While programmatic advertising – the automated buying and selling of media in real-time – is one of the most advanced and useful tools available, it has also been highly problematic.

In the past, programmatic has been riddled with ad fraud, lack of transparency, and brand safety. Agencies and brands have struggled with the poor quality of data and ad inventory. Not to mention, wasted ad spend.

Yet this technology delivers incredible efficiency to advertisers, using extensive data, analytics, and dynamic creative to continually optimize campaigns based on performance over time.

So what is the state of programmatic advertising right now?

Are we still facing the same issues, or are there improvements in the way we buy and sell media?

Learn Programmatic buying and real time advertising with the Programmatic Buying Foundations Training Course. Enroll now!

Here's what we know about the current programmatic landscape.

Spending and Revenue Are Up

Despite its challenges, programmatic continues to draw interest from media buyers. In fact, nearly three-quarters of them expect to increase spending on programmatic advertising in 2019.

Programmatic Spending

Source: Digiday

Additionally, more than half of publishers are now seeing the majority of revenue come from programmatic advertising -- communicating that advertisers like what they see.

In a nutshell, advertisers recognize the advantages of using programmatic, mainly it's efficiencies and targeting, and continue to use it while navigating the challenges.

In other words, spending and revenue are growing because of programmatic works.

Biggest Concerns with Programmatic

The most considerable misgivings about programmatic advertising haven't changed.

Lack of transparency, ad fraud, brand safety, and return on ad spend (ROAS) remain the top concerns for both brands and agencies.

Concerns with Programmatic

Source: eMarketer

Programmatic is Getting Better

The good news is there have been improvements to programmatic advertising, and the industry is continuing to address the issues.

Last year, the IAB released ads.txt to combat issues with ad fraud and confirm the validity of ad sellers. This measure helps brands and agencies eliminate fraudulent inventory sources and supports increased transparency.  

U.K.-based publisher The Guardian dramatically reduced ad fraud on its own sites by 72 percent using ads.txt. In a separate instance, a CPG giant eliminated fraudulent inventory before bidding – cutting the instances of ad fraud.

Programmatic is also pairing with advanced AI and ML (machine learning) tools to prevent fraud and bad actors, helping to eliminate wasted ad spend and protecting brands.

Finally, TAG certifications are joining the fight against ad fraud in programmatic.

Google a Serious Player

Now that Google owns both a demand-side platform (DSP) and sell-side platform (SSP), it offers a seamless transaction between the buying and selling process.

It's also well known that "Google does cookie syncing better than anyone else, a critical part of user identification," according to Mike Smith, chief data officer at Hearst.

While other platforms are certainly aligning with these expectations, Google could see significant gains in programmatic as we move forward.

Want to learn about Programmatic in mobile and video campaigns? Then take up the Programmatic Marketing Course and learn today!

Mobile Video Ads are King

When it comes to the state of programmatic advertising, nothing is more evident than the explosion of mobile video ads.

The format is now the fastest-growing of any channel, and ad spend on mobile video is expected to nearly double between 2019 and 2022, from $16 billion to $25 billion.

Mobile Video Ads Spending

Source: eMarketer

Why the trend? Not only the number of mobile video viewers increasing, but the time spent watching mobile videos is also increasing.

In-App Advertising

With more consumers preferring apps over mobile browsers, advertisers are moving toward in-app advertising to capture more eyeballs.

Yet, with these opportunities come the familiar set of challenges that have always plagued programmatic advertising, plus a lack of measurability.

Final Word: State of Programmatic Advertising

Programmatic remains an incredibly effective and efficient tool for advertising. It continues to have challenges, yet they are being addressed and we are seeing improvements.

Despite these ongoing issues, the rise in spending affirms that the promise of programmatic is still alive and well in the world of advertising. Learn more in our Foundational Programmatic Marketing Training.

Our Digital Marketing Courses Duration And Fees

Digital Marketing Courses typically range from a few weeks to several months, with fees varying based on program and institution.

Program NameDurationFees
Post Graduate Program in Digital Marketing

Cohort Starts: 18 Apr, 2024

8 Months$ 3,000
Digital Marketing Specialist

Cohort Starts: 24 Apr, 2024

8 Months$ 1,649

Get Free Certifications with free video courses

  • Pay Per Click - PPC Foundations

    Digital Marketing

    Pay Per Click - PPC Foundations

    4 hours4.54.5K learners
  • Digital Marketing Tools and Techniques

    Digital Marketing

    Digital Marketing Tools and Techniques

    3 hours4.514.5K learners
prevNext

Learn from Industry Experts with free Masterclasses

  • Deep Dive into AI's Impact on Content in Digital Age

    Digital Marketing

    Deep Dive into AI's Impact on Content in Digital Age

    14th Mar, Thursday9:00 PM IST
  • How to Pivot Your Digital Marketing to the New Normal: Expert Tips and Strategies

    Digital Marketing

    How to Pivot Your Digital Marketing to the New Normal: Expert Tips and Strategies

    25th Aug, Tuesday9:00 PM IST
  • How Self-Isolation Impacts a Digital Marketing Career

    Digital Marketing

    How Self-Isolation Impacts a Digital Marketing Career

    14th May, Thursday9:00 PM IST
prevNext