snapchat transformed the penthouse into a comedy club for Funny IRL with comedian Matthew Broussard. After a full day of programming, guests had the chance to laugh together, connect, and end the day on a high note. Whether it was a custom fragrance that brings guests back to Cannes with every spray or an evening of comedy that brought people together, these experiences were made possible through thoughtful partnerships that created memorable moments designed to last beyond the festival. Thank you to Pinterest, Snapchat, and Galimard for helping bring these experiences to life, and thank you to everyone who joined us at the Smartly Penthouse. #SmartlyatCannes2026 #CannesLions2026