Digital Innovation Digital Publishing
3 mins read

5 MediaTech companies publishers should be following

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Publishing is catching up with new players driving innovation

The media industry is looking more and more “tech-y”, with product managers, data scientists and designers playing an increasingly critical role. This has also spawned a growing segment of MediaTech companies boosting the capabilities of publishers.

We selected 5 exciting MediaTech companies – from start-ups to established players. They help publishers across a range of areas, including optimizing engagement, producing better visuals, cutting down on research, monetizing content, managing subscriptions and much more.

1. Smartocto

Focus: AI-powered editorial analytics

Smartocto helps publishers make sense of the often overwhelming flow of data that comes their way. It provides editors with simple, actionable suggestions like what content to focus on, A/B testing headlines, or steps to boost engagement.

The algorithms can get complex, using a wide range of data points and artificial intelligence, but the output aims to be simple and in language journalists will understand. 

It’s offices in the Netherlands and Serbia serve a broad range of publishers, from small non-profits to large established players. 

2. Loyal AI

Specialization: innovative Google Docs

London-based Loyal AI is taking Google docs to the next level, helping journalists research and write articles much faster. Its growth has been powered by support from Google News Initiative and Innovate UK, among others.

The Google Doc extension speeds up research, linking and leveral SEO optimization within the content creation platform. Users link to a wide list of sources on the right side of the screen, cutting down time spent hunting and updating documents. Loyal AI is currently testing its product and open to collaboration.

[Editor’s note: Check out Loyal AI’s presentation from the Media Revolutions conference]

3. Fewcents

Specialization: micropayment solutions

Based in Singapore but rapidly expanding into the US and European markets, Fewcents helps publishers process micropayments for content. By using a digital wallet, it makes it convenient for users to access premium content with a single click (the first is on credit, making it even easier).

Fewcents offers a range of additional analytical tools, e.g., helping publishers decide which content o promote. It can also be used to target consumers based on geography or other factors, and works with regular subscription paywalls – turning pay-per-article into an incremental revenue stream.

[Editor’s note: To learn more, check out Fewcents’ helpful explainer video. For more insights on the potential of micropayments for publisher’s check out this FIPP webinar]

4. HighCharts

Specialization: data visualization

Highcharts comes from a small mountain town in Western Norway and was initially created to visualize snow depth measurements by founder and CPO Torstein Hønsi. It has since expanded to provide a range of interactive data visualization tools used by 80 of the world’s 100 biggest companies.

Highcharts uses a JavaScript charting engine, and counts less than 30 people supporting its global operations. The program is free for personal and non-commercial use. 

Main page of Highcharts

5. Deep BI

Specialization: AI-powered subscription analytics

Deep BI is a predictive analytics platform for enterprises. It helps increase profits by tracking product and content performance, user habits, engagement. By accurately predicting behaviour, and automating targeted actions in real-time, it can turn users into customers – and prevent existing subscribers from churning. 

With offices in the San Francisco Bay Area and Warsaw, Deep BI works with a range of industries, including publishers, insurance, banking, and e-commerce. 

Main page of Deep.bi

This piece was originally published in The Fix and is re-published with permission. The Fix is a solutions-oriented publication focusing on the European media scene. Subscribe to its weekly newsletter here.