Discovery Vitality is integrating sleep tracking into its health and wellness platform, partnering with Finnish health technology company URA to offer the URA Ring 4 to qualifying members. From mid-October 2025, those members can access the wearable device either fully funded or at a 25% discount, marking the first time the URA Ring 4 will be available in South Africa. The move positions sleep alongside nutrition and exercise as core pillars of the insurer's Vitality program.The initiative introduces two key components: the Vitality Sleep Score, which converts complex sleep data into a single metric measuring the causal impact of sleep on health risk, and Vitality Sleep Rewards, launching in 2026. Members will earn rewards by meeting personalized weekly sleep goals based on duration, regularity and quality metrics. Sleep tracking will be available through Apple, Garmin, Samsung devices, the URA Ring 4 or an in-app tracker for those without a wearable.TREND BITEDiscovery's sleep integration reflects growing recognition that rest deserves equal billing with diet and exercise in preventive health strategies. Analysis of over 47 million sleep records revealed that one in two Vitality members has at least one sleep metric out of range, while those who don't sleep enough face a 22% higher risk of death and significantly elevated risks of diabetes, heart disease and depression. By making sleep measurable and tying it to tangible rewards from Discovery Miles to lower insurance premiums the company is betting that data-driven incentives can shift behavior at scale.The approach extends beyond individual wellbeing: Discovery Insure data shows that around 50% of the impact of sleep on driving accident risk stems from chronic poor sleep, not just acute fatigue. As employers and insurers worldwide grapple with rising healthcare costs and workplace productivity challenges, Discovery's model offers a blueprint for treating sleep not as a lifestyle choice, but as a quantifiable health imperative with real-world consequences.
Amazon, Google, and Microsoft are the major brands that customers in the United States say they feel the most loyalty toward in 2025, according to recent research. Read the full article at MarketingProfs
AI is redefining B2B advertising and delivering measurable outcomes by connecting creativity, agility, and data intelligence to deliver what modern buyers expect. Read more. Read the full article at MarketingProfs
Scouting America has introduced its first merit badges focused on artificial intelligence and cybersecurity. The new badges, available from October 2025, guide participants through hands-on exploration of algorithms, digital threats and the ethical dimensions of emerging technologies. Working alongside expert counselors, Scouts learn to identify deepfakes, understand algorithmic bias, create secure passwords and grapple with questions around data privacy and responsible innovation.
Marketers who work for SMBs say the top challenges they face with A/B-testing are a lack of resources and an inability to get statistically significant results because of too little traffic, according to recent research. Read the full article at MarketingProfs
AI-powered discovery tools are replacing traditional search, forcing marketers to rethink visibility. Learn how to optimize for AI and ensure your brand remains discoverable. Read more. Read the full article at MarketingProfs
Ingredients giant dsm-firmenich has introduced emotiOn social connection, a patent-pending fragrance innovation that claims to encourage real-life human interactions through scent. The technology, unveiled in September 2025, represents the company's first foray into what it calls "emotionally intelligent" fragrances scents specifically designed to influence social behavior rather than simply smell good. Developed through collaboration with academic institutions and grounded in over 30 years of neuroscientific research, the innovation aims to address what dsm-firmenich identifies as a growing disconnect: while 75% of consumers across 20 countries cite happy social relationships as essential to wellbeing, 52% of Gen Z report feeling isolated.The science behind emotiOn combines behavioral research with artificial intelligence. dsm-firmenich analyzed its database of 40,000 tested fragrances and over 1 million consumer insights to identify olfactive patterns associated with feelings of connection. Working with an unnamed research institute, the company developed a behavioral testing methodology to measure how people respond to certain scents during social interactions. The result is a set of patent-pending fragrance design guidelines that perfumers can use to create scents intended to foster what the company calls "emotional closeness." The innovation can be applied across perfumes as well as everyday products like body care and home scents.TREND BITEConsumers especially Gen Z and younger millennials are seeking out tools that help them navigate social discomfort. By tapping into fragrance's unique ability to bypass rational thought and trigger emotional responses, emotiOn positions scent as a bridge between our increasingly online lives and the real-world interactions many crave but find intimidating.Fragrance here becomes a proxy for emotional intelligence: a way to regulate mood and social presence subtly, without medication or mindfulness apps. It echoes the broader wellness trend of embedding everyday products with properties promising physical and mental benefits; think adaptive lighting for mood, weighted blankets that reduce stress and food brands marketing gut-brain balance. How could your brand venture (deeper) into the territory of ambient wellbeing?
Alphabet, Amazon, and Meta now draw over half of global ad spend outside China, and they are forecast to account for the bulk of ad market growth this year, according to recent research from WARC. Read the full article at MarketingProfs
Half of young professionals say they've used TikTok to get job search or career advice, and 12% say they've landed a job because of something they learned on the social platform, according to a recent survey. Read the full article at MarketingProfs
AI adoption often stalls at experimentation. Discover how CMOs can scale marketing impact and achieve measurable ROI across teams. Read more. Read the full article at MarketingProfs
