Co-operation and consultation is absolutely critical to smartocto’s feature development process. Every time we roll out a new feature or element, it will have been rigorously iterated, tweaked and tested with people working actively on the news front line every day.

And, as we’ve just issued an invitation for new newsrooms to join the process for developing Decisions, our new AI-led feature, we thought it might be useful to learn what it’s like to be part of this process.

Enter DPG. We’ve proudly worked with the good folk here for many years now and they’ve been as much an integral part of our development as we’ve been able to support theirs.

How DPG has collaborated with smartocto in the past

Examples of notable features developed or requested by DPG include:

smartocto goals

Enabled newsrooms to track and adjust performance in real-time against defined goals, allowing for faster response when not "on par" with targets.

Scroll depth for pages/articles

Provided in-depth analysis of article performance, giving insights into how much of an article is actually being read.

A/B photo testing

A feature to support editorial decision-making on visual content.

Channel scores

An upcoming, "huge" innovation expected to dramatically improve the product for all customers.

Article scores

An upcoming development in article performance metrics.

When we’re working with smartocto on developing a feature it’s collaborative. Once the initial versions are complete, they’ll come back to us and ask if it’s what we envisioned and if it works. Smartocto’s always been really open to our feedback and suggestions - within certain limitations of course! They’re also true to their own sense of purpose and able to challenge us on what we want. This makes for successful outcomes.

Thomas Boeschoten

Thomas Boeschoten Data & Innovation Lead, DPG Media

DPG’s role

DPG views its relationship with smartocto as a long-term strategic partnership, which is the fundamental basis for their successful feature co-development. Their role is essentially twofold:

  1. Creative input

DPG brings the creative process, conceptual ideas, and a value vision, gathering input from all its editorial teams (formally and informally) to define what the features should achieve.

  1. Iterative rollout

The process includes smartocto creating designs and consulting DPG for feedback and iterations before the final rollout.

Smartocto’s role

  • Practical design

Taking the lead on the practical design of the feature, determining "how it looks, how it feels, how it works" in day-to-day use, and how different elements interact.

  • Technical translation

A dedicated smartocto representative (Martijn) translates DPG's creative ideas and needs into technical briefings for the engineering and design teams.

  • Challenging the vision

smartocto challenges DPG on the user experience (UX) and feasibility, ensuring that the feature is practical to implement and fits logically within the smartocto product (e.g., specifying where a feature should be placed in the platform).

  • Design creation and consultation

Smartocto creates the initial designs and consults with DPG throughout the process, seeking feedback and going through iterations to ensure the final product aligns with DPG's vision.

  • Implementation

Executing the technical work to build and roll out the new features, while staying "true to itself" (the smartocto product vision) but remaining open to feedback and suggestions.

Benefits for DPG (or the client in general)

  1. By partnering with smartocto in this process, DPG is able to tailor and co-develop major features - and harness the opportunity to make those features work for their particular needs. It puts them in the driving seat, with the opportunity to influence and feedback.
  2. There’s opportunity for strategic alignment. Each feature/ development, with the client given the opportunity to share ideas about each feature and development.
  3. The process allows for an element of personalisation. With a seat at the table, the client is able to advocate for changes that will optimise the tool for their unique operational needs, making it feel like "our own tool."

Benefits for smartocto

  1. DPG essentially acts as a creative development partner, providing a continuous flow of valuable customer research, practical feedback and newsroom-driven ideas.
  2. DPG is a large client with more than 30 editorial teams, which means they’re able to both validate AND prioritise which ideas are most relevant - and most scalable.
  3. Newsroom partnerships like this one ensure that smartocto stays focused on its end user, that the product stays true to itself, but also that we keep up with major strategic developments in the journalism industry as a whole.

Benefits for the industry at large

Obviously if you’re working with us on the development of a specific feature, you’re going to see the benefits - and you’ll have the opportunity to shape the whole design and implementation process.

But there’s another, broader benefit too.

By ensuring that this editorial analytics system is fit for your purpose and needs, you’re also ensuring that the platform works better for everyone, ensuring a stable sophisticated and strategically aligned product. This kind of cooperation raises the bar for what’s the norm. That’s incredibly powerful.

As a newsroom, you want to be able to adjust based on what's happening. So if you see that you're not on par with your goals, then there's an issue.

Thomas Boeschoten

Thomas Boeschoten Data & Innovation Lead, DPG Media

Over to your newsroom

Right now we’re in the process of developing smartocto Decisions, and we’re looking for newsrooms to work with. If you’re interested in collaborating with us during this development, you might like to put your newsroom forward as a partner. Find out more information here, or send us a message.

get in touch