Screendragon are thrilled to partner with the Association of National Advertisers (ANA) for a fourth year as sponsors of the annual ANA Brand Activation & Creativity Conference on 12-13 September.

Consumer behaviour and evolving expectations are top of mind for marketers attending this year’s creative summit. Consequently, the upcoming virtual event will focus on practical solutions for brands to be more creative, develop better ideas, and drive innovation in 2023 and beyond.

The 2023 Brand Activation & Creativity Agenda

CMOs and senior-level marketers from Dentsu, VMLY&R, Unilever, General Motors, Mondelēz, and more will share insights on their creative processes in 2023. Delegates will hear about how these global brands are finding new ways to inspire through innovative brand activation strategies.

The 2023 agenda is packed with creative inspiration and brand management expertise. On day 1 of the event, Screendragon client VMLY&R Commerce will take to the stage. The ‘Creative Commerce Converts’ will showcase how they combine talent and scale to produce award-winning creative commerce work.

One of Screendragon’s most exciting projects is our long-standing relationship with the International Olympic Committee. Brand governance and partner management are core elements of Screendragon’s workflow solution that can greatly simplify sports licensing management. Hence, we’ll be looking forward to seeing how these themes feature in two sessions dedicated to the sporting world. These workshops are titled ‘Creatively Driving Impact Through Sports’ and ‘Breaking Through the Clutter of Sports Sponsorships’

In the blog section below we’ll introduce our recently launched creative report – The State of Creative Operations 2023. Within a wide-ranging survey we asked marketers and creatives what brands and campaigns inspired them most. Evidently, it was clear that cause driven marketing is resonating more than ever.

Naturally, the topic features prominently in this year’s agenda with five dedicated slots across two days. This includes sessions like ‘Using Social Impact to Innovate Media Practices’, and ‘Jump-starting a Movement to Drive Change and Growth’. Furthermore, we’re interested to see how technology can support companies to ‘Unleash the Power of Purpose in Your Brand’.

What are the top creative trends for brands and agencies?

Increasing workloads, a lack of resources, dissatisfaction with creative tech stacks, and the death of the Monday to Friday commute. These are just some of the themes emanating from Screendragon’s new Creative Operations 2023 report.

It’s not all discontent and decline though, creative teams are still growing amidst a challenging economic climate. In brief, the creative community is overwhelmingly positive about the standard of work and the future of the industry. Would you like to learn more about what is top of mind for brands and creatives? If so, then make sure to get your copy of ‘The State of Creative Operations 2023‘!

Screendragon – Rocket Fuel for Brand Activation & Creativity!

Brand activation is not one singular activity. It involves identifying, planning, collaborating, coordinating, and delivering. This means that before a piece of content arrives at its destination, it has already collected considerable mileage. Screendragon makes this journey quicker, easier, more economical, and adaptable!

Global brands and international agencies have transformed brand management processes and creative operations using Screendragon. Our brand activation solution tunes up marketing processes, transforms creative production and helps you get to market faster. If you’d like to see how our software works, then schedule a 30 minute demo with our team today.

Join the Conversation

Screendragon will be exhibiting as a virtual sponsor at the Brand Activation & Creativity Conference on 12-13 September. If you’ve registered for the event, then make sure you visit our profile in the ANA event app. The Screendragon team will be on hand to chat about marketing work management and to show you our brand activation solution! Those who are interested in joining the event can still do so via this link. Additionally, you can follow the online conversation through the hashtag #ANAActivate.

In Screendragon’s recent creative operations survey, we discovered that a large portion of marketers are still not utilizing technology to support their work. The State of Creative Operations 2023 report revealed that less than half of marketers currently have a workflow management system in place. Additionally, only 30% are using resource management to manage their people and time.

The findings above may explain why 70% of marketers are in the market this year for a tool that supports marketing operations. Rather than having a separate tool for managing projects, workflows, resources, and files, why not look for an all-encompassing Marketing Work Management solution?

What is Marketing Work Management?

