BlackFin360 – Innovation To Reality
Tom Edwards is a professional futurist and keynote marketing technology speaker covering data, digital, artificial intelligence, marketing technology and emerging media trends
I have the pleasure of working with the Futurithmic team to write a number of articles in 2020discussing the future of 5G and it’s potential impact on various forms of entertainment. This article explores how 5G will evolve experiences within theme parks and exhibits, enhance wayfinding through computer vision and augmented reality, enable enhanced proximity-based …
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I have the pleasure of working with the Futurithmic team to write a number of articles discussing the future of 5G and it’s potential impact on entertainment. Thanks to everyone that interacted with the post on LinkedIn as it’s been trending in #5G today. This is the first in a series and a repost from …
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I recently had the privilege of joining the BIGHR 2019 conference to discuss all facets of AI, digital transformation, intelligence augmentation, tips for integrating AI, and preparing the HR function for the coming culture shift. Follow Tom @BlackFin360 via Twitter, Instagram & YouTube
Here is a full recap of key trends from the 2019 National Retail Federation Conference. Follow Tom Edwards @BlackFin360 via YouTube, Instagram, and Twitter
I recently had the privilege to deliver a keynote to the Discover card Pulse network advisory team covering the topic of converting AI into ROI. For this event, I tailored the Evolution of Experience, E^3 talk tied to Empower, Exponential and Enhanced with a detailed look at multiple facets of artificial intelligence including how the …
I recently had the pleasure of sitting down with Jeffrey Hayzlett of C-Suite TV to kick off season 7 of Executive Perspectives. We discussed digital disruption, conversational experiences, artificial intelligence and best practices for leveraging data to connect with consumers. Now, I have heard from multiple sources that the interview is available On-demand on domestic …
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AI and cognitive technologies are enhancing many different industries and providing significant ROI for early adopters. However, AI is also providing benefit in improving our various experiences in life. In this podcast, Cognilytica analysts Kathleen Walch and Ronald Schmelzer interview Tom Edwards, Chief Digital & Innovation Officer at Epsilon Agency, who shares insights into how …
Recently, my commentary on data & AI was included in an Ad Age piece on the role of data, artificial intelligence & brands. Here is a link to the full article. Here is my full commentary based on Ad Age’s original question… Ad Age: We’re seeing more agencies now offering services for AI solutions, but …
I recently had the privilege to be interviewed by the SMU Temerlin Advertising Institute team.
I recently had the opportunity to be a guest on the Tonya Hall show. Tonya is a contributor to CBS Interactive properties such as ZDNet and Tech Republic. Our discussion touches upon a number of currently trending topics such as machine learning, artificial intelligence, blockchain, emotive robotics and more. Here is the full interview. Follow Tom …
Looking forward to taking part in the upcoming webinar: Using AI to conquest new markets on February 28, 2018, at 12pm CST. Be sure to register today! Today’s marketers have access to an incredible volume of consumer information, but most are simply not equipped to make sense of it all. With artificial intelligence (AI) and …
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I recently had the opportunity to join Eric Hanes on his Words of Mass Disruption podcast. We discussed artificial intelligence for everyday conversation. My goal was to help those who may not be familiar with artificial intelligence to develop a perspective on the topic. We talked about AI, Machine Learning, IOT and digital assistants. Thanks in …
Tom Edwards, Ad Age Marketing Technology Trailblazer and Chief Digital Officer, Agency @ Epsilon discusses how computer vision, powered by artificial intelligence will be the key trend to watch in 2018. I recently provided commentary to CMO.com discussing 7 digital trends that will change business forever. My contribution to the piece was tied to the …
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Today Advertising Age announced their 2017 list of top 25 Marketing Technology Trailblazers and I am honored to be included. Photo by Bradley Taylor, Caprock Studio A big thank you to the Epsilon corporate communications team, DGC and Advertising Age judges. I am truly humbled by the inclusion with such a great list of industry …
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Advertising Age announced their 2017 list of top 25 Marketing Technology Trailblazers and I am honored to be included.
