SKAd Flexible Mapping – Making SKAd optimization a reality thanks to Smadex’s technology

The new challenges presented by the world of advertising are faced with no fear at Smadex. The difficulties brought by the release of SKAd were no different. 

When Apple announced SKAdNetwork back in 2021, we started working towards finding alternative solutions. We were looking for ways to continue improving performance in all iOS campaigns and keep offering the best programmatic ad solution possible. 

We came up with Flexible Mapping, exactly what we needed: the perfect tool to allow iOS campaign optimization.

What is SKAd?

If this is the first time you hear about it, SKAd stands for StoreKit Ad Network, which is Apple’s way to help advertisers and ad networks measure activity like installs and post install events on iOS apps. Even though when it was first announced in 2018 it was more of an alternative, since the release of iOS 14 Apple assumed the role of the install measurement provider with SKAd Network. 

This iteration brought challenges for campaign optimization since SKAd has its own limitations:

  • Data receipt delays
  • Loss of user-level data
  • Reduce visibility of post-install events

Bottom line, pre-SKAd advertisers had a lot (A LOT) more insights about their campaigns they could use to optimize performance. 

Smadex SKAd Network Solution: Flexible Mapping

Flexible Mapping allows advertisers to use the 100 campaign ID’s combinations available on SKAd to maximize the data points the algorithm can use to increase performance. This tool can be used to monitor a wide range of variables that can be key to driving more successful campaigns such as:

  • Lines
  • Adsizes
  • Creatives
  • Creative types
  • Exchanges (SSPs)
  • Inventory bundles

Smadex has a platform with unparalleled campaign management and access to detailed insights. This allows all of the information to be processed and analyzed with a variety of reporting tools available and work towards optimization with knowledgeable and intelligent decisions.  

Without Flexible Mapping, we would only be able to know which campaigns got the install, but nothing more. Now, we can see information from the different variables that we map. Even better, for example, we can also find out what is the best combination of exchange-adsize that is having the best performance and use this information to optimize.

Impact of Flexible Mapping in our campaigns

Since we started using this tool, we have been able to excel in avoiding all the limitations that could come with SKAd Network. With the limited amount of information that is given from SKAd, it’s difficult to visualize where good and bad performance may be coming from, as it is designed this way. With Flexible Mapping we are able to map those variables and access information.

Our team has been able to generate big improvements in most of the SKAd campaigns. In fact, some campaigns have experienced a 100% increase in the number of installs recorded while maintaining the same spend. This shows how we have faced the challenges of SKAd by achieving results no one could think could be possible when it was first introduced.

Example of the increase of performance thanks to Smadex’s SKAd Network Optimization solution, Flexible Mapping

If you are interested in knowing more about our Flexible Mapping solution and what Smadex can do for you, contact us and request a demo!