SME Summit 2023: A Resounding Success

In a triumphant sequel to last year’s inaugural event, the SME Team at RTL AdAlliance organised the second SME Summit on the 8th and 9th of November 2023. Hosted the RTL offices in Cologne, this event featured engaging discussions, insightful panels, valuable networking opportunities, and a deep dive into case studies and prevailing trends.

Once again, this Summit was a high for discussions around SME advertising, with this year’s emphasis on the limitless possibilities of Total Video, particularly within the German market. With more than 100 exclusive guests, 25 first-class speakers, and 2 exciting panels, this event was not one to miss. This article will highlight the best content, key moments, and takeaways from the event.

Content Highlights

The SME Summit spanned two days, featuring unmissable content throughout. The first day was a dynamic blend of insights and discussions from global industry leaders, whilst the second day navigated the shifting tides of TV and Total Video.

Here are a few of the content highlights over the two days.

1) Backstage: The Wagner March on Moscow

David Whigham (ntv) + Rainer Munz (RTL News / ntv) showed how high quality news are produced at ntv. They had a glimpse of a day in 2023 with an impressive presentation: the Wagner March on Moscow.

2) Transitioning to Streaming

Matthias Dang from RTL Deutschland / Ad Alliance discussed the evolving landscape as RTL navigates the transition between linear TV and streaming platforms.

3) TV-Measurement Insights

Thomas Servatius of smartclip shared insights into TV measurement using Realytics, offering a glimpse into the evolving landscape of video analytics.

4) Digitalisation in the SME Sector

Carsten Rasner from BVDW delved into the current state of digitalisation in the German SME sector, shedding light on trends and opportunities.

5) Retailer Marketing: Small Budgets, Big Impact!

A dynamic panel featuring Matthias Lange (Localyzer), Volker Mieß (Axel Springer SE, Axel Springer Regio), and Miriam Schell (Mehrkanal) explored the world of retailer marketing, emphasising the potential for significant impact even with modest budgets.

About the event

The meticulous planning behind the scenes ensured a seamless experience for the event’s over 100 participants. The event’s visual and informational aspects, such as the branding, presentations and the coordination of on-site branding, were especially well curated.

The following photos (Credit: Inga Geiser) are representative of the success of this year’s summit.

The Numbers Tell the Tale

With over 100 participants, the SME Summit 2023 brought together a diverse array of voices. The event featured 16 presentations, facilitated by 4 moderators and delivered by 25 speakers. The presence of over 50 companies and business partners underscored the broad industry representation.

Attendee Testimonials: A Testament to Success

“I think you had a great mix of presentations/contributions, some of which I personally found very exciting and inspiring. Apart from that, the open exchange with the other participants was of course great and you organised everything really well and very professionally. You have a great team, and I really enjoyed the open atmosphere and the teamwork.”

“The presentation from Ntv Chief Editor + Chief Correspondent was particularly exciting and impressive. But even more ‘dry’ topics such as TV measurement ‘realytics’ were inspiring. And I thought the panels were great: keyword reseller marketing. Lots of practical relevance, top! "

In conclusion, the SME Summit 2023 stands as a testament to the power of collaboration and knowledge sharing in the ever-evolving landscape of Addressable TV and Total Video. With a perfect blend of insightful presentations, dynamic panels, and a vibrant networking atmosphere, the summit clearly presented itself as a crucial event for those navigating the intricacies of the German market.

The impressive feedback, namely that the event exceeding expectations for 90% of attendees, echoes the Summit’s resounding success.