Mediagenix survey: 55% of media companies struggling with automation & more

Mediagenix, a prominent provider of advanced content solutions, has shared insights from its latest M-Connect Survey, which gives a close look at the media industry's progress in three essential areas: data-driven strategy, automation, and seamless system integration.

The findings, drawn from responses collected during the May 2024 M-Connect event, suggest that many media companies are still working to catch up with best practices in digital transformation. The survey reveals that 55% of media organizations remain in the initial phases of integrating data-driven decision-making, automation, and connectivity into their operations. This underscores a growing need for a systematic approach to harnessing data, streamlining tasks, and linking various operational systems.

In terms of data-driven strategy, nearly half of respondents (49%) admitted to using data inconsistently or on an ad-hoc basis. The survey demonstrated that organizations leveraging data effectively could make faster, more informed decisions regarding content acquisition, scheduling, and monetization, with an average maturity score of 2.6 out of 5, indicating only partial integration of data-driven practices.

Despite rising interest in AI and automated solutions for content workflows, effective application of these technologies remains limited across the industry. A substantial 67% of organizations lack a structured plan for automation, resulting in an average score of 2.3 out of 5. Just 33% of surveyed companies have a clear strategy for automating core functions, highlighting a significant area for improvement in operational efficiency and error reduction.

For media companies to speed up content decisions, minimize manual work, and increase accuracy, the ability to facilitate real-time data flow is critical. However, almost half (48%) of respondents reported challenges with system connectivity, which disrupts efficient workflows and hinders real-time data sharing. With an average connectivity score of 2.6, many organizations struggle with full system integration despite the availability of advanced cloud solutions.

Reflecting on these findings, Gunel Mammadova, Director of Corporate Planning and Management at MBC Group, remarked, “The industry needs to step up its use of smart workflows to remain competitive. At MBC Group we understand that achieving high maturity in these areas means we are better positioned to navigate challenges, make the most of new opportunities, and deliver content more efficiently. By capitalizing on data-driven decision-making, automating our processes, and connecting our systems, MBC is future-proofing its workflows.”

Ivan Verbesselt, Chief Strategy & Marketing Officer at Mediagenix, echoed this sentiment, emphasizing Mediagenix's role in helping companies advance towards smarter, more connected operations. “Mediagenix is committed to supporting companies on their journey to becoming more smart, streamlined, and connected. Our collaboration with industry leaders has revealed that the path forward requires investing in tools and strategies that enhance visibility, reduce redundancies, and enable more agile decision-making. These are the key drivers of our solutions orchestrating the content life cycle as a lean set of collaborative workflows around one source of truth.”