In 2013, the International Data Corporation (IDC) predicted that spending on RTB (real-time bidding) display advertising—one form of programmatic buying—would accelerate at a 59% compound annual growth rate through the year 2016, making it the fastest growing segment of digital advertising.
They were right. Bid It has also shifted marketers (and advertisers) to be technology and data driven experts, along with being brand champions and storytellers. Additionally, eMarketer predicts that in the US alone, programmatic ad spending will be over $20 billion in 2016, more than double the amount seen in 2014. In the UK, programmatic ad spending is expected to increase to over $4 billion in 2016, up from just under $3 billion in 2015.
The shift to programmatic tactics means a few things for marketers and the industry as a whole. In essence, it has validated and delivered against the need for datadriven, and accountable ROI-based media delivery. Additionally, it has enabled an efficient method for publishers to monetize core inventory. That said, some advertisers have struggled with premium inventory falling outside of the standard programmatic categories and are still being required to fulfill unique and exclusive campaign needs. Regardless, the entire programmatic category is seeing increased spending across the board due to its predictive yield and ROI for marketers and publishers alike, not to mention easy insertion processes and lower barriers to entry for most advertisers.