The Guardian (Nigeria)

Businesses to leverage Google advantage

- By Adeyemi Adepetun

BUSINESSES in Nigeria will have the opportunit­y to leverage Google technologi­es for growth and competitiv­eness.

This was disclosed at a roundtable in Lagos, where leading companies from Nigeria joined Google West Africa to discuss the shift towards privacy- first marketing as third- party cookies are phased out. The forum brought together leaders from Fairmoney, Konga, Mondelez, Stanbic IBTC, and Zenith Bank, highlighti­ng a collective commitment to redefining consumer engagement in the digital age.

Businesses recognised that building consumer trust is essential in a world that increasing­ly values privacy. In this new era, adapting marketing strategies to be more privacy- focused is not just a necessity but a strategic move toward building sustainabl­e customer relations. This transition challenges businesses to innovate while maintainin­g transparen­cy and respect for consumer data privacy, turning potential constraint­s into avenues for deeper consumer engagement.

Senior Industry Lead, West Africa, Google, Felicia Otolorin, said customer trust is the new currency, adding “Consumers are demanding more control over their data, and the savviest businesses are seeing this shift as an opportunit­y. This is about reimaginin­g how we engage with technology and data, ensuring that innovation and privacy go hand- in- hand."

The discussion­s emphasised this point, highlighti­ng the competitiv­e advantage of adopting privacy- first strategies. Google showcased innovative solutions like Google Tag and Enhanced Conversion­s. These tools demonstrat­e a commitment to both high performanc­e and privacy standards.

Success stories illustrate­d how other businesses have successful­ly navigated this shift, offering valuable insights.

Chief Data & AI Officer at Interswitc­h, Oluwadamil­are Akinwunmi, who said firms stand at a crucial juncture, added: “The winners of tomorrow will be those enterprise­s that strike a balance between innovative, data- driven marketing and a profound commitment to data protection and privacy- first practices. The essential dialogues we engage in, and the subsequent actions we take, set us on the path to achieving precisely this”.

The roundtable underscore­s a pivotal shift towards privacyfir­st strategies in Nigeria's digital marketing sphere, emphasisin­g the critical role of collaborat­ion and innovation in this transition. It marks a collective stride towards a future where consumer trust and data privacy form the cornerston­e of business growth and competitiv­e advantage.

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