Supply-side platforms (SSPs) are expected to deliver more than inventory—they’re being asked to support sell-side targeting strategies, campaign results, and proof of performance. To meet that demand, SSPs need more than access to inventory. They need better data, better tools, and a way to bring it all together.
Experian’s solutions for SSPs
We built Experian’s solutions for SSPs with that demand in mind. By combining identity resolution, audience targeting, and third-party measurement, we help platforms move beyond basic transactions. Whether you’re doing sell-side targeting, supporting direct deals, or looking to support campaign validation, our tools make it easier to create value for buyers—and keep them coming back.
Our solutions that help SSPs:
Together, these capabilities allow SSPs to produce data-driven deals, increase addressability, and meet buyer demand for smarter, more measurable media.
Campaign snapshot: Yieldmo + Experian
Yieldmo, an advertising platform known for its creative formats and data-informed approach, has already put this solution to work. Here’s how they built a custom strategy for a major athletic retail client using Experian’s solutions for SSPs.
The challenge: Drive in-store traffic and reach new buyers
Yieldmo supports a leading athletic retailer’s seasonal campaigns focused on in-store traffic. This advertiser wanted to reach new buyers—specifically those who might otherwise shop with a competitor. To do this, they needed access to strong audience segments with reliable data and the flexibility to act quickly across channels.
This was the first time Yieldmo applied Experian Audiences to this retailer’s campaigns. The stakes were high: the client was looking for better in-store outcomes and a more streamlined activation workflow.
The solution: Experian’s activation solution for SSPs
Using Experian’s Audience Engine, which includes our proprietary and third-party data marketplace, Yieldmo built a flexible, high-performing media plan that spanned display inventory and included both conquesting and primary in-store shopper segments.
The team selected and activated:
- Apparel and footwear audiences built from Experian and partner data providers
- In-store shopper segments targeting retail behavior signals
- Competitive purchasers to capture likely buyers from other athletic brands
Our data marketplace allowed Yieldmo to combine Experian Audiences with Partner Audiences from providers like Alliant, Circana, Sports Innovation Lab, and Webbula—all in one place. Manual audience creation used to take days. Now, Yieldmo can build and activate campaigns through a streamlined, self-serve workflow.
By working in the Audience Engine platform, Yieldmo was able to avoid multiple contracts and manual requests. They filtered audiences by brand, tailored segments to their goals, and launched without delays.
“Experian’s data marketplace in Audience Engine fills a critical gap—letting us quickly search by brand, build smarter conquest segments, and activate custom audiences fast.”
Abby Littlejohn, Director of Sales Planning, Yieldmo
The results: Expected lift in store visits
While final in-store lift results are pending, the early performance metrics are promising:
- Click-through rates are at and above historical benchmarks across both conquesting and primary shopper segments.
- Using Audience Engine’s self-serve tools, Yieldmo created audiences faster and more easily.
- They reduced their workload by minimizing the need for manual data wrangling.
“We include Experian audience segments in 80% of formal RFPs. Between contract simplicity, data quality, and campaign results, Experian has become our go-to for third-party audience targeting.”
Nelson Montouchet, AVP, Strategic Partnerships, Yieldmo
Bring this to your platform
Whether you’re looking to monetize more effectively, build deeper advertiser relationships, or stand out with sell-side targeting offerings, we designed Experian’s solutions for SSPs to do exactly that.
With our industry-leading Digital Graph, over 2,400 syndicated audiences, partner data, flexible self-serve tools, and outcome-based measurement, SSPs can now move faster and go further—without compromising scale or precision.
Get in touch with our team
Latest posts
Yahoo DSP shares how ConnectID, interoperability, and Blueprint Performance support targeting and measurement, with Experian Audiences in Yahoo DSP.
Learn how retail marketers use Experian Audiences to reach consumers based on shopping patterns, purchase behavior, engagement preferences, and discretionary spend signals.
