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MiQ expands Sigma in UK with new measurement tools

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MiQ has expanded its Sigma advertising platform in the UK with two new tools, adding measurement and browsing analysis functions for marketers.

The UK launch is part of a broader expansion of Sigma, which MiQ describes as an AI-based system that turns consumer signals into advertising decisions.

Sigma Total Measurement is designed to show marketers how different channels contribute across the consumer journey. The tool is intended to help users assess where media spending works together and where budgets could be reinvested.

A second addition, Browsing Intelligence, focuses on consumers in the consideration stage before purchase or donation. It draws on behavioural, contextual, attention and AI trend data to help brands identify and reach people during what marketers often call the mid-funnel stage.

The expansion follows a year in which Sigma was used in more than 40,000 campaigns by over 2,300 advertisers worldwide, according to MiQ. Testing found Sigma campaigns returned £2.22 in value for every £1 spent, compared with standard programmatic campaign setups.

MiQ attributed that performance to the platform’s use of a large pool of data and its ability to make decisions across a fragmented digital market. Consumers now move between watching, browsing and buying across more than 2,500 digital interactions a day, the company said, increasing the need for systems that can process signals quickly.

The latest version also expands the data underpinning Sigma. MiQ said its data spine now includes more than 600 feeds and 2.5 petabytes of information, with sources including Circana, Titan OS and Evertune, as well as broader AI architecture integrations with Databricks.

Sigma is used by agency groups, independent agencies and advertisers directly in the UK. The platform can activate campaigns across 16 media environments spanning the open web and large closed platforms including Google and YouTube, according to MiQ.

John Goulding, Global Chief Strategy Officer at MiQ, said the challenge for advertisers has changed as audiences spread across more digital services. “As consumers move across video, social, commerce and emerging AI chat platforms, the challenge for marketers has shifted. The gap between those who can and cannot turn signals into real-time decisions is widening fast. Sigma was built to bridge that gap.”

Agency use

An early UK example came from independent agency Beyond, which used Sigma in a connected television campaign for Alzheimer’s Research UK.

“Sigma delivers on two crucial elements every agency looks for in AI: deep data intelligence and activation at scale. We’ve been really impressed by Sigma’s ability to leverage AI to connect data and channels instantly and deliver the results our clients want. We’ve already seen this with Alzheimer’s Research UK, where our connected TV campaign drove an eight-fold increase in consideration to donate. I’m excited about this latest evolution and the opportunity to create even more value for our clients,” said Cox.

The case study shows how MiQ is positioning Sigma in a crowded ad technology market, where measurement and signal loss have become central concerns for agencies and brands. Marketers are under pressure to show not only immediate media results but also how spending influences later consumer action across platforms.

Alfie Atkinson, UK Chief Executive Officer and Executive Chairman, Canada, at MiQ, said the latest changes were intended to give advertisers more confidence in campaign decisions. “AI is creating an opportunity to reimagine the media and adtech industries in a more connected way, but too much of the conversation is still focused on potential rather than proof. With Sigma, MiQ has already been showing what AI can deliver, and these latest innovations take that even further by giving brands and agencies a clearer view of performance and greater confidence in the decisions driving growth.”

MiQ, founded in London, operates from more than 33 offices worldwide. Sigma is live across all of its operating regions, with the latest UK additions available immediately alongside rollout in the US, Canada, Australia and other international markets, the company said.



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Major UK bank shuts another Oxfordshire site after over 500 closures

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The Barclays van outside Morrisons in Carterton is set to shut after a gradual drop in customer usage, the town council has announced.

The service is set to shut on Thursday, October 22.

The council said users of the van will still be able to pay cash and cheques into Barclays account at the nearby Post Office.

Instead customers will now have to travel six miles to the nearest Barclays branch in Witney.

The council said “please share this post with anyone who may be affected so they are aware of the upcoming change”.

READ MORE: Bicester Village welcomes major US clothing brand with unique ceremony

The Barclays branch which is set to closeThe former Chipping Norton Barclays branch (Image: Google maps)

A Barclays local van is a mobile, cashless banking vehicle that travels to community to provide face-to-face support where traditional branches have closed.

Its part of Barclays flexible banking network, which includes pods, vans, libraries, and town halls.

In February 2023, Barclays announced nearly 100 branch closures throughout 2024 and 2025, in addition to the 177 branches it closed in 2023.

This included the branch in Abingdon, which went on to close in February 2024.

