Rotterdam-based Oxyma Group Hosts EMEA Regional Meeting for ICOM Global Marketing Communications Network
ROTTERDAM, The Netherlands - Oxyma Group, a data-driven digital marketing agency specializing in omni-channel marketing based here, is hosting the annual ICOM EMEA 2016 Conference this week.
Oxyma is one of more than 80 members of ICOM, a leading global network of independent marketing and advertising agencies in 60-plus countries across the globe. More than 50 agency principals and senior executives from some 20 countries throughout ICOM’s Europe, Middle East and North Africa region are registered to attend the three-day event, themed Data Driven Journeys.
The conference, which starts here Oct. 20, offers a mix of top speakers and interactive workshops. Among the key speakers are Dutch physician and European Space Agency astronaut Dr. André Kuipers and Richard van Hooijdonk, trendwatcher and futurist. To facilitate some of the new digital activities, IBM is a supporting partner of the event and a participant.
“We see an enormous shift in our industry,” said Arjan Grootenboer, Oxyma CCO. “Data driven marketing is evolving, and omni-channel experiences increasingly must be personalized to be effective. Led by data and technology, we gain more insights into consumer behavior and thus also into consumers’ needs. The impact on marketing of consumer-controlled purchasing behavior, social media, customer experience, digital natives and platform dominance is clearly evident.”
Among the topics attendees will explore are: What will be the role of artificial intelligence in marketing, how do brands handle the countless customer journeys and how does one go about creating personalized experiences for invisible consumers.
To enhance the conference experience and align with the Data Driven Journeys theme, Oxyma has developed a customized meeting app for ICOM to communicate with participants at the conference. The app keeps participants updated with the latest news, including about the program, shows places of interest in the conference city and allows interaction among participants both as a group for sharing opinions with all and one-to-one messaging and for conducting polls.
Commented ICOM Executive Director Emma Keenan, “Oxyma is well-positioned to host this conference because of its experience and expertise in integrated omni-channel and data-driven marketing. This is such a hot topic in the marcom world today. Most brands are only just getting to grips with how to use customer data to improve their marketing services and build on brand loyalty. Helping our members stay ahead of the game is one of the big benefits for agencies and thus for their clients of ICOM membership.”
Like many ICOM members, Oxyma joined the network to strengthen international services for its customers while remaining independent of a large multinational marketing communications group. “Many clients see the value in small and medium-size like-minded and manager-owned specialist agencies compared to large network agencies,” said Oxyma CEO Ronald Morcus.
In addition to attending sessions at the official conference hotel, nhow, in Rotterdam, participants will be inspired by speakers presenting at some of the city’s iconic locations. For instance, Dr. Kuipers’ talk,“Boldly Go Where No One Has Gone Before,” will be presented high above the city at the landmark Euromast monument tower, built for the 1960 Floriade international exhibition and garden festival. Mr. van Hooijdonk will present his vision of the world in 2025 at The Rotterdam, a vertical city consisting of commercial, residential, hotel, eatery and shop spaces, designed by renowned architectural thinker and urbanist Rem Koolhaas.
ABOUT ICOM
ICOM is a global network of independent advertising and marketing communications agencies, with 80- plus member agencies covering 95% of the world’s markets. The network empowers global collaboration and brings people around the world closer to brands through connected thinking. Annual gross income exceeds US$500 million.
ABOUT OXYMA
Headquartered in Rotterdam, Oxyma is the first omni-channel agency in the Netherlands, with offices also in Amsterdam and Breda as well as Dubai. The agency helps clients create superior customer experiences, improving customer value and achieving ongoing success with data-driven marketing services and solutions in all channels. Clients include Adobe, Air France-KLM, AS Watson, Audi, BMW, KPN, NS (Dutch Railways), Unilever Food Solutions, Volkswagen and Ziggo.
MEDIA CONTACTS
Emma Keenan, ICOM executive director // emma@icomagencies.com, 33-6-63-48-01-37
Nancy Giges, ICOM media relations director // nancy.giges@brookdaleassociatesinc.com, 1-914-683-5108
October 20, 2016