Commerce media networks have had a strong start. Growth has been fast, demand has been strong, and brands have made it clear they want closer access to commerce-driven audiences. But as more networks mature and enter the space, many are starting to feel the same pressure point: scale. Most commerce media networks were built as managed service businesses. That model works well early on. High-touch, white-glove partnerships make sense when you’re working with a handful of strategic brands. But there’s a ceiling. There are only so many teams, only so much inventory, and only so many advertisers that model can realistically support. It’s one thing for a large retailer to build custom programs for a P&G. It’s another to do that at scale for hundreds or thousands of brands. At some point, growth slows, not because demand disappears, but because the model can’t stretch any further. The scale problem no one likes to talk about That’s where many commerce media leaders find themselves today. Pausing to assess what comes next. For a long time, growth has been measured almost entirely through media dollars. That mindset is understandable. Media is familiar, it's easy to quantify. It shows up clearly in negotiations and revenue reports. But viewing commerce media networks purely as media sales engines creates long-term risk. It can strain brand relationships, limit innovation, and distract from what commerce media networks actually do better than almost anyone else: understand consumers deeply. Signals are the real asset Commerce platforms sit close to decision-making. They see what people search for, what they consider, what they buy, and when those behaviors change. Those signals are incredibly powerful. And yet, most networks only activate them inside their own walled environments. That’s a missed opportunity. Curation represents the next area of growth for commerce media networks, and it doesn’t require replacing or diminishing existing media revenue. In fact, it complements it. No single commerce media network has all the data needed to give advertisers the scale and reach they're looking for. And no advertiser wants to recreate the same audience in dozens of disconnected platforms. That friction creates inefficiency and slows decision-making. Why collaboration supports sustainable growth The opportunity is to look beyond first-party data alone and start thinking about collaboration. Second-party data. Data partnerships. Signal sharing done responsibly and transparently. Imagine an advertiser defining an audience once and being able to understand and reach that audience across multiple commerce environments. Not through a series of disconnected buys, but through a more consistent approach built on shared understanding leading to increased reach and more impactful campaigns. That’s easier for advertisers to manage, and it creates an additional revenue stream for commerce media networks that complements media sales rather than competing with them. Curation strengthens media, it doesn't replace it Media will always play an important role. There is clear value in custom experiences tied directly to a commerce environment. Think buyouts, sponsored experiences, custom creative integrations. Those are situations where brands want to work closely with the network itself. But the signals commerce media networks hold don’t need to be limited to those moments. Those signals can be monetized independently through data products, co-ops, and partnerships that extend their value into other channels. That’s how curation adds value without undercutting existing revenue. A practical path forward for commerce media leaders For commerce media leaders thinking about their next phase of growth, the focus should be on sustainability. Building a massive media operation takes time and investment. Data-driven revenue streams can be introduced more quickly, require fewer internal resources, and provide steadier margins. It’s a practical approach. Use signal-based revenue to fund growth. Let that revenue support investment in tooling, talent, and media innovation over time. Bootstrapping, in the truest sense. Why transparency matters early There’s also a broader responsibility here. In many advertising channels, transparency followed growth, often after pressure from the market. Commerce media networks have an opportunity to do this differently. To lead with transparency from the start. To be clear with brands and consumers about how data is used, how signals are created, and how value flows through the ecosystem. Because the reality is this: commerce media networks are holding some of the most valuable intent signals in the market today. But those signals don’t retain their value in isolation. If they aren’t enhanced, combined, and made accessible in the right ways, someone else will step in to do it. And when that happens, control shifts away from the source. The bottom line The next chapter of commerce media isn’t just about selling more media alone. It’s about recognizing the value of the signals already in hand, working together to make them more useful, and building additional revenue streams that support long-term growth. That’s how commerce media networks grow without eating their own lunch. About the author Kevin Dunn Chief Revenue Officer, Experian Kevin Dunn joins Experian Marketing Services with more than 20 years of leadership experience across marketing and advertising technology, most recently serving as Senior Vice President of Brands and Agencies at LiveRamp. In that role, he led growth across retail, CPG, travel, hospitality, financial services, and healthcare, overseeing new business, account expansion, and channel partnerships. Kevin is known for building cohesive, accountable teams and leading with optimism, clarity, and a strong sense of shared purpose. His leadership philosophy centers on empowering people, driving positive outcomes for clients and fostering a culture where teams can grow, take smart risks, and succeed together. Latest posts