Agency-as-a-platform: The future prospects for success

Agency-as-a-Platform: the future prospects for success
Agency-as-a-Platform: the future prospects for success
Agency-as-a-Platform: the future prospects for success

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Written by:

3 min read

Updated on: July 8, 2024

Toni Hukkanen

Head of Design

Toni Hukkanen - Head of design, with proper track of high end projects in design agency

Creative Direction, Brand Direction

Toni Hukkanen

Head of Design

Toni Hukkanen - Head of design, with proper track of high end projects in design agency

Creative Direction, Brand Direction

Toni Hukkanen

Head of Design

Toni Hukkanen - Head of design, with proper track of high end projects in design agency

Creative Direction, Brand Direction

In the dynamic business world where change is constant, many traditional agency models struggle to keep pace. The agency as a platform model comes into play with its revolutionary approach to transforming agencies from mere service providers to dynamic platforms with the potential to offer innovative solutions.

This approach highlights how agencies engage with clients and deliver value. But to explore the endless possibilities, it is important to understand how this paradigm-shifting model works and its benefits for your business.

In the dynamic business world where change is constant, many traditional agency models struggle to keep pace. The agency as a platform model comes into play with its revolutionary approach to transforming agencies from mere service providers to dynamic platforms with the potential to offer innovative solutions.

This approach highlights how agencies engage with clients and deliver value. But to explore the endless possibilities, it is important to understand how this paradigm-shifting model works and its benefits for your business.

In the dynamic business world where change is constant, many traditional agency models struggle to keep pace. The agency as a platform model comes into play with its revolutionary approach to transforming agencies from mere service providers to dynamic platforms with the potential to offer innovative solutions.

This approach highlights how agencies engage with clients and deliver value. But to explore the endless possibilities, it is important to understand how this paradigm-shifting model works and its benefits for your business.

What is agency-as-a-platform model?

What is agency-as-a-platform model?

What is agency-as-a-platform model?

Omnicom Media Group CEO Florian Adamski introduced the Agency as a platform model in 2022. The aim of this model is to offer clients the flexibility to work with teams, tools and abilities they want while keeping the brands and cultures of agencies preserved.

It is quite different from the traditional agency models that focus solely on media planning and buying. AAAP agencies provide special services like digital marketing, inventory curation, audience management, talent acquisition, and supply-side optimization to clients to meet their requirements.

The entire model is based on adaptability, collaboration and flexibility. This approach excels at forming diverse teams and having the right skills to find solutions to the client's needs.

Omnicom Media Group CEO Florian Adamski introduced the Agency as a platform model in 2022. The aim of this model is to offer clients the flexibility to work with teams, tools and abilities they want while keeping the brands and cultures of agencies preserved.

It is quite different from the traditional agency models that focus solely on media planning and buying. AAAP agencies provide special services like digital marketing, inventory curation, audience management, talent acquisition, and supply-side optimization to clients to meet their requirements.

The entire model is based on adaptability, collaboration and flexibility. This approach excels at forming diverse teams and having the right skills to find solutions to the client's needs.

Omnicom Media Group CEO Florian Adamski introduced the Agency as a platform model in 2022. The aim of this model is to offer clients the flexibility to work with teams, tools and abilities they want while keeping the brands and cultures of agencies preserved.

It is quite different from the traditional agency models that focus solely on media planning and buying. AAAP agencies provide special services like digital marketing, inventory curation, audience management, talent acquisition, and supply-side optimization to clients to meet their requirements.

The entire model is based on adaptability, collaboration and flexibility. This approach excels at forming diverse teams and having the right skills to find solutions to the client's needs.

Adaptability, Collaboration, Flexibility in Agency-as-a-platform
Adaptability, Collaboration, Flexibility in Agency-as-a-platform
Adaptability, Collaboration, Flexibility in Agency-as-a-platform

Importance of agency-as-a-platform for marketers

The most important aspect of agency as a platform model is its ability to address the evolving needs and challenges of the modern business world. It is vital for marketers to offer a diverse range of solutions that align with their goals and objectives.

These agencies are agile in assembling multidisciplinary teams with the right expertise to resolve challenges faced by clients. Due to the collaborative nature of this approach, shared accountability, transparency, and trust are built between agencies and clients.

With networks of AAAP agencies, marketers can easily access special abilities, industry insights, and top-tier talent that are not always available in-house. Thus, marketers can perform better than their competitors and optimize their operations to achieve business objectives efficiently.

