Oracle is running its big OpenWorld conference this week, so they have other announcements too. One worth noting is the launch of a new Data Cloud offering with 115 million cross-channel IDs on contacts at1.5 million small and mid-size businesses. Clients can select audiences from the Oracle universe, find new contacts at companies in their own CRM files, or reach existing contacts through new channels.
CDP vendor RedPoint Global has launched the next generation of its Customer Engagement Hub. Enhancements cover identity resolution, machine learning, and access to customer profiles by touchpoint systems. Most intriguing from a technical standpoint is the ability to use NoSQL databases including MongoDB and Cosmos as the primary data stores, avoiding SQL entirely if you’re so inclined. And who isn’t?
Founded in 1884, point-of-sale tech giant NCR is as far from screwy as you can get. But they’re also using cameras, in this case to verify a buyer’s age when purchasing age-restricted products at self-checkout. Yes, a built-in camera guesses your age. No, I’m not making this up. A less fraught alternative within the same system lets people register their identity in advance and then uses the camera to verify who they are using a QR code and biometrics.
Martech keeps taking larger bites out of marketing budgets: 17.3% last year, 19.9% this year, 23.5% next year, and 30.9% five years from now, according to the latest CMO Survey. This despite barely more than half (56.4%) of current tools being used and nearly half (48.8%) of the survey respondents reporting worse-than-expected results. Oddly enough, marketers rate selecting marketing technologies as the thing they do best.