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InContext / An inside look at the business of digital content

Why custom solutions are the smart AI investment

By embracing a tailored approach, media executives can accelerate AI adoption with purpose-built solutions that deliver immediate value and growth.

July 15, 2024 | By Unni Kurup, Head of Consulting – Theorem@theoremincConnect on

In the fast-paced world of digital publishing, the latest wave of developments in Artificial Intelligence (AI) has emerged as a welcome solution to the organized chaos of ad operations. Yet, despite its transformative potential, many media companies struggle with the adoption of AI technology. Costly implementation, complex integrations, and a shortage of AI-savvy professionals are hurdles slowing adoption to a snail’s pace.

For media executives looking to move faster, the answer is simple: purpose-built AI solutions. Forget everything you know about generic AI technology. The real magic happens with AI solutions specifically built – for a very specific purpose. By embracing a tailored approach, media executives can accelerate AI adoption with purpose-built solutions that deliver immediate value and growth.

But to harness AI’s power, understanding the strategic advantage of purpose-built AI solutions is crucial. These specialized tools can help media companies reduce implementation issues and offer tangible benefits. Let’s explore the common challenges in media operations that custom AI tools can address.

Unpacking the challenges in digital media operations

Operationally, digital publishers have their work cut out for them in today’s digital media ecosystem. Fragmented data, inefficient, manual workflows, and complexity management in ad operations create significant challenges. These issues slow down processes and hinder the ability to quickly adapt to market changes.

This is where a purpose-built AI solution can deliver a strategic advantage over a generic AI tool. Think of a generic AI tool as a Swiss Army knife – versatile but not specialized for any one task. In contrast, a purpose-built AI solution is like a precision scalpel, expertly designed for a specific function, ensuring optimal performance and efficiency in that area. Now, let’s explore how these tailored solutions can specifically address implementation challenges.

Purpose-built solutions reduce implementation challenges

Finding and implementing AI solutions involves extensive testing and high costs. However, purpose-built AI sidesteps these challenges with pre-designed functionalities that can be implemented quickly and efficiently. Here’s how these tailored solutions address common implementation hurdles.

Lower implementation costs

The initial investment in AI technology, including hardware, software, and skilled personnel, can be prohibitively expensive. However, purpose-built AI solutions are pre-designed for specific tasks, reducing the need for extensive custom development. This lowers both initial investment and ongoing costs.

Simplified integrations

Integrating AI systems with existing workflows often proves difficult, requiring significant time and resources. But purpose-built solutions are designed to integrate seamlessly with existing workflows and technologies, minimizing the complexity and time required for setup. They offer specific capabilities that streamline the integration process.

Unified data management

Disparate data sources and poor data quality hinder AI performance. According to Theorem’s research, 33% of ad professionals cite a lack of centralized tools as a major pain point. Purpose-built AI solutions consolidate data sources, improving quality and consistency. This unified approach enables more accurate insights, better decision-making, and more effective ad targeting.

User-friendly

There is often a shortage of professionals with the expertise needed to develop, implement, and maintain AI systems. With user-friendly interfaces and automated features, purpose-built AI solutions reduce the dependency on specialized AI talent. This makes it easier for existing staff to utilize and manage the AI system.

Faster deployment

These solutions are designed for specific workflows and processes, which reduces the development cycle, while accelerating deployment, and team training. Organizations can rapidly implement the solution and hit the ground running.

With implementation challenges out of the way, more on the tangible benefits and rapid results purpose-built AI solutions have to offer.

Benefits and strategic growth opportunities  

Purpose-built, custom AI solutions offer a number of benefits and opportunities for growth, including:

Immediate value

With an AI solution specifically designed to automate ad operations, implementation and adoption shift from labor-intensive to quick and easy. This allows media companies to quickly realize productivity gains by tapping into ready-to-launch solutions almost instantly.

Scalability

These solutions are built to scale seamlessly with the company’s growth. As your business expands and evolves, purpose-built AI solutions can adapt to new requirements and increased workloads. This flexibility ensures sustained performance and supports long-term success without the need for constant reinvestment in new technologies.

Cost-effectiveness

Purpose-built AI solutions offer significant cost benefits. Processes are streamlined, makegoods and errors decrease. And, as a result, implementation and operational costs are reduced.

New revenue generation

Purpose-built AI solutions can identify new revenue streams and optimize existing ones. For example, an AI solution built specifically to increase engagement through more targeted, personalized advertising can generate more ad revenue. Or consider the impact of a solution designed to predict what type of content will be popular in the future. This solution would allow publishers to focus on creating content that is more likely to attract and retain users, driving more revenue.

Maintaining a competitive edge in digital media’s turbulent ecosystem today requires the ability to act swiftly and strategically. Understanding the benefits is just the beginning, now it’s time to take action.

Practical steps to drive quick adoption of purpose-built AI solutions

Implementing purpose-built AI solutions can be streamlined with the right approach. By following these steps, your organization can swiftly integrate AI technology and start reaping the benefits.

  • Start by identifying key areas where AI can have the most impact with a thorough assessment of current processes.
  • Prioritize those that promise the quickest wins and greatest value. Next, research and select AI solutions with capabilities that align with your business  goals and workflow challenges.
  • Measure the potential impact on data, infrastructure and governance to ensure smoother AI adoption.
  • Identify training needs and assess any ethical considerations.
  • Carefully evaluate vendors based on functionality, ease of integration, and proven success.
  • Begin with a pilot implementation, test the solution in a controlled environment, gather feedback, and make necessary adjustments before a full rollout.

Investing in a purpose-built AI solution is a long-term strategy that yields ongoing benefits as the technology evolves. Much like choosing a tailored suit that fits perfectly vs a suit off the rack, it offers the precise fit and functionality needed to drive strategic growth. Those who embrace it now stand to reap immediate productivity gains, scalability, and cost-effectiveness.

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