Aspermont launches SCOUT to help companies tap customer data online

Today, data is everything. In an era where information reigns supreme, businesses seek innovative ways to harness its power and gain a competitive edge. B2B media services provider Aspermont (ASX: ASP) has recognised this imperative and launched SCOUT, an Intent Data service, to help companies identify and understand new customer purchasing intentions.

SCOUT will use behavioural data analysis to predict purchase intentions based on its database to help clients establish a pre-sales order pipeline. SCOUT is now being integrated into, and will supplement, Aspermont’s comprehensive suite of client Data services, including semantic search, paywall capabilities and the like.

While it is more well-known for its magazine, the SCOUT launch seems better aligned with Aspermont’s 2017 digital media platform, codenamed Project Horizon. It emphasised marketing automation, UX design and data analysis. It also improved commercial workflows to set the stage for long term growth in Subscriptions revenue and all associated XaaS (“Anything-as-a-Service”, yep) metrics.

Moreover, in 2019, Aspermont established a dedicated Data Division following its focus on enhancing digital marketing capabilities. The Data Division’s demand generation (DG) and Account Based Marketing (ABM) services account for over $1 million (5% and growing) of group revenue.

Managing Director, Alex Kent, commented, “Our rapidly growing Data division has a pivotal role in expanding our client marketing solutions to diversify group revenue and identify new, long-term, growth opportunities. SCOUT’s short launch time points to the significant market potential for new Data services. Aspermont intends to prioritise the Data business, in anticipation of substantial revenue growth and high returns from re-investment of our positive cash flow.”

Aspermont’s B2B media efforts typically extend to the mining, energy and agricultural industries. However, the Company has been working towards expanding to new sectors, countries and languages. That’s perhaps where its Intent Data service SCOUT steps in. It helps understands what customers are searching for and engaging with digitally. For B2B specifically, studying other firms’ capabilities—tech and otherwise—is made possible with intent data analysis, helping them bag the right clients. 

In Q3 2023, Aspermont reported a total revenue of $4.4 million, representing a notable 4% year-over-year increase. Subscriptions revenue performed particularly well, reaching $2.3 million and demonstrating a robust 7% year-over-year growth. Furthermore, its content agency Content Works’ revenue surged impressively, achieving a 170% year-over-year growth, reaching $0.2 million. The company’s EBITDA stood at $100k, with normalised EBITDA at $300k, reflecting a 75% year-over-year growth, underscoring the Company’s overall financial strength and positive trajectory.

On August 17, the Company informed that Blue Horseshoe Ventures, a joint venture in which it  is a founding shareholder, had entered Voluntary Administration. Aspermont had an exposure of $670k in working capital loans and also agreed to fund the voluntary administration process to a maximum of $100k. And it is now working on recovering the amounts.