Cutting-edge martech? 65% of brands have no plans to invest this year

Marketers know that change is coming, thanks to new technologies like machine learning and virtual reality. But in a recent survey, almost two-thirds said they’re not planning to invest in those cutting-edge technologies in 2017.

The data are from Bynder’s just-released “State of Branding 2017” report, which surveyed 562 “global brand managers and CMOs” in December 2016. Of those surveyed, 78 percent are based in North America, and 53 percent work at companies with more than 200 employees. Responses from B2B and B2C brands were almost evenly split.

Respondents said virtual reality (24 percent) and machine learning (23 percent) will have the biggest impact on marketing during the next five years. Augmented reality (17 percent), beacons and chatbots (12 percent each) round out the top five.

But only 43 percent of respondents called their companies early adopters when it comes to new marketing technologies. And very few of them said they’re planning to invest in these kinds of technologies despite knowing the impact they’ll have in the near future. Given a list of new martech tools and platforms, almost two-thirds said “nope” when asked their plans to invest in them this year.

The data are similar to what we reported on in December, when a Demandbase survey showed that 77 percent of marketers think artificial intelligence is “the next big thing,” but 90 percent aren’t using it yet. The main thing that might be slowing adoption is confusion. Just last month, a Forrester report found that the vast majority of marketers like the idea of AI, but many don’t quite understand what it can do:

Forrester found that confusion and misunderstanding of AI-driven marketing is quite prevalent today. Indeed, many marketers in our study have a very narrow view of current advanced contextual marketing capabilities, much less around AI-driven marketing tools that can make these contextual programs considerably more efficient and effective …

While the new Bynder survey shows little immediate investment in many of these cutting-edge marketing technologies, respondents listed these as their top five planned martech investments this year:

• Marketing analytics (58 percent)
• Social media monitoring (49 percent)
• Customer experience tools (45 percent)
• Content management systems (43 percent)
• DAM/branding automation (40 percent)

For now, it appears, martech budgets are sticking with the tried and true.

About The Author

Matt McGee

Matt McGee is the Editor-In-Chief of MarTech Today. His news career includes time spent in TV, radio, and print journalism. After leaving traditional media in the mid-1990s, he began developing and marketing websites and continued to provide consulting services for more than 15 years. His SEO and social media clients ranged from mom-and-pop small businesses to one of the Top 5 online retailers. Matt is a longtime speaker at marketing events around the U.S., including keynote and panelist roles. He can be found on Twitter at @MattMcGee. You can read Matt's disclosures on his personal blog. You can reach Matt via email using our Contact page.