Let’s go in a different direction: this New York Times report that Internet-connected thermometer start-up Kinsa sold customer data to Clorox, which used it to target disinfectant advertising at areas with high fever rates. The data was aggregated to the Zip code level, so it’s hard to see this as a privacy violation. But it’s easy to see it as anti-tech sensationalism.
Conversica, which creates automated “intelligent assistants” for online tasks such as qualifying leads and scheduling meetings, has raised a $31 million Series C, bringing total funding to $87 million. Conversica agents are more natural than your average chatbot.
And since we’re on the topic, marketers also feel they’re throwing away a good portion of the data they do collect, says geolocation data provider Digital Elements. More than half felt they could increase revenues if they could use an extra 25% of the data they currently throw away. Most of the study focuses on IP location data, which 71% said was very important but just 39% are using fully.
Salesforce has reversed course on its bid to acquire data management and integration platform Informatica a source has told Reuters. Informatica itself said that it is not in talks to be acquired. Salesforce stocks rose on this latest news while Informatica’s fell.