Product News | October 11, 2021

In-store vs. online retail media: How each one impacts the consumer shopping experience

There’s been a lot of chatter about Amazon’s ad-heavy digital storefront in the past few months, some of it somewhat negative. While the e-commerce giant has historically been praised for being customer-centric, thanks in large part to its relevance and review-based product search rankings, things seem to be changing. If you try searching for a product on Amazon these days, the first page of search results will typically comprise nine sponsored listings, according to a study conducted by data firm Profitero – double the number of ads used by Walmart or Target.

It appears that the company’s fanatical focus on advertising has come at the expense of the consumer’s online shopping experience; now, if you want to make a worthwhile purchase, you’ll have to invest extra time and energy to evaluate brands and avoid potential traps. But as online retail media is facing mounting backlash, many advertisers are realizing that in-store retail media offers similar data-backed benefits—in addition to unique advantages all its own—without negatively impacting the consumer shopping experience.

The rise of retail media: How Amazon is reshaping the advertising industry

Following in the footsteps of search and social as digital advertising’s third big wave, retail media has already established itself as a force to be reckoned with. A recent report by GroupM found that retail media already represents 10.7% of global ad spend and forecasts that this figure will grow 60% by 2027. Built on a foundation of valuable first-party purchase data, contextually relevant ad experiences, and closed-loop reporting, retail media gives consumer brands powerful new ways to reach shoppers in the environments where their customers are buying. Amazon is at the forefront of this trend; since launching its retail media network in 2012, it’s become the US’s third-largest digital ad platform, trailing only Google and Facebook. Today, retailers like Walmart, Target, and Sephora are following Amazon’s lead by trying to build a marketing business on the back of their existing sales platform.

The rise of retail media has been particularly prominent in the US, where eMarketer estimates advertisers are on track to spend more than $37 billion on retail media networks this year, an increase of about a fifth from 2021. The same report found that while social media currently attracts more ad dollars (forecasting an annual haul of $65 billion), retail media is set to grow more than five times faster in 2022. Part of this growth can be attributed to the fact that many brands are shifting ad dollars they’d previously been spending with Facebook and other online media platforms to retailers—likely due to the fact retail media advertising stands invulnerable against the demise of third-party cookies, as well as increased scepticism regarding the efficacy of digital ads. According to the Financial Times, advertisers added $9.5 billion to Amazon’s global revenue in the third quarter of 2022, while ad revenues at Meta fell 3.7% during the same period.

The impact of putting advertisers ahead of users

While Amazon’s focus on ad tech has certainly been making its shareholders happy—in 2021, the company collected $31 billion from ad sales alone—some industry analysts contend that it has come at the expense of customer-focused recommendations, personalization, and discovery. Many of the sponsored posts showing up in search results are so subtle they look like organic search results. And even when the sponsored posts showing up in search results contain a tiny disclaimer label, these kinds of ads can be misleading because they fill up spaces people assume to contain trustworthy, independent information. Many other online marketplaces and retailer apps are following suit. The result is that retail media advertising is now, in many cases, more akin to dramatically altering shelf placement for specific people than a way to inform and delight consumers or prioritize their shopping experience.

It’s not just consumers who are starting to question online retail media’s resulting impact. Marketers are increasingly asking retailers to prove how much value is actually added by such advertising—especially since it’s not unusual for them to pay at least ten times more for slots on retail media networks than they would for programmatically-sold online ads. Although the returns can ultimately be higher, one limitation of online retail media compared to online ads on the open web is that it’s easy for consumers to shop around to different retailers; there’s little friction standing in the way of a person seeing an ad in one online store and immediately hopping elsewhere to make a purchase. This means that even though online retail media has the potential to generate in-depth performance metrics for advertisers, the ability to track which ads lead to purchases can, in practice, prove to be more difficult than initially thought.

But the online space is only one of the arenas worthy of attention for retail media advertising; retailers are also finding ever more creative ways to turn their physical properties into space they can sell to marketers. Examples of digitized retail media placements inside brick-and-mortar stores include smart screens near the entrance, video displays on shopping carts, and digital retail end cap displays. By incorporating in-store digital media, retailers are able to give their partner brands access to customers close to the point of purchase, whether a customer is shopping on their website or inside one of their physical locations.

The advantages of in-store retail media vs. online retail media

To clarify, advertising, particularly retail media, isn’t necessarily bad. Done the right way, retail media can inform customers about new products and help new businesses get a foot in the door. In particular, in-store retail media has managed to avoid many of the drawbacks outlined above while offering the data- and placement-based benefits that attracted advertisers to retail media in the first place—including access to first-party shopper data, improved campaign targeting, and real-time reporting.