Work management is a well-established concept and business practice, but marketing work management (MWM) is a relatively new term. With recent research by Gartner® and a new report from MarTech, the MWM category is likely to become more prominent in 2023 and beyond. The principles underlying MWM are comparable to traditional work management practices. As expected, the MWM philosophy focuses on optimising work processes for marketing and creative departments.

Gartner defines the MWM market as “platforms that provide marketing operations leaders with visibility into project work performed across the department”. It continues with a brief description of the MWM functionality “these platforms offer capabilities such as request management, project communication and collaboration, automated workflows, project templates, digital asset approval, project views, resource allocation and capacity planning.”

Who are MarTech®?

The MarTech® brand is owned by Third Door Media who also host the renowned MarTech® Conference. In addition to the MarTech Conference, Third Door Media regularly produce intelligence reports for marketers. Popular research topics include performance marketing, attribution modelling, SEO, email marketing, and of course, work management.

Enterprise MWM Platforms: A Marketer’s Guide

In July 2023, Third Door Media released their latest MarTech® Intelligence Report. This year’s edition is titled ‘Enterprise Marketing Work Management Platforms: A Marketer’s Guide’. As the name suggests, the report is a comprehensive guide to navigating the Marketing Work Management (MWM) market in 2023.

So, what exactly does a marketer’s guide include? Readers will be introduced to the MWM category and the foundations of work management. Within the guide you will also be reminded of core project management methodologies and the underlying principles behind them.

Furthermore, you can get a sneak preview of what vendors are currently leading the MWM market offering. Screendragon, Adobe Workfront, Asana, Smartsheet, and Wrike all feature prominently in the 2023 guide. Third Door Media have worked closely with these vendors to create descriptive solution overviews and a helpful vendor comparison table for today’s buyers.

A Comparison Table Highlighting Core Capabilities of MWM Vendors

Screendragon’s Feature in MarTech® Report

Within the MarTech® guide, you will get a view into what Screendragon can offer for MWM buyers. In addition to vendor comparisons like the table above, the guide will break down the solution offering for each vendor under the following headings:

• Company Overview
• Key Customers
• Target Customers
• Use Cases
• Permissions and Organizational Structure
• Workflows Supported
• Visualizations
• Integrations

If you want to read Screendragon’s solution overview in full then we recommend downloading the 2023 MarTech® guide. Here’s a sneak preview of Screendragon’s MWM offering from the Vendor Profile section:

• Strategy and Planning – Marketing strategic and budget planning project management, including task, timeline, and budget tracking capabilities (including Gantt, List and Kanban views).
• Workflow Management – Content development workflows, including dynamic routing of assets, digital proofing, and approvals.
• Resource Management – Resource planning and capacity management, including scheduling, time sheeting and PTO.
• Asset Management – Digital asset libraries, including storing and sharing developed content with internal and external teams and third-party systems.
• Workflow Builder – No-code form and workflow engine that connects all work management functionalities into a seamless delivery cycle.
• Advanced Reporting – Reporting and analytics module enables customers to utilize standard reports or create custom reports leveraging all the data captured.

How to access the MarTech® Report

If you want to download the Marketer’s Guide for Enterprise Marketing Work Management Platforms, then you can visit the report homepage here. Alternatively, you can learn more about the MWM topic by checking out the MarTech MWM explainer blog!

See Screendragon’s MWM Solution in Action

Are you interested in learning more about why Screendragon was chosen to feature in this year’s guide? Marketers can see our MWM capabilities in action by scheduling a 30-minute product tour. Find out why Screendragon is a MarTech leader and currently rated 4.8/5 on peer-to-peer network G2!

The original audit of the creative operations industry is back! After a break last year, The State of Creative Operations 2023 returns with a wide-ranging survey of the creative landscape. So, what can readers expect from this year’s edition? Here’s a quick summary of the key topics and trends observed from surveying 101 creative leaders across a diverse spectrum of roles.