The most important aspect of agency as a platform model is its ability to address the evolving needs and challenges of the modern business world. It is vital for marketers to offer a diverse range of solutions that align with their goals and objectives.

These agencies are agile in assembling multidisciplinary teams with the right expertise to resolve challenges faced by clients. Due to the collaborative nature of this approach, shared accountability, transparency, and trust are built between agencies and clients.

With networks of AAAP agencies, marketers can easily access special abilities, industry insights, and top-tier talent that are not always available in-house. Thus, marketers can perform better than their competitors and optimize their operations to achieve business objectives efficiently.

The most important aspect of agency as a platform model is its ability to address the evolving needs and challenges of the modern business world. It is vital for marketers to offer a diverse range of solutions that align with their goals and objectives.

These agencies are agile in assembling multidisciplinary teams with the right expertise to resolve challenges faced by clients. Due to the collaborative nature of this approach, shared accountability, transparency, and trust are built between agencies and clients.

With networks of AAAP agencies, marketers can easily access special abilities, industry insights, and top-tier talent that are not always available in-house. Thus, marketers can perform better than their competitors and optimize their operations to achieve business objectives efficiently.

Achieve business objectives in an efficient way
Achieve business objectives in an efficient way
Achieve business objectives in an efficient way

Benefits of agency as a platform approach for clients

The agency as a platform approach has significant benefits for clients in terms of building collaboration. This helps in deeper integration and strategy alignment, leading to effective execution and superior outcomes. As a result, clients benefit from the scale and expertise of the agency network.

Initially, the AAAP model was popular in the tech industry, but its benefits now extend across various sectors for digital buying. These agencies can scale their services according to project demands to ensure cost-effectiveness for smaller or niche change management initiatives and provide clients with solutions.

The implementation of this model can vary, as some clients, like Apple and Mercedes, opt for dedicated agencies while others, such as PepsiCo and McDonald's, engage with a network of agencies. Some entities, like Warner Bros, L’Oreal, and Discovery, have adopted a hybrid in-house approach.

The agency as a platform approach has significant benefits for clients in terms of building collaboration. This helps in deeper integration and strategy alignment, leading to effective execution and superior outcomes. As a result, clients benefit from the scale and expertise of the agency network.

Initially, the AAAP model was popular in the tech industry, but its benefits now extend across various sectors for digital buying. These agencies can scale their services according to project demands to ensure cost-effectiveness for smaller or niche change management initiatives and provide clients with solutions.

The implementation of this model can vary, as some clients, like Apple and Mercedes, opt for dedicated agencies while others, such as PepsiCo and McDonald's, engage with a network of agencies. Some entities, like Warner Bros, L’Oreal, and Discovery, have adopted a hybrid in-house approach.

The agency as a platform approach has significant benefits for clients in terms of building collaboration. This helps in deeper integration and strategy alignment, leading to effective execution and superior outcomes. As a result, clients benefit from the scale and expertise of the agency network.

Initially, the AAAP model was popular in the tech industry, but its benefits now extend across various sectors for digital buying. These agencies can scale their services according to project demands to ensure cost-effectiveness for smaller or niche change management initiatives and provide clients with solutions.

The implementation of this model can vary, as some clients, like Apple and Mercedes, opt for dedicated agencies while others, such as PepsiCo and McDonald's, engage with a network of agencies. Some entities, like Warner Bros, L’Oreal, and Discovery, have adopted a hybrid in-house approach.

How to build successful agency-as-a-platform relationships?

Transformation can be expensive without the right change expertise at the right time. Some organizations lack the in-house expertise to manage and navigate complex change initiatives that result in delays, setbacks, and even failures. To build successful agency-as-a-platform relationships, a strategic and collaborative approach is needed.

  • It is essential to build open and transparent communication channels between the agency and the client to define roles, responsibilities and expectations.

  • There should be a deep and mutual understanding of goals, challenges and constraints.

  • Agencies and clients should work together to develop a collaborative planning process. They can involve key stakeholders from both sides to ensure buy-in and commitment to the partnership.

  • They should commit to continuous improvement and learning to evaluate the performance of the partnership and identify areas for improvement.

  • It is important to have a long-term view of relationships that build trust and mutual respect while building a strong foundation for success.

Transformation can be expensive without the right change expertise at the right time. Some organizations lack the in-house expertise to manage and navigate complex change initiatives that result in delays, setbacks, and even failures. To build successful agency-as-a-platform relationships, a strategic and collaborative approach is needed.

  • It is essential to build open and transparent communication channels between the agency and the client to define roles, responsibilities and expectations.

