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Infusing Customer Insights into your Business: A Look at CRMs, CDPs, and DMPs

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In today’s digital world, data-driven customer analytics have become the heartbeat of modern businesses. Customers are engaging with businesses through digital channels while innovative technology allows the tracking of online activity, giving businesses access to more customer insights. So, how can businesses manage all the data at their disposal?

Data management platforms (DMPs), customer relationship management (CRM) systems, and customer data platforms (CDPs) can all play an important part in the customer lifecycle, but telling the difference between them can get tricky. Let’s have a look at what they do, how they differ and what they can do for each business.

What is a data management platform?

DMPs gather and categorise data from various sources. This information is usually gained from third-party web analytics, such as cookies and IP addresses that track your page visits or even the contents of your shopping cart. Data from a DMP can then be fed into a demand-side platform (DSP) so that companies can serve customers adverts based on their online behaviour.

Legislation regarding user privacy affects how companies can use DMPs. For instance, Europe’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and South Africa’s Protection of Public Information Act require data to be anonymous and short-lived. Kenya’s Data Protection Act of 2019 was modelled on the principles found in the GDPR, and it gives people whose data is collected many rights, including the right to be informed about what the data is going to be used for, and the right to access this data.

These regulations may make third-party data collection and storage via DMPs much more difficult, and in some cases, illegal. DMPs also don’t provide the same information as standalone analytical tools. They lack a complete view of your customers, which is where CRM and CDP systems become necessary.

What is customer relationship management?

CRM systems aim to improve business relationships by managing interactions with existing and potential customers. They create a simple interface for employees to record basic customer information, such as email, contact numbers, or call conversations, as well as other important details, such as the customer’s buying prospects, contract status, or reasons for a won or lost deal.

CRM systems help businesses learn more about their customers, organise their information, and optimise their interactions. CRM is useful for operations in marketing, sales, and service, as you frequently use past customer data to contact new or returning customers. CRM can serve as an analytical tool to create a sales pipeline for forecasting and improving customer satisfaction. It also helps with creating personalised experiences based on past interactions.

A common drawback of a CRM system, however, is that it often creates a limited view of the customer as it focuses on first-hand interactions and isn’t able to fully integrate data from different touchpoints. Because it also usually relies on manual entry, it can easily become overly complicated, labour-intensive, and difficult to manage effectively. That is where CDPs step in.

What is a customer data platform?

The main problem with customer data is that it is often siloed across different software systems and, while businesses have access to ever-increasing amounts of user data, the core of their business remains digitally unintegrated.

A CDP brings together data from various channels and sources to create a single, unified profile of each individual customer. CDPs work with first-party data, such as a CRM database of existing customers, combining them with second-party data (which is data bought from other companies) and anonymous third-party data (such as those gained by DMPs). This greatly benefits personalisation marketing strategies as it gives a more holistic understanding of known customers while incorporating second- and third-party insights to target prospective customers more effectively.

Businesses should be careful of platforms that have recently changed into CDPs but are, in reality, just CRMs, DMPs, or data warehouses. CDPs do not simply store information or route them between different systems, but they create a central database where information is organised, integrated, and made available to use when it is needed. Bringing all your customer data together is one thing, but you’ll need a trusted CDP if you want to use it well.

A leading CDP provider like www.CM.com (https://bit.ly/2PPSHiy) allows you to segment customer data based on certain criteria. It gives you real-time insights into your customer’s behaviour, so advertising can be personalised and automated with workflows to reach customers via various channels exactly when they’re looking for it. Find out how you can unlock your customer data with www.CM.com’s CDP (https://bit.ly/2PPSHiy).

How they all come together

DMPs, CRMs, and CDPs all come together to create a bigger picture of the customer journey. After DMPs have created new customer leads, CRMs keep track of the on-going relationship while CDPs bring all of this data together to help brands connect and engage with new and existing customers more effectively. Businesses don’t always need to choose one over the other; they all serve valuable roles in understanding your customer and aligning your marketing campaigns with data-driven insights.

As more people take to online activities, the amount of user data being generated will only increase. If businesses want more effective customer engagement and satisfaction, they need to start using that data to its full potential.

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Business Intelligence

Inlaks Computers Retains ISO 27001 and ISO 22301 Certificates

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Inlaks, a foremost ICT infrastructure, and systems integrator in Sub-Saharan Africa has been re-certified to ISO/IEC 27001:2013 (Information Security Management System) and ISO 22301:2019 (Business Continuity Management System). 

In addition to the recertification, Inlaks was also successful at the surveillance audit of her ISO 9001:2015 (Quality Management System) and ISO/IEC 20000-1:2018 (IT Service Management System).

The managing director and CEO of Africa Operations, Kyari Bukar, said the management recognises the importance of developing, implementing, and maintaining its systems to international best practices hence the renewed commitment to getting the company certified to the different ISO standards.

Achieving ISO certification is a fundamental requirement for businesses in the last decade as new technology for business are changing faster than ever. 

ISO helps in focusing on the important areas of businesses and improving efficiency, thus providing sound foundations that increase productivity and profit.

Bukar said maintaining the PECB MS (MSECB) Management System Certificates proves the dedication of Inlaks leadership and team towards the continual improvement of our processes and services.

Bukar explained that as a leading information technology solution provider in Africa, we remain resolute to the delivery of quality IT services while also ensuring the security of our information system and assets in order to meet the enterprise business objectives and ensure continuity of our operations.