Economic Impact and Outlook

When Screendragon last surveyed the community in 2021, the economy was the main concern for creatives. As a result of the pandemic, many creative teams had downsized, and marketing budgets were slashed. Survival was the aim of the game and everything else seemed secondary.

In our 2023 report, we’ll find out whether creative operations are still being significantly impacted by macro-economic forces. This will include insights on whether creative teams are expanding or contracting. Additionally, we will find out if marketing budgets have recovered since our last audit in 2021.

The 2023 Creative Tech Stack

Managing a tech stack and maximising technology’s impact is a huge part of the modern marketer’s role. In the 2023 MarTech map, there were more than 11,000 vendors offering marketing solutions. With so many tools on offer, how can creatives choose which technologies to implement?

The State of Creative Operations will reveal what’s inside the creative tech stack in 2023. This means readers can see what technologies are being utilised today, and which ones are still being left on the side. As a result, you may be surprised at some of the gaps in the toolkit!

Have we enough resources?

In the section above, we introduced our analysis and breakdown of the creative tech stack. However, the most important ingredient in a successful creative operation is not technology (what?). Of course, it’s the people who produce the magic and they need to be supported to do so. This year’s survey will find out if creative teams have enough resources to be successful. Furthermore, creatives will tell us whether they’re on top of workloads or struggling to keep up.

To buy, or not to buy?

If you’ve downloaded our report by now, you will have learned about what makes up the creative tech stack. Furthermore, you can now see whether creative teams are sufficiently resourced. The natural next step is to see what the market looks like in 2023.

This year’s report includes a breakdown of the tools that creative teams are looking for today. As noted previously, there are evident gaps in the creative tech stack. We’ll find out which technologies are being replaced and which tools are being evaluated for the first time. 

AI in Creative Operations

Artificial intelligence has firmly become part of the creative lexicon since our last edition of The State of Creative Operations in 2021. Previously a futuristic notion, AI is now a leading item in marketing discussions. But are creatives practicing AI or is it just a lonely PowerPoint slide from January’s marketing plan?

Our creative operations report will determine whether AI is now a habitual activity or still a work in progress. See how many creative teams are using ChatGPT, dynamic creative optimization, AI generative imagery, and AI powered Resource Management!

What makes a great creative operation?

Lastly, it wouldn’t be a Screendragon creative operations report without recognizing some of the great work in the industry. The State of Creative Operations 2023 will reveal the companies that received most nominations for doing creative operations well. Additionally, we will also list the top 5 ads of 2022/2023 as voted by our creative community. It’s not often that we mention Ben Affleck in Screendragon communications so there’s a first for everything!

Where can I get the report?

You can download your copy of The State of Creative Operations here. Please feel free to share with colleagues and friends that may also be interested! If you have any questions regarding the content of the report, then please don’t hesitate to reach out to fergal@screendragon.com.

Meanwhile, if you’d like to learn more about Screendragon’s creative operations management solution then visit screendragon.com. You will be able to book a 30-minute tour of our software at a time that suits you!

Screendragon are delighted to announce Sportfive as our latest leading agency client. The acclaimed German firm creates ‘innovative, engaging solutions that are worthy of the incredible sports, athletes and partners we work with’.

The international sports marketing agency operates globally with offices around the world. Sportfive marketing teams in London, Hamburg, and more global locations will employ Screendragon’s agency management solution throughout 2023 and beyond. Screendragon will help Sportfive make the most of resources, streamline the approval process, simplify task management, and manage budgets. Welcome, Sportfive!

Screendragon are delighted to announce that we will sponsor the ANA In-house Agency Conference 2023. This is the fourth consecutive year that Screendragon has partnered with the Association of National Advertisers for the biggest in-house agency conference of the year.

What is the ANA In-house Agency Conference?

The ANA In-house Agency Conference is the only in-house advertising conference focused exclusively on client side marketers. The 2023 summit takes place on 12^th to 14^th June and is a hybrid affair with the main event being held in balmy Orlando. In brief, this year’s event will cover a wide range of in-house capabilities. This includes brand strategy, media planning and buying, performance marketing, client management, and AI.

