fbpx

Future of MarTech depends on improving CMO-CIO relationships

by | Aug 19, 2021 | Marketing, Public Relations

New research from the CMO Council finds that as companies emerge from the pandemic, marketing and MarTech lie at the heart of the recovery. To optimize MarTech investments, marketing needs to have a very effective working relationship with IT that spans strategy, selection and management. Yet fewer than one out of four marketing organizations has such a relationship.

The Council’s latest report, Making MarTech Pay Off, in collaboration with KPMG LLP, covers critical aspects of the marketing-IT relationship, how they’re structured and governed, what types of MarTech capabilities and outcomes they effectuate, and how marketers can take this relationship to the next level.

Key findings include:

  • Only 23 percent of companies have “very effective” CMO-CIO working relationships
  • 60 percent of CMOs in “very effective” relationships with IT have a multi-year strategic plan for MarTech, compared to 29 percent of CMOs in “effective” relationships
  • CMOs in “very effective” relationships with IT use an average of two innovation techniques, compared to 1.2 for CMOs in “effective” relationships
  • 65 percent of CMOs in “very effective” relationships with IT regularly collect and distribute MarTech KPIs with insights and recommendations, compared to 36 percent of CMOs in “effective” relationships
  • 48 percent of CMOs in “very effective” relationships with IT have an equal partnership, compared to 21 percent of CMOs in “effective” relationships

The urgency to unearth actionable data insights and improve the customer experience through MarTech has never been greater. Much of a company’s future rests on revenue growth fueled by digital marketing and delivered by a technically savvy workforce. MarTech is fundamental to meeting both CMO and CIO objectives.

Future of MarTech depends on improving CMO-CIO relationships

“Very effective” CMO-CIO relationships produce a comprehensive and highly effective MarTech capability

This consists of planning strategically, integrating strategic considerations into tactical decision-making, solidifying strategic considerations through holistic participation in selection and management stages, and measuring performance broadly and regularly.

“CMOs in very effective relationships with IT, who get the most out of MarTech, also have the largest MarTech stacks and spend the highest percentage of their marketing budget on MarTech,” said Donovan Neale-May, executive director of the CMO Council, in a news release. “These CMOs are more likely to be responsible for digital transformation, customer experience and revenue generation—the ‘big three’—and play a larger role in the future of the company.”

Future of MarTech depends on improving CMO-CIO relationships

The best CMO-CIO relationships lead the charge in innovation, data-driven metrics, governance, and alignment and integration

These are often the very traits needed to enjoy a competitive advantage from MarTech, yield greater returns on investment, and provide a more satisfactory MarTech experience for employees and customers.

Future of MarTech depends on improving CMO-CIO relationships

“The new CMO Council report shows that the majority of companies do not currently have an effective marketing-IT working relationship,” said Jason Galloway, marketing consulting practice lead at KPMG, in the release. “Presently, there is an urgent need for CMOs and CIOs to closely work together to maximize the return from MarTech, leading to necessary changes in innovation, data-driven metrics, governance, and alignment and integration. By doing so, companies can yield greater returns on investment, and provide a more satisfactory MarTech experience for employees and customers.

“At KPMG, we take a holistic approach to our clients’ MarTech challenges, by building strong relationships between the CMOs and CIOs, and implementing models that encourage shared insights, planning, budgeting and innovation.”

Future of MarTech depends on improving CMO-CIO relationships

Download the full report here.

The report is based on a survey conducted this spring of over 200 marketing leaders across 12 industries, such as financial services, retail, healthcare, telecom, consumer products, technology and manufacturing. Additionally, we conducted in-depth interviews with executives at PayPal, Comcast, GE Healthcare, Salesforce (Tableau), Fidelity Investments, Autodesk, eBay, and more.

Richard Carufel
Richard Carufel is editor of Bulldog Reporter and the Daily ’Dog, one of the web’s leading sources of PR and marketing communications news and opinions. He has been reporting on the PR and communications industry for over 17 years, and has interviewed hundreds of journalists and PR industry leaders. Reach him at richard.carufel@bulldogreporter.com; @BulldogReporter

RECENT ARTICLES

10 creative ways to use QR codes in media communications and PR

10 creative ways to use QR codes in media communications and PR

In the fast-evolving landscape of media communications and public relations, QR codes are emerging as versatile tools capable of bridging the gap between traditional strategies and the interactive potential of digital technology. By transforming passive print ads into...