Digital Transformation

Background

Based in Vancouver, Canada, this regional startup specializes in AI-driven digital strategy, paid media/SEO, data analytics and martech. The agency’s expertise lies in deep search analytics, social media management and UX website design solutions. 

In its earlier form, the agency’s data analytics were confined to SEO and paid media data, lacking AI and machine learning capabilities. However, a pivotal moment occurred when the agency was acquired by an investment firm and awarded a multi-million dollar contract with a prominent global travel and adventure company

Challenge

Elevated to a global stage, the company faced an urgent need to implement advanced AI-powered data solutions across its digital marketing stack to effectively serve the demands of a sophisticated, multi-billion dollar travel company. Our strategic objective was to transition the startup into a full-service, data-first, AI-driven digital agency .

A well-synchronized partnership presented itself in the form of a high-performing data analytics startup focused on marketing ROI, lead conversion, and customer acquisition. The integration of these two entities would create a marketing analytics powerhouse capable of meeting the complex needs of a worldwide client.

Strategy

We spearheaded the development of a cohesive go-to-market business strategy, aligning the objectives of both startups. A thorough capabilities and redundancy gap analysis was conducted followed with a strategy focused on the logical assimilation of skills, capabilities, and resources. Extensive attention was dedicated to ensuring that core functions such as product, design, marketing, strategy, and insight leveraged the power of advanced data, foresight and reporting, without sacrificing the agency’s creative impetus. 

Since the cultural integration of these two disparate types of businesses introduced an  immediate challenge to a successful cohesion of combined capabilities, efforts were concentrated on placing the right individuals in roles that amplified their skills, ambition and alignment with customer needs.

Outcome

Seasoned professionals were sourced, hired, and seamlessly integrated into marketing, design, and communications teams. Experienced sales and technical leaders were entrusted with implementing a growth strategy directly aligned with the client's strategic and tactical objectives. With a solid and unwavering commitment squarely focused on customer deliverables, the agency navigated a challenging integration process. The empowerment of creative and data strategy teams combined with clear leadership working cohesively successfully retained the agency’s first multi-million dollar contract.