92% of Marketers Are Already Sitting on a Data Goldmine Amid Imminent Sunsetting of Third-Party Cookies: Twilio Research Shows

While initially met with scepticism, the phasing out of third-party cookies is now regarded by marketers as an opportunity to strengthen consumer trust with 84% of organisations in the region advocating consumer data privacy and welcoming the change

64% of consumers are more comfortable engaging with brands that directly get data from them instead of third parties

SINGAPORE, 3 July 2023 — New research from Twilio (NYSE: TWLO), the customer engagement platform that drives real-time, personalised experiences for today’s leading brands, reveals that in spite of initial scepticism around the phase-out of third-party cookies, marketers in APAC are now more welcoming of this imminent shift as they acknowledge the opportunity of building even greater trust through the use of other data sources, particularly zero and first-party data.

Specifically, 90% of marketers in the region agree that the death of third-party cookies could lead to higher use of zero-party data, those that are directly and voluntarily shared by customers – which are potentially more valuable for marketers. Moreover, 92% of marketers in the region believe that phasing out third-party cookies can help strengthen trust in advertising among consumers in the long run.

Twilio’s When Consumers Control Data: How to Build Trust and Succeed in the New Digital Era explores the long-term implications of the cookieless future as shaped by the changing consumer preferences and expectations around data sharing. The report, released on the back of The Consumer Data Revolution in Asia Pacific report, includes findings from 600 marketers in APAC-based organisations across Singapore, Hong Kong, Australia, the Philippines, Indonesia, and Japan.

Zero is the new hero in the third-party cookie sunset

Considered a staple in online advertising for decades, third-party cookies have fueled scepticism in recent years as high-profile breaches shed light on data privacy concerns. Based on The Consumer Data Revolution in Asia Pacific report, 42% of consumers are less inclined to share data with brands that have experienced a major data breach. 

Amid mounting regulatory and consumer pressure for better control and transparency around data sharing, major web browsers have phased out support for third-party cookies, with Google following suit by 2024. While this has led to an initial panic in an advertising industry that has become cookie-reliant, marketers in the region are slowly realising how new methods of collecting and using data can potentially build stronger consumer trust, with 84% of organisations in the region advocating consumer data privacy and welcoming the phasing out of third-party cookies. Additionally, 76% of marketers in APAC have observed a decline in the quality and depth of personal information obtained from third-party data sources – among the factors that have led many to start incorporating zero and first-party data in their marketing strategies ahead of the third-party cookie sunset.

Of particular value among marketers is zero-party data – which customers intentionally and proactively share through surveys and other direct feedback avenues – as this allows brands to customise marketing efforts based on each consumer’s preferences and motivations; improve services through consumer feedback on issues; and strengthen relationships by creating a better sense of trust.  

Based on Twilio’s study, 92% of marketers surveyed in APAC are already collecting zero-party data, primarily through surveys (58%), social media polls (52%), and email campaigns (51%), and this is a step in the right direction, given increased consumer expectations around consent and transparency. Moreover,  64% of consumers in the region are more willing to engage or respond to brands that directly obtain consumer information from them instead of third parties.

69% of organisations in APAC have also turned to first-party data besides zero-party data, given inadequate visibility over third parties’ data safeguards, security policies, and procedures. Unlike zero-party data, which consumers voluntarily share with brands, first-party data is passively being collected as customers interact with an organisation’s owned channels to expand or nurture their existing customer base. 75% of marketers already have at least a basic understanding of the positive value of first-party data — among which include being more useful in personalising engagement, targeting the right customers, and providing more accuracy, flexibility, and control.

Rethinking the attribution model 

While 49% of organisations in the region feel more prepared to ride off to the third-party cookie sunset than they were in 2021, there remains a transition gap towards meaningfully using their zero and first-party data. The most pressing challenge in data collection among marketers in the region is customer resistance, necessitating a more refined approach to consumer data collection. 

Based on The Consumer Data Revolution in Asia Pacific report, 60% of consumers in the region expect clear and understandable information about how their data will be used to increase their trust in brands. Moreover, consumers are more willing to share data with brands that provide good experiences (57%) or are honest and transparent about policies (57%). Interestingly, consumers are generally open to sharing data that can benefit them in some way – almost half (42%) of consumers are comfortable receiving targeted ads after browsing a product at a department store, and more than half of consumers have said that personalised ads are offering them more options after making a purchase. 

As brands’ focus shifts from personalisation to individualised customer engagement, the marriage of zero and first-party data will arm marketers with new capabilities to become orchestrators of the brand experience. With 74% of the region’s consumers willing to share more information with trusted brands, transparent communication, responsible consumer data usage,  and consistent value delivery throughout the customer engagement lifecycle will be the way forward.

“In the new consumer data revolution, it is critical that businesses rethink their approach to data to drive more impactful customer engagement. Trust is now the underpinning factor for marketing success, so brands need to be more transparent in communicating how they are using data to unlock meaningful value for consumers,” said Nicholas Kontopoulos, Vice President of Marketing, Asia Pacific & Japan, Twilio.

Twilio’s When Consumers Control Data: How to Build Trust and Succeed in the New Digital Era report can be downloaded here.

Methodology
For its When Consumers Control Data: How to Build Trust and Succeed in the New Digital Era report, Twilio surveyed 600 APAC senior and mid-level marketers and business owners in January 2023, including 100 each from Australia, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Japan, the Philippines, and Singapore. Separately for its The Consumer Data Revolution in Asia Pacific report, Twilio conducted a survey targeting 1,500 consumers across Australia, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Japan, the Philippines, and Singapore.