Aside from avoiding the negatives, in-store digital retail media offers some distinct advantages over online retail media for advertisers looking for new and effective ways to connect with their customers. Unlike online, the consumer is seeing the ad in a specific physical environment, and often the advertised product is already right in front of them. This enables brands to reach people who are ready to buy now and are in an environment that inherently introduces more friction to the price comparison process. Online, a different site is just a click away. In the real world, at best, consumers face a long walk to get to another store that may offer a slightly better price on whatever they want to buy.

In-store retail media also allows advertisers to connect with a larger audience since there are simply more people who shop in physical stores than online. While consumers relied more on e-commerce since the start of the pandemic, The NPD Group reported that 2022 was the first year since COVID that consumers expected to make more of their holiday purchases in-store (46%) than online (45%). And the return to brick-and-mortar stores is a trend that extends beyond holiday shopping; according to McKinsey, 20% of consumers say they are now doing all of their shopping in-store, while only 5% shop exclusively online.

And while online retail media ultimately winds up making the consumer experience worse—with online ad placements going to the highest bidder instead of delivering search results based on relevance—in-store retail media is still based on improving the in-person shopping experience. Retail media advertising in physical stores is ultimately only as disruptive as a consumer wants; the inventory displayed on the shelf is the same regardless of whether someone saw an ad or interacted with its corresponding QR code. At the same time, digital in-store signage opens up new storytelling possibilities through the use of dynamic content, offering brands unique opportunities to engage with customers and leave a lasting impression.

In short, in-store retail media offers the best of both worlds: it’s a way for retailers to generate additional revenue from brands and a method of delivering a more information-rich and relevant in-store experience.

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Product News | October 11, 2021

Advancing carbon transparency in digital out-of-home with Broadsign and Scope3

The out-of-home (OOH) advertising industry is undergoing a major transformation, with companies across the sector working to reduce the environmental impacts of advertising. As more brands and agencies set ambitious corporate carbon reduction goals this year, businesses need reliable carbon measurement data to track and minimize marketing’s impact on their footprint.

With programmatic display advertising alone generating 3.8 million metric tons of CO2 emissions globally each year, the pressure is on to find lower-impact alternatives. And the advertising industry is already responding— two-thirds of Fortune 500 companies have set significant climate commitments, with many aiming for net-zero emissions by 2030.

At Broadsign, our commitment to tracking, improving, and offsetting our own carbon footprint is constant, and our latest partnership with Scope3 builds on this belief. Together, we’re working to make it easy for brands and agencies to plan and buy OOH media with carbon impact in mind. At the same time, we’re focused on enhancing carbon reporting for the OOH industry.

Partnering for a greener future in OOH

Scope3, a leader in carbon measurement for advertising, provides comprehensive emissions data across multiple media channels with the mission to decarbonize media and advertising. However, up until recently, its platform didn’t include a large amount of data from DOOH. We teamed up with them to bring more DOOH carbon measurement data to the platform, so media buyers and owners can make more informed, sustainable decisions while advancing carbon transparency and reduction efforts.

With Scope3’s DOOH carbon measurement data now accessible to brands and agencies, they can easily factor DOOH’s environmental impact into their omnichannel media plans. Our collective efforts have enabled DOOH property and format emissions data for over 1 million screens globally on the platform, providing media planners with more comprehensive carbon impact data across their media channels like social, CTV, and digital online.

For media owners, Scope3’s data helps position DOOH as a low-carbon media choice, provides carbon impact reporting to advertisers, and demonstrates its role in reducing emissions across omnichannel campaigns. Additionally, DOOH media owners can contribute inventory data to refine Scope3’s emissions model for more precise reporting.

Broadsign’s first partnership with a carbon measurement platform also sets the stage for future innovations, like dynamic campaign planning based on carbon footprint. We’ve been aware of Scope3 for some time, but our initial focus was on addressing our carbon footprint and achieving carbon neutrality internally. Once that plan was in place, we shifted our attention to supporting the OOH industry. Given that Scope3 is the industry standard for advertising carbon measurement, partnering with them to help launch the DOOH channel and provide additional insights for their modelling was a natural next step.

DOOH: A carbon-efficient advertising channel

Through our contributions to Scope3’s model, Broadsign is helping to improve carbon measurement and transparency, giving media buyers more accurate sustainability insights. As brands and agencies prioritize sustainability, data collected to date highlights the benefits of including DOOH in a media mix, reinforcing its position as one of the most carbon-efficient advertising formats.

Compared to other digital channels, DOOH generates significantly lower emissions, standing out as the greener advertising format on a per-impression basis. Web-based ads produce 3.7 times more gCO2 per impression than DOOH, while CTV generates 14.7 times more—and that figure doesn’t account for the impact of personal devices like mobile phones and laptops.

