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Ensuring Data Accuracy in the Age of AI: A Lesson from AI-Generated Mistakes from across the Pond

By |2024-08-07T09:55:32+00:00August 7th, 2024|

In recent months, significant incidents have highlighted the pitfalls of AI when it comes to maintaining data accuracy in public records. These events serve as a crucial reminder of the importance of data hygiene, particularly for organisations that rely on precise data processing. The Incident: Pregnant Woman Wrongly Accused One notable incident involved a pregnant woman in Detroit who was falsely arrested based on AI-generated evidence. Porcha Woodruff, eight months pregnant at the time, was wrongly identified by an AI system as a suspect in a carjacking case. This led to her wrongful arrest and detention for 11 hours, causing her significant emotional distress and physical complications leading to hospitalisation. This case is part of a broader pattern, with several [...]

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84% of ecommerce marketers say Direct Mail delivers best ROI

By |2024-07-16T13:07:42+00:00July 16th, 2024|

According to a new report by Lob, 84% of ecommerce brand marketers agree that direct mail delivers the best ROI, response rate, and conversion rates compared to all other channels, a notable increase from 74% in 2023. The value of direct mail marketing for the eCommerce industry continues to grow, with 85% of marketers in the sector affirming that it offers the best ROI of any channel their organisation uses. An impressive 91% also agree that it delivers the best response rates. Increased Investment and Automation Reflecting this resurgence, 82% have said that they have increased their budget allocation for direct mail, up from 58% in 2023. The adoption of direct mail automation platforms has also seen a significant rise, [...]

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Unlock the Power of Precision with The Software Bureau’s Data Cleansing Solutions

By |2024-05-21T10:10:00+00:00May 21st, 2024|

Maintaining accurate and up-to-date customer contact information is not just a necessity—it’s a competitive advantage. The Software Bureau’s data cleansing solutions stand at the forefront of this essential service, hosting a staggering 450 million records, the most extensive collection in the industry. This vast database, combined with our robust software, ensures your business can operate with the highest level of data integrity and efficiency. Comprehensive Data Coverage Our data sets encompass a wide range of essential updates, including home mover relocations, goneaways, and deceased records. These data sets are sourced from industry-leading providers such as Royal Mail, Experian, Sagacity, MiExact, The Ark, Shine CK, and DBS Data. This extensive and diverse array of sources guarantees that our clients receive the [...]

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Response rates, ROI, AOV and CPA of DM revealed!

By |2024-05-08T18:04:18+00:00May 8th, 2024|

The latest JICMAIL Response Tracker insights reveal that DM is still very much a marketing channel that achieves results…. Warm direct mail—mail shots sent to existing customers—command on average an 8% response rate. This level of engagement is not only on par with but often exceeds the effectiveness of other media channels. Warm direct mail's success, particularly notable in sectors like medical where it reaches a whopping 26%% response rate, underscores its potential in targeted communications. This method proves especially effective in maintaining and enhancing customer loyalty, offering personalised content that resonates well with the audience. The high response rates are indicative of the trust and rapport that brands have built over time with their existing customer base. Cold Direct [...]

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Handling Sensitive Deceased Data

By |2024-04-15T10:54:56+00:00April 15th, 2024|

E.On has been criticised for sending a personalised marketing letter to a deceased customer, urging him to reconsider leaving for another supplier. The letter was addressed to the man's executor and sent to a recently sold home in Brighton, highlighting a significant lapse in data management. This case is not isolated; similar reported instances involve the TV Licensing Authority and NHS mistakenly sending communications to the deceased, causing distress to families and raising questions about data accuracy and respect for privacy. The executor of the deceased pointed out the insensitivity of using personalisation techniques in such a context, where the letter addressed the deceased by his first name to persuade him to remain a customer. This situation underscores a critical [...]

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Direct mail effectiveness soars

By |2023-03-23T10:05:54+00:00March 23rd, 2023|

Direct Mail experienced something of a renaissance during the Covid years – lockdown prompted a wide scale love affair with the letterbox. People enjoyed receiving mail, it provided a welcome break from the mundanity of being at home ALL THE TIME! This week, as we mark three years since the first lockdown back in 2020, it seems fitting that the latest figures from JICMAIL reveal that mail’s engagement is still on the rise. Mail open and retention rates both soared by four percent year on year. Over Christmas (Q4 2022) open rates hit 77 per cent and retention grew to 66 percent demonstrating the importance of mail within the marketing mix. At a time of year when consumers are more [...]

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Data hygiene is all academic, isn’t it?

By |2022-11-14T11:09:16+00:00November 8th, 2022|

How alumni teams at higher education institutions can enhance relationships with past students and increase lifetime value Digital transformation scores a B+ According to a study by McKinsey, almost 80 percent of organisations reported that during the pandemic they initiated a process of digital and data transformation. Undeniably, COVID 19 fast tracked many organisations’ transformation intentions. For instance, the higher education sector - not one famed for its agility - had been toying with the concept of Responsive Blended Learning, a hybrid of traditional classroom based delivery and online learning for years, but it took lockdown for this to actually become a reality. Most institutions went from face-to-face teaching to digital delivery in a matter of days. And with exam [...]

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As the cost-of-living crisis bites, mail stays in the home for longer

By |2022-09-09T08:03:04+00:00September 9th, 2022|

The latest stats from JICMail, the joint industry currency for ad mail, show that there has been a significant increase in the amount of households retaining their mail. More households are choosing to file their mail away for later use or take it out of the home. The new data which covers the period from April to June 2022, shows that close to half of mail (44 percent) is still live in the home after 28 days, which is a significant increase on Q2 2021. It is thought that this is because households are placing more importance on mail content in economically challenging times. The research finds that overall, 94 percent of mail is engaged with, i.e., it has at [...]

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Why Data Suppression is Key to Compliance with GDPR

By |2018-11-06T10:40:07+00:00May 25th, 2017|

DataIQ recently teamed up with Cygnus Embedded Suppression contributor, The Ark to produce a Whitepaper discussing data suppression and GDPR. The Whitepaper puts forth the message that deceased suppression will effectively become a legal requirement come May 2018 when GDPR comes into force. While both the legislation itself and the guidelines from ICO don’t go quite so far as naming deceased suppression as a legal obligation to achieve compliance, DataIQ make the argument that failing to undertake deceased suppression increases the likelihood of a technical breach. Falling foul of the ICO for a technical breach can cost organisations as much as 2% of group turnover (find out more about GDPR here). So how do Suppression files help organisations achieve compliance [...]

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Lean DM – Focus on Goneaway and Deceased Suppression

By |2017-01-11T22:10:53+00:00August 10th, 2016|

Around 1.5 million people move house each year and over 500,000 people unfortunately pass away. This level of constant change can lead to data decaying at rates of over 30% per year for some organisations. The Office of National Statistics estimate up to 110 items of mail can be sent to the deceased in the 12 months after their death. Sending mail to people who have died or moved house is more than just a waste of printing and postage costs. When a business chooses to send mail without removing these recipients the only message being communicated is ‘the brand does not care about its customers’. Relatives of the deceased or new occupants are of course highly likely to see [...]

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