Screendragon will be exhibiting as a virtual sponsor so make sure to check out our display in the ANA event app. The Screendragon team will be on hand to chat and to showcase our in-house agency solution. Lastly, both in-person and virtual tickets are still available on the ANA website. So, why not join the #ANAInHouse conversation for 2023?

The 2023 ANA In-house Agency Conference

In Screendragon’s upcoming The State of Creative Operations 2023 report, we reveal that creative workloads are continually growing. According to Bill Duggan, Group EVP at the ANA, this is the foundation for much of the 2023 conference agenda. Bill says “The workload of in-house agencies continues to increase. And what are in-house agencies doing? Everything!”. Consequently, creative teams and in-house agencies need to do more with less – hurray!

The 2023 agenda will cover many technical items that are top of mind for in-house agencies. These topics include resource management practices, measuring ROI and value, evaluating MarTech stacks, and employing AI in creative operations. However, the event will not be solely focused on conversations about technology. Delegates will also be invited to join sessions covering change management, partnerships, and in-house agency leadership. On that note, we’re looking forward to hearing from brands such as PepsiCo, Frito-Lay, The Walt Disney Company, and CVS Health at this year’s show!

Screendragon’s In-house Agency Management Solution

In-house agencies use Screendragon to streamline creative operations and get to market faster (and easier!). For example, our creative services project management solution helps creative teams speed up review cycles, optimize resources, and manage budgets. Furthermore, Screendragon’s award-winning workflow automation ensures the right people are introduced to the creative cycle at the right time.

With 20 years’ experience in the industry, Screendragon is an in-house agency specialist. Global brands like Hallmark, Keurig Dr Pepper, and Kellogg’s are among Screendragon’s esteemed list of clients. What’s more, international agency networks like McCann WorldGroup and TBWA also rely on Screendragon to maximise performance and productivity.

See Screendragon in action!

If you’d like to see how Screendragon’s in-house agency management solution works, then you can book a 30 minute introduction slot today.

Fonemedia, a forward-thinking mobile marketing agency based in North Yorkshire, have selected Screendragon as their agency operations management solution. Founded in 2008, the people focused agency has worked with over 750 companies to make mobile marketing a priority.

The agency’s mission is to ‘create connections’ and Screendragon will help fonemedia fuse their creative spark with dynamic agency operations management. This includes automation of jobs from opportunity to delivery encompassing fonemedia’s sales, client, and delivery teams. You can read more about fonemedia’s mobile marketing solutions here.

We are delighted to reveal that Screendragon will sponsor the 2023 Advertising Financial Management Conference! This is Screendragon’s fourth year partnering with the Association of National Advertisers (ANA).

If you’re joining the hybrid event, then make sure to visit Screendragon’s virtual booth or check out our marketing planning and agency management solution. You can follow the event conversation online using the #ANAAFM hashtag. Alternatively, you can still join the event by getting your ANA ticket here!

Driving value in a challenging climate

The ANA event agenda will focus on four key areas for maximising advertising agency value in 2023 – cost saving, change management, client agency relationships, sustainability, and quality of output.

Consequently, leading brands will learn about the latest methods to boost agency performance and value delivery. In a challenging economic climate, brands are under pressure to prove ROI for their investments. As a result, brands are reviewing agency relationships and making sure the foundations are in place for a maximum performance from all parties.

How does Screendragon help agencies control costs?

Screendragon’s centralised hub enables brands to manage, track and report on agency scopes, fees, and contracts. This enables global organisations to optimise their agency delivery model to generate cost savings, productivity gains, and operational efficiencies. Screendragon clients have lauded the ability to collaborate better on scopes, deliverables & staffing plans.

See our agency financial management solution in action!

If you’d like to see how Screendragon transforms advertising financial management then schedule a quick demo of our solution here. Alternatively, you can send a question to our sales team by emailing demo@screendragon.com.