Under the Scope3 measurement model, DOOH’s carbon footprint mainly comes from the electricity used to power screens, with factors like operating hours, brightness settings, and the local energy grid all playing a role. For example, running screens 24/7 uses more energy, brighter displays require more power, and fossil fuel-based grids lead to higher emissions. That said, DOOH remains highly efficient, thanks to its ability to reach large audiences in high-traffic areas. By delivering impressions at scale, its emissions are more impactful in terms of business outcomes while remaining lower than other digital advertising formats.

This graph illustrates the grams of carbon emitted per thousand impressions across all channels measured by Scope3. In countries with available DOOH benchmarks, the channel stands out as a significantly lower-emission option than others.

For brands and advertisers looking to reduce their carbon footprint, choosing high-quality, low-emission screens is a great place to start. Optimizing campaign timing can also help—certain hours may align with a cleaner energy grid mix or higher foot traffic, making ads more effective and sustainable. Even a small shift toward DOOH can make a big impact while keeping omnichannel campaigns effective and engaging. Plus, incorporating DOOH into a broader media mix enhances the performance of other channels, making it a win-win for sustainability and strategy.

With benchmark data now available from Scope3, media owners also benefit. They can create carbon intensity reports to highlight DOOH’s sustainability advantage. Looking ahead, we anticipate more sustainability-focused media owners will use this data to strengthen how they position DOOH’s impact in the larger omnichannel ecosystem, and illustrate how the medium can help offset the carbon footprint of more energy-intensive channels like CTV, video, and web.

As the industry evolves, Broadsign’s dedication to driving both our own sustainability initiatives and supporting the advertising industry is unwavering. We will continue to equip our team and partners with the transparency and insights needed to make more informed, responsible decisions.

Product News | October 11, 2021

Pioneering the future of out-of-home media: An insight into Pixel Group

Indonesia’s out-of-home (OOH) advertising sector is experiencing significant growth, driven by rapid urbanization and technological advancements, like digital billboards and interactive displays, which enhance audience engagement and campaign effectiveness. As the demand for innovative and impactful OOH solutions grows, industry leaders are stepping up to shape the future of outdoor advertising in Indonesia. Among them, Pixel Group stands out for its commitment to delivering cutting-edge, data-driven campaigns that connect brands with audiences in meaningful ways.

Pixel Group has established itself as a leader in the OOH advertising space with a mission to provide end-to-end services across the spectrum of service provision outside the home. Since its establishment in 2003, Pixel Group has built a strong reputation as a trusted partner in Indonesia’s OOH media landscape. The company operates and manages more than 500 diverse OOH mediums nationwide, including high-profile locations such as Soekarno-Hatta International Airport (Jakarta), I Ngurah Rai International Airport (Bali), and Gelora Bung Karno (GBK) in Jakarta. Actively expanding its reach within the region, Pixel Group continues to push the boundaries of innovation.

From traditional billboards to cutting-edge digital out-of-home (DOOH) solutions, Pixel’s approach is deeply rooted in consumer research and insights, enabling it to deliver campaigns that resonate with targeted audiences. By integrating experiential marketing, real-time data solutions, and a commitment to innovation, Pixel ensures its offerings remain relevant, impactful, and ahead of the curve in the ever-evolving OOH landscape.

Redefining the OOH offering

In a market traditionally dominated by static roadside billboards, Pixel Group has set itself apart with a bold and innovative approach. The company pioneered Indonesia’s first airport-exclusive terminal concession for OOH media at Soekarno-Hatta International Airport’s Terminal 3—a groundbreaking achievement that not only redefined the industry but also made Pixel the first in the world to implement a fully digital OOH network in an airport. This milestone highlights the company’s dedication to transforming how advertisers engage with high-value audiences in dynamic, high-traffic environments.

As DOOH continues to gain traction, it is becoming the preferred medium for advertisers and media owners alike. With its ability to offer rapid content updates, data-driven targeting, and tailored campaigns for specific audiences, DOOH is redefining the future of outdoor advertising. While programmatic advertising in Indonesia is still in its early stages, Pixel Group recognizes its immense potential for precise audience and location-based targeting. With the growing demand for live data and automated solutions, Pixel is poised to lead the industry’s evolution, ensuring advertisers can seamlessly adapt to the future of OOH advertising.

Pixel’s collaboration with Broadsign has been pivotal in streamlining client content management. The platform’s extensive features and functionality have enabled the company to operate more efficiently, reinforcing its commitment to delivering exceptional results to brands.

The power of seamless integration

As a full-stack customer, Pixel Group benefits from a fully integrated Broadsign solution, eliminating the need for additional technical work. By leveraging Broadsign’s state-of-the-art CMS, Pixel Group enhances the efficiency of its campaign scheduling, simplifies reporting, and streamlines operations for every OOH campaign executive—saving both time and resources.