  • There should be a deep and mutual understanding of goals, challenges and constraints.

  • Agencies and clients should work together to develop a collaborative planning process. They can involve key stakeholders from both sides to ensure buy-in and commitment to the partnership.

  • They should commit to continuous improvement and learning to evaluate the performance of the partnership and identify areas for improvement.

  • It is important to have a long-term view of relationships that build trust and mutual respect while building a strong foundation for success.

Transformation can be expensive without the right change expertise at the right time. Some organizations lack the in-house expertise to manage and navigate complex change initiatives that result in delays, setbacks, and even failures. To build successful agency-as-a-platform relationships, a strategic and collaborative approach is needed.

  • It is essential to build open and transparent communication channels between the agency and the client to define roles, responsibilities and expectations.

  • There should be a deep and mutual understanding of goals, challenges and constraints.

  • Agencies and clients should work together to develop a collaborative planning process. They can involve key stakeholders from both sides to ensure buy-in and commitment to the partnership.

  • They should commit to continuous improvement and learning to evaluate the performance of the partnership and identify areas for improvement.

  • It is important to have a long-term view of relationships that build trust and mutual respect while building a strong foundation for success.

Collaboration
Collaboration
Collaboration

The future outlook for agency-as-a-platform model

The future outlook for the agency as a platform model seems promising as it represents a dynamic approach to meeting the evolving needs of clients in the marketing industry. At the heart of this strategy lies the concept of integrating teams, their capabilities and talent across agency networks to serve clients.

This model depicts a fresh perspective on how holding companies are adapting to the demands of large multinational clients who always try to streamline agency relationships and diverse skill sets. Similar approaches, such as Publicis’ Power of One, IPG’s Open Architecture, and WPP’s solution Open X, are also evolving to fulfil their clients' requirements.

According to Florian Adamski, in the future, almost half of all pitches will require a flexible ecosystem comprising a diverse range of talents, capabilities, and technology. This trend is most prominent in pan-regional or global clients with expansive business scopes, where AAAP has proven to be very beneficial.

The future outlook for the agency as a platform model seems promising as it represents a dynamic approach to meeting the evolving needs of clients in the marketing industry. At the heart of this strategy lies the concept of integrating teams, their capabilities and talent across agency networks to serve clients.

This model depicts a fresh perspective on how holding companies are adapting to the demands of large multinational clients who always try to streamline agency relationships and diverse skill sets. Similar approaches, such as Publicis’ Power of One, IPG’s Open Architecture, and WPP’s solution Open X, are also evolving to fulfil their clients' requirements.

According to Florian Adamski, in the future, almost half of all pitches will require a flexible ecosystem comprising a diverse range of talents, capabilities, and technology. This trend is most prominent in pan-regional or global clients with expansive business scopes, where AAAP has proven to be very beneficial.

The future outlook for the agency as a platform model seems promising as it represents a dynamic approach to meeting the evolving needs of clients in the marketing industry. At the heart of this strategy lies the concept of integrating teams, their capabilities and talent across agency networks to serve clients.

This model depicts a fresh perspective on how holding companies are adapting to the demands of large multinational clients who always try to streamline agency relationships and diverse skill sets. Similar approaches, such as Publicis’ Power of One, IPG’s Open Architecture, and WPP’s solution Open X, are also evolving to fulfil their clients' requirements.

According to Florian Adamski, in the future, almost half of all pitches will require a flexible ecosystem comprising a diverse range of talents, capabilities, and technology. This trend is most prominent in pan-regional or global clients with expansive business scopes, where AAAP has proven to be very beneficial.

Final Thoughts

The agency as a platform model is gaining traction across the industry because it ensures a bright future for success. With its strategic vision and commitment, it delivers top-notch solutions for change. Agencies that have adopted AAAP are connecting clients with special experts to make change management more agile and effective. Agencies are also maintaining their reputation for excellence as AAAP is gaining momentum.

The agency as a platform model is gaining traction across the industry because it ensures a bright future for success. With its strategic vision and commitment, it delivers top-notch solutions for change. Agencies that have adopted AAAP are connecting clients with special experts to make change management more agile and effective. Agencies are also maintaining their reputation for excellence as AAAP is gaining momentum.

The agency as a platform model is gaining traction across the industry because it ensures a bright future for success. With its strategic vision and commitment, it delivers top-notch solutions for change. Agencies that have adopted AAAP are connecting clients with special experts to make change management more agile and effective. Agencies are also maintaining their reputation for excellence as AAAP is gaining momentum.

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