iClick Interactive proudly receives 3 prestigious awards at the 10th TMA Mobile Marketing Ceremony

The 10th TMA Mobile Marketing Ceremony recently concluded in Guangzhou, honoring iClick Interactive (NASDAQ: ICLK) with three awards in recognition of its outstanding achievements and industry influence in the mobile marketing domain. The accolades include the title of "TMA 10th Anniversary Mobile Marketing Innovate Company" for iClick Interactive, "TMA 10th Anniversary Mobile Marketing Leader Individual" for Dr. Tang Jian, Chairman, Chief Executive Officer, and Co-Founder of iClick Interactive, and "TMA 10th Anniversary Mobile Marketing Outstanding Individual" for Ms. Nancy Rong, Vice President of Brand Marketing at iClick Interactive.

The Top Mobile Awards (TMA), established in 2014 and celebrated as the "pioneer of mobile marketing," held its annual summit this year under the theme "Everything Moves Anew." This event coincided with the 10th anniversary of TMA's establishment, marking a significant milestone in the industry's evolution and signaling a new era of advancement. In recognition of individuals, companies, and brands that have grown alongside mobile marketing and made significant contributions to the industry, special awards were presented for the 10th anniversary, signifying the highest form of acknowledgment.

Dr. Tang Jian graduated from the State Key Laboratory of Intelligent Technology and Systems, Department of Computer Science and Technology, Tsinghua University. He is a distinguished senior scientist at Microsoft Research Asia (MSRA) and Vice Chairman of the Hong Kong Society of Artificial Intelligence and Robotics. As a leader in the application of artificial intelligence, big data technology, and business practices, his academic research articles have been repeatedly included in various platforms and publications. During the annual sessions of the National People's Congress and the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (Two Sessions) in 2021, as a representative of outstanding private entrepreneurs, he provided practical and effective suggestions for accelerating the construction of digital China.

Ten years ago, with the evolution of mobile communication technology and the popularization of smartphones led by 4G technology, a new technological cycle—the mobile internet era—recently emerged. By the end of 2013, the number of mobile internet users in China had exceeded 810 million. At the beginning of this trend, Dr. Tang Jian keenly captured the mainstream trend of the mobile marketing ecosystem and actively engaged in this industry. In 2015, iClick shifted its business focus from the PC to the mobile ecosystem, completing a significant transformation.

As internet user growth slows down and the dividend of traffic gradually diminishes, the market has shifted from acquiring new customers to competing within existing customer bases, and enterprises have fallen into a dilemma of rising costs, urgently needing to improve efficiency. Dr. Tang Jian perceives that in the next decade, the digital transformation replacing traditional labor with technology holds significant potential to enhance overall efficiency for enterprises, potentially serving as a pivotal measure for comprehensive efficiency enhancement.

As anticipated, the digital transformation process for enterprises has rapidly advanced in just a few years, fundamentally altering the competitive landscape. Under the leadership of Dr. Tang Jian, iClick initiated a comprehensive digital upgrade strategy in 2019, reshaping its service model and business structure, and gradually evolving into a diversified business matrix integrating data, traffic, content, and operations. Once again, this has placed iClick at the forefront, achieving a milestone strategic leap.

In early 2022, iClick unveiled its "Product + Service" digital ecosystem strategy, leveraging a rapidly iterated capability model of "system support + content strategy + operational services" deeply integrated with clients' business needs. With the support of a digital ecosystem covering the entire marketing chain, iClick aims to facilitate end-to-end comprehensive coverage and efficient collaboration for various industries undergoing digital transformation.

Why the "Product + Service" model? Dr. Tang Jian stated that the digital ecosystem of "Product + Service" is a creation based on profound insights into the current market environment and enterprise requirements. Single products or services alone are no longer sufficient to meet the diverse and complex needs of customers, especially at the critical juncture of digital transformation. Customers require comprehensive solutions. The "Product + Service" model is an organic entity that can continuously self-optimize and flexibly adapt to customer needs. It not only addresses current issues but, more importantly, can respond to uncertain market conditions at any time, empowering enterprises for steady progress and sustained business expansion.

Ms. Nancy Rong holds a Master's degree in Sociology from Renmin University of China. She has worked at renowned companies such as McKinsey & Company and KPCB. Since joining iClick in 2020, she has been fully responsible for the group's marketing strategy and brand building. As a senior expert in marketing and SaaS fields, Ms. Nancy Rong has been invited multiple times to attend industry summits as a guest of honor and judge, facilitating the exchange of industry knowledge and the collision of ideas.

Mobile marketing is often described as constantly evolving, rapidly developing, and difficult to predict. Especially in the post-pandemic era, discussions about marketing topics no longer solely concern the rapid advancement of technology but delve deeper into exploring how new lifestyles fundamentally alter the marketing ecosystem. QuestMobile data reveals that as of June 2023, the monthly active users of mobile internet have reached 1.213 billion, with an average daily usage time per person of 7.2 hours.

Mobile marketing is no longer just a formality; it has evolved into a brand's business weapon. In this process, the discussion on how to precisely reach consumers has become increasingly intense and urgent. Ms. Nancy Rong believes that in the digital age, whether targeting businesses or consumers, marketing should always maintain an "oppose each other with equal harshness" insight. Understanding the human aspect behind data and proactively creating markets is crucial, rather than merely reacting to them.

Current-stage marketing has transcended mere information dissemination or brand promotion; it is a competition of wisdom that integrates technology, insight, and creativity. It requires both proactive engagement and precise targeting. Ms. Nancy Rong believes that digital operations for businesses are pivotal in implementing this proactive and precise marketing strategy. It shouldn't be seen solely as a technological upgrade or tool application but as a comprehensive strategic transformation deeply integrated into the company's culture and workflow. It involves technological advancements and fundamental innovations in mindset and organizational structure. In her view, marketers need to operate based on data-driven practices while ensuring comprehensive coordination between "marketing" and "sales."

Stride forward for a decade, standing at the forefront.

Over the past decade, we have witnessed the blossoming of mobile marketing from its inception to flourish. We have also seen iClick breaking free from its original framework multiple times and firmly establishing its position in the new landscape, consistently maintaining a pioneering stance.

As Dr. Tang Jian once said in an interview, “True greatness lies not in how high one stands, but in the breadth of one's vision and aspirations.”We must continue to dream of promoting iClick's digital solutions to more businesses and industries, contributing to the high-quality growth of the digital economy. Such a vision has staying power; it can be pursued for ten years and beyond.