I was recently asked by Campaign Live about my thoughts, reactions and takeaways from SXSW Interactive 2017. My commentary focused on the shift towards programming vs. experiences at this years event. Additional Context to the Article Commentary: 2017 may be the year that programming both from an official and 3rd party standpoint was the focal …
For the past 12 months, my Epsilon team and I have focused on multiple facets of artificial intelligence (AI) with data as the primary fuel that powers key insights. We have leveraged machine learning, natural language processing, predictive APIs, and neural networks to uncover consumer truths that previously would have taken weeks or months to …
This morning my new article 7 ways artificial intelligence will enhance marketing was the cover story for iMedia Connection. The article reviews seven subsets of artificial intelligence from machine learning, cognitive computing, natural language processing, deep learning, predictive API’s, object recognition and dynamic content generation and how brand marketers can better uncover insights, connect with consumers, …
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I recently sat down with Jeffrey Hayzlett of C-suite TV for the first episode of season 7 for Executive Perspectives live. He recently wrote a piece for Entrepreneur.com outlining 5 business trends that will take off in 2017. Jeffrey referenced our conversation regarding automation of conversational experiences through artificial intelligence. The infusion of voice-based technology …
I was recently asked by the team at Luxury Daily to elaborate on a proprietary Epsilon research initiative tied to how likely consumers are to shop in-stores vs. online for the 2016 holiday season. Findings show that 87% of shoppers are “very likely” or “somewhat likely” to purchase at brick and mortar stores this year, …
Continue reading “In The News: Luxury Daily & Seasonal Retail”
Yesterday I had the privilege to speak at the Insight Innovation eXchange or IIeX North America 2016 discussing our approach to getting data driven creative via Machine Learning and artificial intelligence. This presentation was a joint effort between my Epsilon team and one of our strategic partners Oculus360. I work closely with Raju Kattumenu, the founder …
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Recently, I was asked by the iMedia team to discuss my approach to employee retention. My management style is built around the philosophy of empowerment for my staff. I look for critical thinkers who have the desire to constantly learn and are looking to develop their industry point of view. Here is the full video …
I was recently asked by Luxury Daily to provide commentary about advancements and challenges tied to mobile targeting. (Luxury Daily) To what extent is more specific targeting/buying of audiences growing? If it is growing, why is this happening now? (Tom Edwards) With the proliferation of device types of all makes and models combined with a …
I was recently a member of the opening keynote panel for the iMedia Agency Summit discussing the topic “How to Remain Agile in the Face of Change”. Key Commentary from 15:08 – 19:00 We discussed many topics including what the agency of the future will look like, mergers and acquisitions and I went into detail …
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Two of my passions are gaming and marketing. Whenever I have the opportunity for the two to intersect I am overjoyed. Previously, I have written on the topic of advergaming (imedia) and brand integrations (IEG). This article will highlight case studies of advergaming as well as introduce edutainment case studies. Gaming is big business. According …
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Facebook is rolling out major changes to their platform that greatly affect marketers. To help navigate this shift, I have worked closely with the Facebook team to understand the nuances of the shift and created a white paper that should help organizations to understand the shift and what steps to consider next. The overarching point …
Recently, I was asked by Mobile Marketer to provide commentary about how iBeacon can add extend the reach of entertainment brands. The discussion also included insight into the current challenge entertainment brands face with iBeacon as well as recommendations to effectively leverage iBeacon technology. Follow Tom Edwards @BlackFin360
My commentary was included in today’s Marketing Daily article discussing the launch of Calvin Klein’s new #MyCalvins digital campaign. Follow Tom Edwards @BlackFin360
My commentary was recently included in a TechNewsWorld article discussing Yahoo’s new approach to weather & e-mail via mobile and how they are focused on visual storytelling and curation to create a richer experience. Follow Tom Edwards @BlackFin360
So much time is spent defining intricate social strategies across owned social channels. But there are certain branded elements that receive minimal attention that can significantly amplify these efforts. One such item is how organizations incorporate social elements into their e-mail marketing campaigns. This is relevant as organizations that leverage both e-mail marketing & social …
One of the outstanding features of the iPhone 4S is definitely Siri. Siri is Apple’s version of a virtual assistant. But setting up Siri out of the box can be interesting when you try to associate your commands with Facebook & Twitter. Siri allows you to use your voice to send messages, make calls, schedule …
Continue reading “Training Apple’s Siri for Facebook & Twitter”
As an incredibly frequent customer of Starbucks, I do pay close attention to the itunes Pick of the Week cards that are available close to the register. Apple & Starbucks have partnered together since 2007 and the Pick of the Week program has kept my interest since its inception. The core focus has been on …
