This Week In XR August 9th, 2024 ft. Val Vacante, VP Solutions Innovation, Dentsu
Aug 9, 2024
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Val Vacante, VP of Solutions Innovation at Dentsu Advertising and advisor for SXSW, shares insights on the future of retail and e-commerce. She discusses how traditional retailers can reinvent themselves in an era dominated by giants like Amazon. The conversation also delves into innovative tech collaborations that blend experiences, such as AI-driven multimedia in whiskey marketing. Val highlights the importance of community and creativity, showcasing how gaming environments can transform advertising and education, particularly in engaging younger audiences.
Zappar's Accessible QR initiative highlights the importance of inclusivity in XR technology, enabling blind consumers to engage with packaged goods.
The podcast discusses the monopolistic behaviors of major tech companies like Google and their impact on competition, drawing parallels to historical precedents for breaking up monopolies.
Deep dives
Zapper's Innovations in XR
Zapper is leading the charge in the extended reality (XR) space by democratizing augmented reality (AR) tools and creating affordable mixed reality headsets like ZAPBox. They have developed an innovative QR code called Accessible QR, which allows packaged goods to communicate effectively with blind and partially sighted consumers. This initiative highlights Zapper's commitment to inclusivity in technology, ensuring that XR solutions are accessible to everyone. By providing user-friendly tools and resources, Zapper encourages wider adoption of AR, making it available for individuals and businesses alike.
The Challenge of Big Tech Monopolies
The discussion addresses the monopolistic nature of giant tech companies, particularly Google, and the implications for competition in the tech sector. The idea of breaking up these companies draws parallels to the historical breakup of AT&T, which led to increased competition and innovation. It is suggested that a more competitive landscape for platforms like Instagram, YouTube, and AWS could lead to better economic outcomes and more diverse technological advancements. The panelists express concerns about the current government's ability to effectively regulate such powerful entities, especially as new technologies like AI continue to evolve.
The Evolution of Retail and JCPenney's Future
The conversation explores the challenges faced by traditional retailers, such as JCPenney, amidst the rapid rise of e-commerce giants like Amazon. Innovative solutions, like the introduction of a gift bot for personalized shopping experiences, are highlighted as potential avenues for revitalizing JCPenney's brand. Data shows that the gift bot achieved a significant engagement rate, indicating a successful strategy in connecting with customers in a modern retail environment. The panel emphasizes the necessity for retailers to evolve their business models and create unique shopping experiences to compete effectively.
Dentsu's Approach to Innovation
Dentsu is recognized for its longstanding history in advertising and media, having evolved from newspaper ads to a leader in integrated technology solutions. The company is focused on innovating impactful customer experiences, exemplified by their collaboration with brands to enhance engagement through advanced technology. Projects like a multimodal experience for whiskey enthusiasts highlight Dentsu's commitment to blending creativity with technology, providing worthwhile interactions. By leveraging partnerships with industry giants, Dentsu is shaping the future of advertising and customer experience across various sectors.
Google's guilty of monopoly practices, but the result will be unclear for some time. Elon Musk continues to go bonkers while raking in trillions, nonetheless, he is suing people who don't like him, like former advertisers and others unhappy with the lack of moderation on their platform. Meta shuttered Echo Arena, and now they're shuttering the studio that makes it, Ready at Dawn, which they acquired in 2020. Our guest is Val Vacante, VP of Solutions Innovation for Dentsu Advertising. She is based in Austin and advises the SXSW festival on programming. Val shares Dentsu's innovative approaches to problematic categories like retail, where many companies are in desperate need of reinvention.
Thank you to our sponsor, Zappar!
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