ROI: Your Strategic Compass

I’ve been lucky to have a front-row seat for the media industry’s accelerated transformation. The pace of change is staggering – changes in consumer viewing habits, new technologies, mergers, acquisitions…we’re now in an era of continuous change.
All of which has pushed this reality to the forefront: companies relying on fragmented systems and manual processes aren’t just falling behind—they’re actively sacrificing revenue and growth. A modern, connected tech stack can be the strategic foundation that redefines a company’s trajectory. Without it, the pace of change can overwhelm manual processes. With modern tools (such as our AOS software), media companies can “future proof” themselves against any new challenge the industry throws their way.

We all know the story. Every technology decision can impact your bottom line—and delays are particularly costly. Investment in new technology has to generate tangible returns, and has to do it quickly. The question on everybody’s mind is “Will this investment deliver the ROI we need?”
With Operative’s 20+ years of delivering market-leading technology to the media industry, the answer (in our case) is a strong YES. Media companies that implement our platforms hit their goals of faster sales cycles, streamlined workflows, accelerated revenue recognition, and operational excellence.
In this article, I’m diving deeply into ROI. Specifically, how Operative’s AOS solutions (inclusive of Adeline AI and STAQ reporting tools) can align with your strategic compass and boost your bottom line.
The ROI Reality: Transformative Results
As I mentioned in a previous article, we’re seeing tremendous gains delivered by AOS solutions (over more manual methods) across many of the key focus areas our customers look to streamline:
- RFP Processing: Automated AI agents can significantly reduce the time spent on manual input and parsing of RFPs. RFP management can be reduced by up to 65%.
- Media Planning: AI agents can generate optimized media plans in a fraction of the time it takes to create them manually. Media planning processes can be accelerated by as much as 90%.
- Order Management: Centralized, automated systems can streamline order processing across multiple platforms. Order management efficiency can improve by up to 75%.
- Reporting: Automated reporting tools can provide real-time insights, enabling faster, data-driven decision making. Time spent on creating ad hoc reports can be cut by around 65%.
More importantly, companies implementing AOS solutions can experience:
- Up to 12% increase in overall revenue in the first year
- Faster time to billing, faster time to revenue
Obviously, results can vary based on individual company circumstances and implementation strategies. But we’re proud of the results our solutions drive for many of the leading media companies across the globe.
Industry-Leading Capabilities: What Sets AOS Apart
To deliver true ROI, any system has to meet the needs of the industry today, tomorrow, and into the future. We’ve designed AOS with the right set of features to future-proof any media company. And we’ve architected the platform with a foundation that will scale to meet any challenge. Let’s discuss key elements of how the platform capabilities drive a positive impact on ROI.
When I talk about AOS, I'm not just describing software; I'm talking about a strategic catalyst that can transform your business, preparing it for the next decade-plus.
1. Unified Broadcast and Streaming
Broadcast and streaming are often managed as separate businesses within large media companies today. But that’s changing fast. Legacy systems can’t handle the dual demands effectively, even if they can handle linear and digital ad workflows.
As traditional linear is delivered through streaming platforms (think live sports), the industry needs what we call “blended convergence“— a hybrid of linear and digital advertising that supports linear-style sales and digital delivery. Only AOS can deliver on that promise.
2. Streamlined Operations
Fragmented processes are a profit killer. By consolidating ad order management into a single integrated system, AOS eliminates bottlenecks and powers new “intelligent” workflows. From streamlined task approval to near-instantaneous ai-generated media plans, your business can move faster – with less errors – than ever before.
3. Data-Driven Intelligence
While everyone claims data is their most valuable asset, few organizations truly “activate it”. What do I mean by that? Activating data is more than gaining insights from data. It means you’re connecting, understanding, and driving automations from cross-platform data. AOS solutions help our customers move from a state of data chaos to data intelligence – eliminating data silos and activating their data along their journey.
4. Cross-Platform Excellence
Your audience moves seamlessly across broadcast and streaming platforms—shouldn’t your operations do the same? Platform fragmentation consistently emerges as a top pain point across the industry. That’s why we built AOS with blended converged tools that maintain consistency in sales, execution, and reporting across all channels.
5. Scalable Growth
Unlike legacy platforms that buckle under expansion, AOS is built with a modern micro-services architecture that scales effortlessly with your business. Meaning, when your business merges with – or acquires – another company, your AOS implementation can easily take on the challenge of immediate scale.
6. Intelligent Automation
Outdated, manual processes aren’t just inefficient—they’re a direct drag on the bottom line. Across any industry, you will consistently see automated workflows delivering exponentially more value than manual ones. AOS not only automates repetitive tasks, with new AI extensions it can automate the exceptions also.
The Path Forward: My Perspective
Having witnessed the media industry’s evolution over my time at Operative, I can say with certainty: this industry moves fast. It’s clear that success in today’s media business demands tools that match your ambition and drive — tools that align with your strategic compass: delivering unmatched value now and into the future. When I talk about AOS, I’m not just describing software; I’m talking about a true catalyst that can transform your business, preparing it for the next decade-plus.
We have all seen how the cost of hesitation grows through missed opportunities and mounting inefficiencies. Scalable, profitable growth requires a move away from “duct tape and chicken-wire” solutions. And time is of the essence – your market position is being determined by the decisions you make today.
Back to the question of “Will this investment deliver the ROI we need?” Well….YES, and let’s work together to develop your unique ROI. Let’s connect. I’d welcome the opportunity to discuss how your transformation can start with AOS.