Day one of PI Live kicked off with strong energy, and Rakuten Advertising’s Nick Fletcher captured the mood perfectly.
“This event is the go-to industry event. It’s absolutely brilliant… it’s totally buzzing,” he said, reflecting on why the business chose to sponsor the show this year. Having attended for over 15 years, he added that PI Live “gets better and better every year,” evolving from mostly networking into “a really high-quality content event.”
A recurring theme throughout our chat was transparency, something Fletcher says advertisers are demanding more than ever. Discussing the industry’s response to Rakuten’s Conversion Journey Transparency API, he noted, “They love it… advertisers more than ever are craving transparency.” With consumer journeys becoming increasingly fragmented across devices and media, helping brands understand where to spend their money is now more important than ever.”
Fletcher also stressed the importance of accurate tracking and fair payment for publishers. While some networks are moving toward probabilistic modelling, he was clear on Rakuten’s stance: “The beauty of affiliate marketing is in deterministic tracking… making sure the sales you’re paying for are actually generated by your publishers.”
AI innovation is another area where Rakuten is leaning in heavily. Fletcher highlighted that Rakuten has new developments being released “on almost a weekly basis.”
One of the most exciting shifts he sees is the convergence of creator commerce and traditional affiliate. Rakuten’s Storefronts product, which lets creators build their own curated mini-shops, has been a hit: “Our creators love it and the advertisers love it,” he said, noting that many brands are eager to bring more influencers into their affiliate programmes.
His outlook is optimistic. With transparency, technology and creator-focused products at the forefront, Rakuten Advertising is gearing up for an exciting year ahead.
Watch the full interview below.
