10 years of Bunker DB: The technological revolution of marketing

By Avedis Boudakian, founder and CEO of Bunker DB

Back in 2014, a leading consumer goods company shared with me the challenges they were facing when trying to consolidate, manage, and analyze their marketing data. That meeting sparked the idea that would eventually become Bunker DB Analytics. At the time, companies were just beginning to experiment with technologies like machine learning and automation in their strategies. From there, digital marketing entered a period of deep transformation.

Now, in 2024, we’re celebrating the first decade of Bunker DB—and witnessing how those early trends have not only evolved but have redefined the way brands engage with consumers and optimize their campaigns. Over these 10 years, technology has been the driving force behind an industry in constant growth and reinvention.

The 2014 landscape: the birth of a revolution

In 2014, data was already starting to be recognized as a valuable asset, but its full potential hadn’t yet been unlocked. Brands still relied heavily on basic metrics like reach, frequency, impressions, clicks, and views, and their ability to personalize campaigns was limited. Artificial intelligence (AI) was under development, but hadn’t yet been widely applied in marketing, and chatbots were just beginning to show up on a few websites.

Machine learning had started to appear in some platforms, but its use was rudimentary compared to what we know today. Processing large volumes of data took days—or even weeks—and hyper-personalization still felt like a distant dream.

2024 acceleration: the rise of AI

A decade later, artificial intelligence has become the driving force behind modern marketing campaigns. Brands can now personalize every single touchpoint with their consumers in real time, using machine learning to analyze behavioral data and fine-tune strategies accordingly. Instead of sending the same message to everyone, companies are delivering highly tailored experiences that match individual preferences and habits.

The ability to process millions of data points instantly has enabled an unprecedented level of efficiency. Platforms like Bunker DB have played a key role in this shift, allowing clients to centralize data from multiple sources and generate actionable insights with just a few clicks.

What took weeks back in 2014 can now be resolved in minutes—through automation, a text message, or even a voice command.

The rise of chatbots

In 2014, chatbots were still a novelty—limited to simple tasks like answering basic questions using decision trees designed with one-way logic. Over time, these technologies incorporated machine learning, which enabled them to interpret user intent and add flexibility to what was initially a rigid experience.

Today, in 2024, advancements in natural language processing (NLP) allow virtual assistants to interact with users more effectively and naturally, improving both user experience and business conversion rates. That’s why we now talk about conversational experiences.

Omnichannel experiences

Back in 2014, omnichannel marketing was in its infancy. Brands were beginning to integrate communication channels—physical stores, websites, social media, email, and others—but the experience was often disjointed. Data fragmentation made it difficult to recognize the same user across multiple channels, and omnichannel was more of a distant dream than a reality—most strategies were merely multichannel.

The ability to integrate data from all these sources has been a major challenge, but platforms like Bunker DB have made this possible.

Now, in 2024, channel integration enables brands to deliver truly seamless omnichannel experiences. A unified record of customer interactions means a user can move across touchpoints without losing continuity—allowing brands to build a single view of the customer and improve both personalization and data-driven decision-making.

Augmented and virtual reality transform creativity

Augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR)—once niche technologies in 2014—have gained significant ground in marketing strategies. In 2024, brands are using AR to let customers visualize products in real time, as if they were trying them in person. This not only enhances the customer experience but also significantly boosts conversion rates.

Meanwhile, virtual reality is being used to create immersive experiences at events and trade shows, allowing users to interact with products and services from anywhere in the world. These technologies have opened up a new creative frontier in marketing, taking customer experiences to an entirely new level.

Google and Meta: new frontiers

In 2014, Google and Meta were leaders in their respective domains. Google dominated digital search, had consolidated YouTube and Google Cloud, and was expanding its user-centric ecosystem with acquisitions like Waze and Nest Labs.

Facebook, on the other hand, reigned supreme in social media and had just acquired WhatsApp—its most expensive purchase to date—signaling a future of connectivity, mixed reality, and artificial intelligence.

Now, in 2024, both giants face a more fragmented digital landscape. TikTok has emerged as a major contender for younger audiences’ attention, and Retail Media is on the rise—gaining ground by offering precision-level attribution of sales.

Still, Google and Meta remain two of the biggest investors in research and development (R&D), driving forward innovations like autonomous vehicles, virtual reality, and artificial intelligence.

ChatGPT, Gemini, Claude, Llama: the new revolution

In 2014, AI was still in an experimental phase. Its practical applications were mostly limited to algorithms and machine learning, confined to scientists and engineers working on deep learning, voice recognition, and image processing. AI assistants like Siri, Google Now, and Cortana already existed, but were still quite basic.

By 2024, the landscape is radically different. When ChatGPT went viral and became publicly accessible in 2022, generative AI quickly spread across all layers of society—and has commanded attention ever since. It has sparked interest among users, enthusiasts, companies, and investors alike. From advanced personal assistants and content creation tools to sophisticated data analysis platforms, so many companies have entered the AI space that we’re already seeing signs of commoditization.

Still, generative AI is becoming the new digital foundation for the future ahead.

Looking ahead

Reflecting on these ten years of Bunker DB, it’s clear that technology has revolutionized marketing in ways we couldn’t have imagined. Artificial intelligence, automation, and immersive experiences are just the beginning.

In the coming years, we’ll continue to see how technology reshapes the relationship between brands and consumers—and at Bunker DB, we’re committed to staying at the forefront of that transformation.