Through this partnership, Pixel Group gains real-time access to inventory availability, ensuring seamless campaign execution. Additionally, with Broadsign’s SOC 2-certified platform, Pixel Group can rely on a secure, high-performance solution that guarantees top-tier security, flawless campaign delivery, and exceptional support from a team of experts.

Broadsign software is already powering Pixel Group’s large-format billboards, with the potential to expand across the network’s hundreds of strategically placed screens throughout the region. Furthermore, Pixel Group has full access to Broadsign’s programmatic platform, Broadsign SSP, positioning them ahead of the competition with advanced automation and monetization capabilities.

Looking ahead, Pixel Group plans to expand its footprint in the airport OOH media space and other transportation mediums. This strategic focus reflects the company’s dedication to maintaining its leadership position in delivering innovative and high-impact advertising solutions to local and global brands across Indonesia.

Want to grow your out-of-home network? Schedule a demo to see how we can help make that happen!

Product News | October 11, 2021

Broadsign and Scope3 Partner to Advance Carbon Measurement in DOOH Advertising

Collaboration unlocks new DOOH campaign emissions insights for sustainability-minded media buyers, improves DOOH carbon footprint reporting

MONTREAL, March 5, 2025 –Broadsign and Scope3 today announced a partnership that sets the stage for more accurate, comprehensive carbon modeling of digital-out-of-home (DOOH) campaigns. As more brands seek to limit carbon emissions across their businesses, including marketing, the two companies have teamed up to expand the depth and precision of available DOOH emissions data.

As a result of the collaboration thus far, agencies and brands leveraging Scope3’s carbon measurement platform can now access DOOH property and format emissions data for over 1 million screens globally when planning DOOH and omnichannel campaigns. Available insights include average CO2e per impression for DOOH screens by country and venue category.

Scope3 users can view this data alongside similar insights from web, mobile, social, CTV, and other channels for more seamless carbon-conscious media planning and reporting. While DOOH is proven to augment omnichannel campaign performance, the data now available on Scope3’s platform also demonstrates its carbon efficiency on a per impression basis, reaffirming previous studies that illustrate the medium’s carbon-efficiency advantage over other channels.

Key findings based on the data collected by Scope3 and Broadsign to date include:

DOOH is the lowest carbon-emitting marketing channel on a per/impression basis (in countries where DOOH benchmarks are available).
The primary source of DOOH carbon emissions comes from the electricity that powers the screens. Key factors include operating hours, brightness settings, and the electricity grid mix.
Approximately 95% of Broadsign-contributed screens fall at or below the median emissions level, considering factors like country and venue category.
Opting for high-quality, low-emitting screens that deliver strong performance without increasing carbon output and optimizing campaigns for time of day can help advertisers reduce emissions, as certain hours may benefit from a more sustainable energy grid mix or higher foot traffic.

“There’s a preconceived notion that DOOH is a high-emitting channel, but the data tells a more accurate story that accounts for its unique nuances,” shared David Fischer, GM, Global Ad Tech Platforms, Scope3. “Broadsign’s expertise, insights, and extensive inventory data are helping us refine our DOOH carbon measurement modeling to shed more light on the medium’s impact. Agencies and brands that use Scope3 to inform omnichannel media strategies can now better understand DOOH’s emissions, and media owners can set their inventory apart by offering insight into the carbon footprint of their screens.”

“Scope3 is the ad industry standard for carbon measurement, so partnering with them in the interest of the broader ad industry was a natural next step,” explained Bryan Mongeau, CTO, Broadsign. “As companies look to implement more sustainable practices, reducing ad campaign emissions will be an area of increasing focus, and our collaboration with Scope3 provides a strong foundation to support this demand. It not only provides invaluable insights today but also paves the way for future innovations like dynamic campaign planning and real-time media plan adjustments based on carbon intensity; we’re just getting started and have only begun to scratch the surface of what’s possible.”

Visit Scope3.com for more details and find out more about Broadsign’s journey to achieve carbon neutrality.

About Broadsign

Broadsign empowers media owners, agencies, and brands to harness the power and reach of out-of-home to connect with audiences in ways unlike any other advertising channel. More than 1.5 million static and digital signs along roadways and in airports, shopping malls, retailers, health clinics, transit systems, electric vehicle charging stations, and more run on Broadsign, reaching audiences at multiple touchpoints throughout the consumer journey. The Broadsign Platform helps media owners such as Outfront, Pattison Outdoor, Global, and Intersection streamline business operations and maximize revenue opportunities while enabling marketers and agencies to more easily plan and execute dynamic OOH campaigns that resonate with audiences. Brands spanning AB InBev, Disney, FanDuel, H&M, Honda, HP, Johnson & Johnson, KLM, Uber Eats, Sea-Doo, Samsonite, and many more have run successful programmatic DOOH campaigns enabled by Broadsign technology. https://broadsign.com