Nick is Managing Director at design and innovation agency Uniform.
Long-standing members of the DBA, Uniform have offices in both Liverpool and London. www.uniform.net
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26/04/2017
SXSW: Embracing the future and emerging technologies
With over 72,000 registrants at this year’s SXSW in Austin, Texas, Uniform’s MD Nick Howe jumped the pond to see what all the fuss was about.
Here, Nick shares his experiences and thoughts on Uniform’s time there, including the stand out brands and the technologies that are going to be invaluable for marketers of the future.
“There’s a lot to weed through; from branded experiences, to panels, to old fashioned paper pinned up on signposts. Everyone at SXSW is vying for your attention. Indicative of today’s consumer, the experience itself can be overwhelming for anyone with a fear of missing out on the latest and greatest. Brands like IBM, National Geographic and Sony, with their ‘Wow Factory’, rose above the clutter by offering meaningful experiences that didn’t just use tech for the sake of it.”
SXSW has always been about embracing the future and emerging technologies. But this year, more than anything, AI was at the forefront.
“IBM House was one of the standout experiences. The interaction with new tech products, like their Watson Ai platform, was simple yet memorable. It demonstrated the power of the technology, but did so in a meaningful way by connecting with me through personas and clever experiences which I could relate to from music to leadership styles.
As both of the panels Uniform hosted were around AI, and its impact in both music and sport, it was hard to ignore the clear message that AI is an invaluable tool for marketers of the future. Whether it be harnessing back end data for more personalised experiences or using AI to reflect and respond to our mood, it’s here to stay, and it’s going to be an increasingly useful and ubiquitous tool in every marketeers arsenal.
The future is bright. But be warned, brands and marketers that don’t embrace technology, and learn how to work with it will be left behind.”
Image credits: © Zimmytws | Dreamstime.com