Author: Indrani Bose

Over 55% of retailers report an ROI of over 10% from their AI investment: KPMG

AI-powered applications like fashion avatars, smart shopping carts, and virtual influencers are enhancing customer engagement. 47% of retailers state that AI has led to new product and service developments

56% of retailers have been using AI for over 3 years. With 67% believing that AI spending in the next year will significantly increase the global budget spent on AI

Women’s contractual pay sees 3.71% CAGR growth: Rs 17,433 to Rs 20,164, says report

The regional distribution of women in the contractual workforce shows that Maharashtra (28.7%) leads significantly, followed by Tamil Nadu (14.2%) and Karnataka (14.1%). Other key states include Telangana (7.8%), Gujarat (7.2%), and Uttar Pradesh (6.6%). This suggests that metropolitan and industrial hubs remain dominant in providing contractual employment for women, pointing to the need for expanding opportunities in tier-2 and tier-3 cities to encourage broader workforce participation. (Image source: Moneycontrol)

The majority of women in the contractual workforce (62.2%) fall within the 18-27 age group, indicating that younger professionals dominate this segment

EXPLAINED: What scrapping the 6% Equalisation Levy could mean for Big Tech, India, and Domestic Media

One of the lesser-discussed ripple effects of the Equalisation Levy has been its role in nudging brands toward domestic alternatives. Rising costs and tax complexities have made Indian platforms more attractive than before, not just as fillers, but as strategic choices. (Image sourced from Moneycontrol)(Image sourced from Moneycontrol)

If the proposal is approved, foreign digital giants like Google and Meta who together account for nearly 65% of India’s Rs 50,000 crore digital advertising market stand to benefit indirectly, as advertisers would face lower overall costs when placing ads on their platforms.

SEBI mandates identity verification for intermediaries advertising on social media

“While social media accounts for a large portion of performance advertising budgets, many marketers have hit a barrier in the form of diminishing returns,” said Adam Singolda, CEO of Taboola. “More spend just isn’t translating into better results. The findings in this report point to difficulty in sustaining performance over time, with marketers seeking solutions that can help them overcome that barrier.”

SEBI’s directive follows a surge in scams conducted via YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, WhatsApp, X, Telegram, and the Google Play Store, where scammers lure investors with false promises and deceptive content.

BluSmart faces executive turmoil, asset sales amid Uber acquisition speculation

The situation is further complicated by the financial difficulties faced by BluSmart's parent company, Gensol Engineering, which is undertaking measures to address liquidity challenges.

This leadership change is accompanied by a broader exodus of key executives, including Chief Business Officer Tushar Garg, Chief Technology Officer Rishabh Sood, and Priya Chakravarthy, Vice-President of Experience, who have either left or are leaving.

CCI Raids: Dentsu Whistleblower? | PepsiCo India & South Asia CEO Jagrut Kotecha at GPS | X case: Experts on Sahyog

The cracks in Dentsu’s relationship with the industry started showing when a top agency snatched two major accounts—an automobile giant worth ₹1000 crore and an FMCG behemoth worth ₹1600 crore.

Storyboard18 brings you top five news updates from the world of advertising, marketing and business of brands.

40% of couples spend over 7.5 Lakhs on wedding venues: Report

Wedding venue costs have risen significantly, with the average cost of a wedding venue now around 6 lakhs. (Image: aenl-weddings-godhydmIwgc via Unsplash)

A significant shift has been noted in generational preferences, with 62% of couples now belonging to Gen Z, an increase of 49% compared to the previous year. Meanwhile, Millennials make up 30% of couples getting married, although this demographic has seen a decrease of 54% compared to last year.

Coca-Cola’s James Quincey on AI’s human face problem in marketing

Looking forward, Quincey anticipates a breakthrough in AI's ability to create realistic human faces, which, combined with cost-effective production, will revolutionize marketing. However, he cautioned against over-reliance on AI-generated ads, warning that excessive consumer targeting could lead to annoyance.

Quincey admitted the company initially lacked clear strategies for generative AI, but embraced it to avoid stagnation.