Hi there,

As we wind down from event season and try to squeeze the last drops out of summer (at least here in the Northern Hemisphere), I wanted to take a step back and do an AI sanity check.

We’ve all been navigating an avalanche of AI hype this year — from Cannes to countless LinkedIn threads. But one message is starting to ring loud and clear: AI agents aren’t a far-off fantasy anymore. They're knocking at the door of digital marketing. The question is — is your data ready to let them in?

Most Marketers Aren’t Ready for AI Agents — Is Their Data to Blame?

We all dream of saying, “Hey Siri, run my campaign.” But here’s the hard truth: most marketers aren’t ready — not because of AI itself, but because their data isn’t up to scratch.

🔹 Only 16% of marketers in UK, France, and Germany consider themselves “leaders” in AI adoption (Epsilon)
🔹 Nearly two-thirds say data quality, fragmentation, and protection are holding them back (IAB)

Let’s be honest — we’ve been dancing around the data readiness conversation for years. But now, with autonomous AI agents promising to take on data-heavy marketing tasks, the stakes are higher than ever. Bad data in = bad results out. No amount of automation will fix that.

📋 Here’s my quick checklist to get your data AI-ready:

• Audit it: What data do you have? Where are the gaps?
• Un-silo it: Connect web, app, CTV, CRM — all of it.
• Clean it: Deduplicate, validate, standardize.
• Augment it: Fill gaps with reliable third-party and zero-party data.
• Align it: Match your data inputs to your AI objectives.
• Test it: Run activations to make sure it actually performs.
• Enable it: Ensure data can securely flow across platforms and borders.

✅ Tick off that list, and you’re not just AI-ready — you’re setting yourself up to win with AI.

👉 Read More in My Full Post

AI agents are coming — and the difference between success and setbacks will come down to your data.

You don’t need to have everything perfect, but you do need to start. A clean, connected, and actionable data foundation isn’t just a nice-to-have anymore — it’s the baseline.

Start there, and you’ll be ready when automation comes knocking.

Talk soon,

Chris Hogg

Chief Revenue Officer, Lotame

Data Insights · 4-min read

Marketing to Sports Fans: Data-Driven Strategies That Score

Sports fans are on the move — and so are their wallets. In her latest piece, Lotame’s Alison Harding shares powerful insights from the Lotame Data Exchange to help you connect with this high-intent, real-time audience. From QSR tie-ins to geo-targeted transit ads and niche sport fandoms, discover data-driven strategies that actually convert.

Thought Leadership · 3-min read

Connected, Secure, and Extended: The Holy Grail of Data is Within Reach for Brands

First-party data is no longer an island. In her latest piece, Lotame’s Zuzana Urbanova explores how brands can securely connect, enrich, and activate their data across the wider ecosystem — without giving up control. From clean rooms to collaboration, discover why true data connectivity is no longer a pipe dream, but a competitive advantage.

Lotame's Audience Corner spotlights trending audiences from the Lotame Data Exchange, giving marketers a global edge for seasonal planning and activation. As we head into the final stretch of the year, marketers should be gearing up for a packed calendar of seasonal, cultural, and commercial moments. Here are some high-intent audiences worth planning for:

📚 Back-to-School Shoppers
🛬 Travel Planners
🪔 Diwali Celebrators
📦 Singles’ Day Shoppers (11.11)
🍗 Thanksgiving Hosts & Guests
🛍️ Black Friday & Cyber Monday Buyers
🎁 Holiday Gift Givers
💅 Beauty & Self-Care Enthusiasts
🏃 New Year’s Resolution Setters
🐉 Lunar New Year Shoppers

Want more targeted audience insights for your region? Subscribe to our Lotame Data Exchange Newsletter.    

The Internal Enemy of First-Party Data: In this Insider Latam feature, Lotame’s CGO, Alex Theriault, looks at what’s really holding marketers back from unlocking the value of their first-party data in LATAM. Spoiler: it’s not tech, regulation, or lack of data — it’s disconnection. 

There’s No App for That: Why Tech Can’t Fill the Structural Cracks in Your Data: In this one, I pull back the curtain on why AI alone won’t fix your data problems. Hint: it’s not the tools — it’s the teams, the turf wars, and the tangled-up workflows. Read on LinkedIn

September 9: ATS London, London UK

September 17-18: DMEXCO, Cologne, Germany

September 25: The Future of Media, Manchester UK 

October 2: MarketingWeek’s Festival of Marketing, London UK

October 15: Advertising Technology Asia, Singapore

October 15: Digiday Media Buying Summit, Phoenix, AZ

December 1: Digiday Programmatic Marketing Summit, New Orleans, LA

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