“This commitment to the delivery of business continuity and information security extends to personnel at all levels of the organisation.  We could not have achieved this success without the collective effort of everyone at Inlaks. 

“We do this by observing all applicable statutory, regulatory, contractual, and organisational requirements while providing these services and to minimise the impact of any interruption to our business activities,’’ Bukar further explained. 

“Our Business Continuity management system identifies critical business processes and risks, provides a plan to maintain or restore critical business operations from the effects of major failures or/and disasters and a plan to communicate with key people during the crisis,” Bukar added.

Established in 1982, INLAKS is an Information Technology Systems Integrator specialising in the deployment of dynamic and highly scalable ICT Infrastructure Solutions. 

Its customers cut across various segments including Banking, Telecommunication, Oil/Gas, Power, Utilities and the Distribution sectors of the economy. 

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Business Intelligence

Thomson Reuters, Adapt IT to Prioritise Tech Agility in Sub-Saharan Africa

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A newly expanded collaboration between Thomson Reuters, a leading provider of business information services, and Adapt IT, a reputed service provider of leading specialised software and digitally-led business solutions in Sub-Saharan Africa, will enable more businesses across the region gain competitive advantages through the technology solutions both provide.

A newly expanded collaboration between Thomson Reuters, a leading provider of business information services, and Adapt IT, a reputed service provider of leading specialised software and digitally-led business solutions in Sub-Saharan Africa, will enable more businesses across the region gain competitive advantages through the technology solutions both provide.

With economic recovery and growth for the region forecast at 2.7% for 2021 according to the World Bank, the drive for digital transformation across business in multiple industry sectors is accelerating following a year of contraction driven by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The combined capabilities of Thomson Reuters and Adapt IT ensure a broader range of technology implementations, increased operational efficiencies, and enhanced maintenance and service support for existing and new clients in markets across Sub-Saharan Africa.

“In the same way that our clients trust us to empower them with systems and technologies that can scale with their business, our collaboration with Adapt IT will enable us to increase the breadth and depth of our service footprint across this key region,” said Jackie Rhodes, managing director, Asia & Emerging Markets at Thomson Reuters. “The synergies we enjoy in terms of providing best-in-class solutions will benefit our respective clients, ensure a consistent level of quality engagement, and support and deliver a significantly stronger offering.”

Organisations currently leveraging legal, tax, global trade software, regulatory intelligence, and compliance solutions from Thomson Reuters will benefit from the new arrangement with Adapt IT, including access to their business advisory capabilities and established network.

Tiffany Dunsdon, chief commercial officer, Adapt IT, said: “Our alliance with Thomson Reuters means more clients can access more world class technology solutions backed up by local expertise and the deep sector knowledge Adapt IT offers. We’re delighted to be working together to help corporations achieve greater success in an increasingly complex business environment.”


With economic recovery and growth for the region forecast at 2.7% for 2021 according to the World Bank, the drive for digital transformation across business in multiple industry sectors is accelerating following a year of contraction driven by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The combined capabilities of Thomson Reuters and Adapt IT ensure a broader range of technology implementations, increased operational efficiencies, and enhanced maintenance and service support for existing and new clients in markets across Sub-Saharan Africa.

“In the same way that our clients trust us to empower them with systems and technologies that can scale with their business, our collaboration with Adapt IT will enable us to increase the breadth and depth of our service footprint across this key region,” said Jackie Rhodes, managing director, Asia & Emerging Markets at Thomson Reuters. “The synergies we enjoy in terms of providing best-in-class solutions will benefit our respective clients, ensure a consistent level of quality engagement, and support and deliver a significantly stronger offering.”

Organisations currently leveraging legal, tax, global trade software, regulatory intelligence, and compliance solutions from Thomson Reuters will benefit from the new arrangement with Adapt IT, including access to their business advisory capabilities and established network.

Tiffany Dunsdon, chief commercial officer, Adapt IT, said: “Our alliance with Thomson Reuters means more clients can access more world class technology solutions backed up by local expertise and the deep sector knowledge Adapt IT offers. We’re delighted to be working together to help corporations achieve greater success in an increasingly complex business environment.”

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Africa Region

Refinitiv Expands Economic Data Coverage across Africa

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Building on its commitment to drive positive change through its data and insights, Refinitiv today announced the expansion of its economic data coverage of Africa.

The new data set allows investment managers, central bankers, economists, and research teams to use Refinitiv Datasteam analytical data for detailed exploration of economic relationships and investment opportunities among data series covering the African continent.

Securing reliable, detailed, timely, locally sourced data has not been easy for economists who have in the past had to use international sources which often can take many months to update and opportunities to monitor the market can be missed. Because Africa is a diverse continent, economists and strategists need more timely access to country-specific data via national sources to create tailored business, policy, trading and investment strategies to meet specific goals.

Africa continues to develop critical infrastructure, telecommunications, digital technology and access to financial services for its 1.3bn people. The World Bank estimates that over 50% of African inhabitants will be under 25 by 2050. This presents substantial opportunities for investors who can spot important trends and make informed decisions based on robust and timely economic data.

Stuart Brown, Group Head of Enterprise Data Solutions, Refinitiv, said: “Africa’s growing, dynamic and fast evolving economies makes it a focal point for financial markets today and in the coming decades. As part of LSEG’s commitment to empowering the global markets with accurate and timely data, we are excited about making these unique datasets available via the Refinitiv Data Platform. Our economic data coverage of Africa will provide our customers with deeper and broader inputs for macroeconomic analyses and enable more effective investment strategies and economic research.”

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