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One of the golden rules of marketing is having the ability to show your business or clients the value of the campaign that you are running on their behalf. With traditional web campaigns you could methodically calculate ROI based on Click-through rate and project your results. With the introduction of social media traditional models of analytics …
One of my all time favorite games was the original Ninja Gaiden on the NES. I still remember the opening cut scenes… that was all about the story that you needed to know… you knew it was time to start slashing away. I felt the same about Ninja Gaiden II & III on the NES as …
One of my good friends recently posted his game library as part of his blog. So following that lead here is my collection of Xbox 360 and PS3 Retail titles. I also have 40+ Arcade titles that may be listed later. I have recently acquired a PS3 as well and those titles are also outlined below. 185 …
Taking a moment away from GDC 2008, I wanted to announce that our latest product Telligent Graffiti CMS 1.0 is now available! You can download it here: http://get.graffiticms.com/ Graffiti is a lightweight, simple content publishing system you can use to quickly and easily publish a blog or an entire web site. It blends together traditional CMS …
Team Building. That is what it’s called when a company has a sponsored outing. In order to partake in team building on this day you had to drive to the middle of nowhere, don camouflage from days gone by (ex-military) and pick up high-powered weapons that shoot plastic balls filled with paint at high rates of speed. Then divide the company into …
I recently had the opportunity to join Thiago Desouza on his Business Access Podcast. We had an incredibly in-depth conversation across a variety of topics. From passions that have driven my career, technology, and marketing impact post-pandemic, gaming, GenZ, generational gaps, and the future of consumer experience. Timestamps and topics below. 1:25 – Tom Edwards …
I recently had the opportunity to join Christopher Kai on his Gifters Podcast. This is episode 800 of his show and we dive into a number of topics in twelve minutes. From what is a futurist, why emerging tech, data strategy, recommendations for business post COVID, and innovation. Follow Tom Edwards on Instagram, Twitter, Youtube, …
Recently, I was talking to an industry associate and he referenced this topic and video. I have been speaking professionally for years now and this is the process I go through in advance of taking the stage and I thought it was worth resharing. By focusing your time and effort on knowing your audience, framing …
Continue reading “7 Tips To Prep For Keynotes & Public Speaking”
I had the distinct pleasure to join Jeffrey Hayzlett on the All Business show. We had a great conversation discussing topics such as marketing and advertising shifts due to COVID19, shifts in consumer behavior, adaptive digital strategy, the role of AI, gaming + marketing, connecting with GenZ, emerging technology, and 2020 trends. 1:30 – Discuss …
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I recently had the opportunity to discuss how to thrive in the time of COVID-19 from brand marketing, digital transformation, research on consumer behavior, and more. This is the second part of a discussion with Andy Frawley, CEO @ V12, & Anders Ekman, President @ V12. This discussion focuses on strategies required to recover and retool due to the …
Continue reading “Digital Transformation, Marketing, & COVID-19 Part II”
I recently had the opportunity to discuss how to thrive in the time of COVID-19 from brand marketing, digital transformation, research on consumer behavior, and more. This is the first part of a two-part discussion with Andy Frawley, CEO @ V12, & Anders Ekman, President @ V12. This discussion focuses on how channels have shifted …
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Futurithmic published my latest article covering how GenZ is thriving in quarantine. GenZ is more comfortable with physical isolation. They were part of the first mobile-first generation, and they learned to swipe on a device before they learned to speak. Connecting with friends through Facetime, or through Discord while playing their favorite games is second …
Continue reading “Quarantine Doesn’t Mean Isolation for Gamers”
I am pleased to announce that I have joined the leadership team of Tripleclix. I have known the founder of Tripleclix, Chris Erb for over a decade and he’s the best in the business at partnership and lifestyle marketing. I am incredibly excited to combine my passion for gaming, marketing, and brand strategy to drive …
I was recently recognized by OnConfrences as a 2020 Top 50 Global Marketer Award winner. It’s always a great honor to be recognized, especially when the award is determined 100% by your peers. This award originally had hundreds of nominees from across the globe. In addition to picking up the award, I had the opportunity …
I recently had an opportunity to sit down with EDgage Magazine to discuss emerging technology trends tied to the technology landscape today, how technology will evolve, the role of gaming and esports, tech impact on higher education, marketing and the future of technology, and 2020 trends. This is a repost of the full interview. Give …
Today at 2 PM eastern one of the largest gatherings of concurrent gamers witnessed an in-game event from a galaxy far far away that may redefine the future of multimedia marketing. Fortnite and the Star Wars team promoting The Rise of Skywalker collaborated to deliver massive in-game event featuring JJ Abrams and a clip from …
BlackFin360™ specializes in providing strategic consulting support for organizations of all sizes. From Fortune 500 to start-ups, by engaging Tom Edwards, and BlackFin360, you will receive expertise from an award-winning strategist. Tom has worked for start-ups, enterprise technology, data, innovation, and interactive marketing firms throughout his career, and he is a go-to resource for all …