‘Robust OOH metrics key to transparency, trust, collaboration’

In a compelling panel discussion titled "Measuring the World: The Pace Quickens" at the WOO Global Congress in Hong Kong with Media4Growth as its media partner, industry leaders from various countries shared their insights on the complexities and advancements in third-party data measurement. The panel, moderated by Gideon Adey, CEO of Gurooh, had as panel speakers Denise Turner, Chief Executive of ROUTE; Pawan Bansal, Chairman Indian Outdoor Advertising Association (IOAA); Mats Rönne, Chairman of the Outdoor Committee, Outdoor Impact, Sweden; and Charles Perry-Okeden, Independent Chair, Outdoor Media Association (OMA) and MOVE, Australia.

The session kicked off with an introduction to the panelists and their respective backgrounds. Denise Turner, who heads ROUTE, an out-of-home audience measurement service in the UK, emphasised upon the intricacies involved in the metrics’ operations. Despite her extensive experience in agencies, publishing, and marketing, she acknowledged the unique challenges in measuring OOH audiences. She highlighted ROUTE's commitment to expanding coverage to Northern Ireland, reflecting her dedication to comprehensive data collection.

Pawan Bansal provided a glimpse into India's vast and diverse market. He laid emphasis on the importance of scalable and affordable models to measure the 1.4 billion audience more definitively. He also highlighted the use of mobile data as a starting point, noting the complexities of ensuring data reliability and representativeness.

Mats Rönne from Sweden shared insights into the country's long-standing tradition of public data availability. He emphasised the importance of transparency and the need to measure people rather than devices. Rönne highlighted Sweden's robust system that integrates various data sources to ensure accuracy and reliability in audience measurement.

Charles Perry-Okeden provided an in-depth look at Australia's MOVE 2.0, a revolutionary advancement in audience measurement. MOVE 2.0, developed over five years, integrates over 100 data sources, creating a sophisticated activity-based model. This model tracks individuals' travel behaviour and calibrates the data with numerous datasets to provide a comprehensive view of audience movements. Charles stressed upon the importance of making complex data accessible and trustworthy, a sentiment echoed by other panelists.

Challenges and Innovations in Data Measurement

The discussion delved into the challenges of integrating multiple data sources. Denise pointed out that layering data correctly is crucial to avoid destabilising the entire measurement system. Transparency and rigorous evaluation of data sets are vital to maintaining the integrity of the measurement process.

Pawan explained India's method of cleaning mobile data to ensure it accurately represents the population. By dividing India into millions of hexagons, they track mobile movements to create a reliable panel. This meticulous process highlights the challenges of using mobile data as a primary source.

Role of Sensor Data

Sensor data was another critical topic discussed. Denise spoke about ROUTE's ongoing tests with various sensors to enhance volume counts and make data more contemporary. The sensors' ability to provide real-time data could revolutionise audience measurement, although the variability in sensor performance necessitates thorough testing and validation.

Charles discussed how MOVE 2.0 uses sensor data to calibrate volume counts and temporal profiles in environments like malls and airports. This integration helps create a more granular and accurate picture of audience behaviour.

Concluding Thoughts

The panel concluded with a consensus on the importance of transparency, trust, and collaboration in the evolving landscape of audience measurement. By incorporating diverse data sources and ensuring rigorous validation processes, the industry can provide reliable and actionable insights for media owners and advertisers alike.

As the world becomes increasingly data-driven, discussions like these underscore the necessity of continuous innovation and adaptation in audience measurement methodologies. The pace is indeed quickening, and the industry's leaders are at the forefront, navigating the complexities to deliver precise and trustworthy data.