Context has always influenced how people experience advertising. The content they are watching, the device they are using and the moment they are in all shape how an advertisement is received. So does the environment around them.
That understanding has guided the way we have built VDO.AI’s platform over the years. A decade of experience and augmentation has led us to winning the Best Contextual Intelligence Platform award at the Agency Reporter Programmatic Awards 2026.
This recognition celebrates the work our teams have put into building a contextual intelligence platform that helps publishers increase the value of every impression while enabling brands to deliver advertising experiences that respond to the context in which they appear.
Innovation-First Approach to Contextual Advertising
Contextual advertising has evolved considerably over the past few years. It now extends far beyond identifying keywords on a webpage or categorising content into broad themes.
Most advertising systems are optimised for exposure. We optimised for context. The content being consumed, the time it is viewed, the consumer’s mindset, and the environment in which it appears all influence how advertising is received.
At the heart of this evolution is VDO.AI’s contextual intelligence engine that goes beyond conventional contextual targeting. Instead of relying on content classification alone, it analyses multiple layers of contextual signals including semantics, sentiment, publisher authority and environmental factors to build a richer understanding of every advertising opportunity.
These signals are brought together through a unified contextual intelligence layer, enabling brands to deliver more relevant experiences and publishers to unlock greater value from every impression.
VDO.AI was built from the ground up with the principle that each impression must be earned by relevance. Context is not just a feature, but the foundation that we have built upon.
Built Across Every Screen
Over the past few years, VDO.AI has continued to expand the way contextual intelligence is applied across digital advertising.
Today, our platform enables:
- Context-aware advertising across premium web inventory
- Affinity-based Dynamic Creative Optimisation for Connected TV
- Context-matched YouTube advertising through Dexter
- Environment-aware In-App advertising
- Interactive CTV and OTT experiences designed to increase engagement and action
Each capability uses the same contextual intelligence framework. This helps advertisers deliver relevant experiences while helping publishers maximise inventory value. Instead of serving the same message to every audience, campaigns evolve based on the context in which they’re delivered, helping brands create experiences that feel timely, relevant and meaningful across Connected TV, OTT, YouTube, online video, display and mobile apps through a single platform.
Delivering Results That Matter
The platform has powered campaigns across industries where context played an active role in campaign performance.
For Hyundai, contextual intelligence enabled interactive CTV experiences that surfaced nearby EV charging stations. This helped address one of the biggest consumer considerations around electric vehicle adoption. The campaign achieved a 93.3% Video Completion Rate, delivered 2x higher QR scan rates than the industry benchmark, and earned multiple industry accolades.
Similarly, for Bajaj Triumph, VDO.AI used affinity-based Dynamic Creative Optimisation to tailor messaging for different rider communities. This created more relevant experiences across premium Connected TV environments. The campaign generated 4.5 million impressions, achieved a 91.74% Video Completion Rate and received widespread industry recognition.
These campaigns demonstrate how contextual intelligence can improve relevance while delivering measurable business outcomes across very different categories.
Creating Value Across The Ecosystem
Contextual intelligence creates value for both sides of the advertising ecosystem.
Every video frame is analysed and contextually scored before entering the auction, helping publishers improve inventory quality and unlock premium demand. High-affinity placements have delivered up to 5× higher CPMs, while contextual formats have driven 25% higher audience engagement. For advertisers, context-matched delivery has improved conversion rates by 15%, reinforcing the value of relevance throughout the campaign lifecycle.
A Recognition That Belongs To The Team
Winning Best Contextual Intelligence Platform reflects years of engineering, product development and close collaboration with publishers, advertisers and agency partners who have trusted us to solve increasingly complex advertising challenges.
As digital advertising continues to evolve across new screens and formats, we remain focused on expanding what contextual intelligence can achieve, creating more valuable experiences for publishers, stronger outcomes for brands and more relevant advertising for consumers.