Earlier this year bosses at Barclays announced plans to reopen more high-street branches, in a dramatic U-turn for the bank.

Over the past decade, thousands of high-street bank branches have shut their doors across the country, including those belonging to Barclays, leaving just 206 still operating throughout the UK.





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Thames Water labelled ‘incredibly insensitive’ by Oxfordshire MP

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Freddie Van Mierlo, who represents Henley and Thame, has urged the company to prioritise fixing leaking infrastructure, which reportedly loses 2.87 billion litres of water daily.

This comes after the Environment Agency declared the Thames Valley area in drought.

The responsibility of maintaining water resources during a drought lies with water companies.

Thames Water has already implemented a hosepipe ban in the area since July 22, 2026.

Chris Weston, speaking on the BBC’s Big Boss Interview podcast, stated that some of the firm’s targets were beyond what they could achieve.

He said: “We have to hit a certain level of leakage, but it is so far in excess of what we are capable of doing, I think anyone would be capable of doing, however much money you invested, that it is not going to be achievable.”

Thames Water, the largest water company in the UK, has been under fire recently for its handling of sewage discharges and leaks.

Last year, it was fined a record £122.7 million by regulator Ofwat, largely for breaching sewage spill rules.

However, Mr Van Mierlo argues that a network-wide hosepipe ban would save around 577 million litres a day.

READ MORE: Oxfordshire: Meet the 9-year old cat looking for his final home

Thames Water CEO Chris WestonMr Weston defended the company’s pay levels, as his pay rose by 14% to £1.163 million in the year to March, while other directors received bonuses totalling £4.1 million. (Image: Thames Water)

He said: “So, although measures such as hosepipe bans are required during drought, it seems fixing leaking infrastructure would be a significantly more effective use of time.

“In your most recent interview with the BBC, you commented that targets to fix leakages are ‘unrealistic’, this is incredible insensitive considering we are experiencing a 1-in-500-year drought event.

“After reviewing the company’s existing drought plans, I am further concerned that the actions outlined in the early stages of drought are limited to awareness campaigns to reduce water use and hosepipe bans.

“Nowhere, even when drought progresses to severe, is there mention of emergency repairs to leaks in the system.”

He added that constituents have been contacting him daily about leaks due to Thames Water infrastructure and the lack of action following their reports.

He said: “Not only do these leaks damage property, but now in a time of drought, Thames Water are washing away an essential resource.”

Water bottle supply stationWater bottle supply station after water was lost due to a leak in Oxfordshire (Image: Gee Harland)

The company, serving 16 million customers in London and parts of southern England, treats 4.3 billion litres of waste daily.

Mr Weston mentioned that “99.5 per cent of the time” the waste is treated successfully, although “sometimes something goes wrong”.

He added that while the company wants to improve on pollution, the chance of getting to zero pollution was “very, very slim”.





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Head of Oxfordshire bakery firm speaks out amid liquidation

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Fraser Jones, the director of Barefoot Oxford, has made clear that all its shops are staying open and there will be no job losses, as the company ‘streamlines’.

This process has seen Barefoot Oxford Limited go into liquidation with liquidators from JT Maxwell Ltd appointed on July 29. A resolution to wind up the company was passed on the same day.

READ MORE: Over 500 jobs at risk as leading UK charity shutting 190 sites

Fraser Jones, director of Barefoot Oxford, said: “Simply a reorganisation and no changes to the business at all.  

“All shops staying open and no job losses. 

“We are streamlining to the one company name of Barefoot Bakery, how we are best known.”

The business has three branches across Oxford in North Parade Avenue, Walton Street and Cowley Road and one in Kidlington.

Barefoot Bakery

It describes itself as a “small artisan bakery”.

It added: “We started out making cakes from our kitchen at home and selling them on a market stall in Oxford.

“Since then, the business has grown from strength to strength.”

Indeed, in June this year, cast of the smash hit romantic musical Waitress visited the business’ Jericho branch to publicise their performances at the New Theatre in Oxford.

It coincided with the 12th anniversary of the shop, run by Mr Jones and wife Emily.

READ MORE: UK greyhound racing business with £4 million debts in liquidation

Barefoot Oxford – the company going under which Mr Jones is director of – reported creditors falling within a year of £375,000 in its latest accounts to March 31, 2025.

Its average number of employees was 33.

Meanwhile Barefoot Bakery Ltd – which Mr Jones is also a director of – reported creditors of £79,000 falling within a year and five employees.





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