Overview

We won’t lie: this year’s edition of our annual trends report surprised even us. 

The future of digital has fundamentally shifted over the course of the past year, in large part because of Gen Z and their refusal to accept the status quo. 

These young people are changing the world, rewriting definitions, and pushing for a future in which digital no longer supercedes the real world but, rather, serves it to create a way of living that is authentic and sustainable.

We see this in the way that Web3 technologies are emerging to offer “phygital” experiences,  digital experiences that act in combination with physical ones. In the way that creatives are using ChatGPT and AI-powered image generators as tools instead of replacements. And in the way that, even in a globalized world powered by cloud computing and revolutionary connectivity, digital consumers seek purpose-driven brands with missions that put their humanity front and center.

The 2023 DEPT® Trends Report explores these and 20+ other noteworthy trends spanning technology, business, and culture.

Using case studies, real-world examples, and documented research, we look at how brands are bringing to life Gen Z’s future and how yours can do the same to shape what’s next.

Overview

If you’ve ever worked with a general contractor, you’ll know that their deadlines tend to be overly optimistic.

Likewise, if you’re leading a product team, odds are you’ve seen enough project extensions to know that the same is true for engineering leads.

When building anything, there’s bound to be some challenges. Let’s face it: sh*t happens. But what if challenges keep happening? Are project extensions becoming routine? Does your back-log feel endless?

If this sounds familiar, odds are there’s a better way of doing things that you, as a product team lead, can uncover to help improve your engineering team’s velocity.

From one product person to another, with this Ultimate Guide we’re sharing engineering velocity’s most common challenges and detailing our own best practices & strategies for how to mitigate them.

Get yours now!

Overview

The right technology and data to boost your business to the next level are readily available today. You just need to harness them correctly.

But that’s exactly where the challenge lies for most businesses: the organization behind it all. From selecting and implementing the right martech solutions and creating a workflow in which these solutions work together, to processing customer data to create audience insights for better marketing.

In this whitepaper, we explore the challenges that CMOs face and explain the rise of the agency data platform. We also showcase Ada by DEPT®, our Agency Solution Platform which provides 50 best-of-breed point solutions that cover all of the CMO’s key activities: Media & Advertising; SEO & Content; Marketplaces; Data & Insights; Creative Automation; Financials & Admin, and 3rd party integrations.

Get your copy now!

Overview

The pressure to deliver seamless brand experiences across various digital touchpoints is stronger than ever. Design systems are the way to strengthen brand identity across your digital estate. Here’s a five-step guide to implementing one within your business.

Included in this longread is:

1. What is a design system?
2. Design systems in action
3. Five-step guide to implementation
4. Atomic design explained
5. Preparing for the future

Overview

Google Analytics 4 Setup Checklist – Everything you need to get a complete GA4 setup

Google Universal Analytics (UA) had been with us for almost 18 years before Google announced that Google Analytics 4 (GA4) will be taking over as their main analytics platform.

Time to get ready for the switch!

Download our GA4 checklist to make sure your new or existing GA4 property is configured correctly, enabling you to still collect all the relevant data once UA will be sunsetted on 1 July 2023.

Overview

It is often said that creative elements are the key to successful advertising. But what is the actual impact of creative elements on your advertising campaign, and how do you know which creative elements are the most valuable for your advertisement?

Meta has worked on its own solution called the Gamma Score – a creative insights tool that helps advertisers gain greater visibility into what elements of an advertisement drive the digital creative performance. To test this new insights tool and show its relevance, DEPT® and Meta partnered up. Together, we ran multiple creative analyses for clients like G-Star RAW, Paula’s Choice, and Upfield (Blue Band).

In this whitepaper you will learn more about the Gamma Score, and we will show you tips and tricks for working with this new solution.

Overview

The metaverse is an elusive and confusing idea, combining web3, 3D technology, headsets, and different shades of reality. 

However, if you break down the metaverse into categories and components, it’s suddenly not so difficult to understand. 

In this pragmatic guide to the metaverse, we’ll work through everything you need to know about this up-and-coming virtual space, including the technical requirements and how your audience will access it.

Overview

Eight things brands can learn from adidas’ digital transformation

With digital sales growing from €1.5 billion to just under €5 billion in less than five years, adidas is the poster child for successful digital transformation.

Director of Solution Architecture at adidas.com, Andy Todd, is accountable for the brand’s e-commerce architecture and online experiences that serve consumers across the world. He sat down with DEPT® to share the secret sauce to the company’s impressive digital transformation.

Download this longread to find out more.

Overview

Technology has been transforming the creative marketing and advertising industries even before the pandemic accelerated the need for new approaches.

Now it’s time for brands to take the next leap forward and explore the opportunities presented by creative automation, developing an approach that combines a combination of creativity and technology to streamline production and augment the creative process so that the best ideas take shape faster. 

Featuring exclusive opinion pieces by eBay, Just Eat and Opendoor, this report will help explain why creative automation (such as creative assets at scale, dynamic advertising, and conversational marketing), is the future of digital marketing, and how it can help your brand to gain advantage.

Overview

With customers demanding more out of digital experiences, websites (and CMSes in particular) have to serve as much more than an online brochure of content.

But the market for CMS solutions is vast and complex, and finding the right platform can be challenging.

This whitepaper breaks down the complete selection process to help you find a CMS to fit your unique needs and specific business goals.

Ready to find your needle in the haystack?