A Case Study

Name: Hakuhodo Technologies

Meeting Japan’s Rising Demand for Virtual Humans

When the rising demand for virtual humans in Japan met the need for authentic, real-time interactions, Hakuhodo Technologies turned to D-ID’s streaming avatar technology for delivery.

Hakuhodo Technologies, the core technology arm of the Hakuhodo DY Group, one of the world’s top 10 integrated marketing and innovation groups, partnered with D-ID to create personalized, culturally resonant virtual experiences while addressing complex technical challenges, including Japanese-language latency. The collaboration led to breakthrough projects, from a live avatar stage event to an award-winning “AI rap business card”, showcasing how next-generation AI can power more engaging brand experiences.

About Hakuhodo DY Group: A Leader in Innovation and Advertising in Japan

Hakuhodo DY Group consists of 453 subsidiaries and affiliates with a combined total of over 29,386 employees working in over 30 countries and regions around the world. The group consistently ranked among the world’s top 10 largest agency groups by Ad Age and it is a second largest agency group in Japan. 

The company leverages world-class research and marketing skill, outstanding creativity, and deep digital expertise to craft innovative, human-centered marketing solutions tailored to each client’s needs.

Growing Demand for Virtual Humans: HAKUHODO Technologies’ Challenges and Needs

Rising Market Demand and Language Barriers in Japan

The demand for virtual humans is rapidly growing in the Japanese market, with many companies actively seeking services that can be integrated into their proprietary systems and promotional initiatives. However, no providers were offering fully developed and reliable solutions to meet this demand.

Additionally, the limited availability of high-quality Japanese-language datasets posed a major challenge in developing voice systems capable of delivering fluent, natural Japanese speech.

HAKUHODO Technologies’ Expectations for Customized Avatar Solutions

HAKUHODO Technologies anticipated further development in avatar variety and customization to help businesses deliver more personalized and culturally resonant virtual experiences. They sought a solution that combined technical excellence with scalability and cultural relevance.

Why HAKUHODO Technologies Chose D-ID as their AI Avatar Solution

Criteria for Choosing a Streaming Avatar Provider

HAKUHODO Technologies selected D-ID’s Premium+ avatars with streaming API integration based on the following criteria:

• Low-cost and fast implementation of custom avatars.
• High delivery quality suitable for professional, large-scale use.
• Technology leadership: HAKUHODO Technologies trusted D-ID’s leadership in facial replication and lip sync innovation from the outset of the partnership.

Building a Japan-Specific Streaming Pipeline: The Implementation Process

HAKUHODO Technologies and D-ID worked closely to develop a Japan-specific delivery pipeline, integrating D-ID’s avatars with a specialized Japanese-language text-to-speech (TTS) model.

One initial hurdle was high latency, which hindered real-time interaction. The team successfully reduced response times to under three seconds through dedicated optimization efforts, enabling smooth, engaging live experiences.

Real-World Deployments and Long-Term Benefits of Virtual Human Integration

HAKUHODO Technologies deployed D-ID’s technology in two innovative projects:

Automobile Sector Event

At a major industry event, a company executive engaged in a live on-stage interaction with his own avatar, enhancing the presentation’s quality at minimal cost and production time by using D-ID and the company’s TTS model.

The event’s success sparked discussions about implementing virtual sales representatives across the client’s broader sales platforms.

AI Rap Business Card

HAKUHODO Technologies developed a new service, the AI RAP BUSINESS CARD, powered by D-ID. This service allowed users to create personalized rap music videos introducing themselves, which could be shared as digital business cards.

Launched at a company orientation ceremony for several hundred new employees, the project received widespread media attention. It was shortlisted for the Media Creative award at the ACC Tokyo Advertising Awards which is Japan’s biggest advertising awards. It also received worldwide recognition for winning Technology category gold and Internal Communication category silver at PR Awards Asia-Pacific, Internal Communication category WINNER at IPRA GOLDEN AWARDS.

At JPM SHOW 2025, HAKUHODO Technologies introduced an AI-powered in-store customer-service system where shoppers can interact with four virtual-human avatars, including famous public figure and former pro wrestler Riki Choshu, to uncover their “future scenario” through real-time dialogue and receive tailored product recommendations. 

This experience helps reduce comparison fatigue, encourages additional purchases, and provides retailers with valuable customer insights while supporting more efficient store operations.

Expected Ongoing Business Advantages

HAKUHODO Technologies emphasizes that success comes from setting clear creative goals and finding synergy between ideas and technology. With D-ID’s powerful platform, companies can push the boundaries of what’s possible when imagination meets innovation.

• Expansion of virtual human capabilities across sales, marketing, and internal communications.
• Greater personalization in client and employee engagement.
• Increased creative applications of AI technology to drive brand differentiation.

A Case Study

Name: My Last Will

Industry: Blockchain heritage / digital legacy

My Last Will’s  vision is grounded in the idea that end-of-life intentions deserve both dignity and certainty. The company’s mission is to give people a trusted space to record the things that matter most, in a way that can’t be altered, questioned, or lost. 

In practice, that mission becomes a secure digital legacy platform that helps people put their wishes in order and make them accessible to the right people when it matters. My Last Will combines secure workflows (including using Scroll Blockchain and DocuSign for last-will execution) with a broader promise: preserving funeral wishes safely, protecting integrity, and enabling immediate access for execution, while also exploring new ways for people to transmit messages and memories with more meaning. 

The Challenge

End-of-life instructions and personal messages are highly emotional and irreversible. My Last Will needed a way to humanize and secure the transmission of these sensitive messages in a digital environment, while staying scalable, accessible, and compliant with strict privacy and security requirements.

Before D-ID, the team relied on static text, traditional forms, and limited video tools that lacked interactivity and emotional presence, making it difficult to convey empathy, intent, and trust.

The Solution: A secure, conversational video assistant

My Last Will built “My”, a secure, AI-powered conversational video assistant, that allows users to express, safeguard, and transmit their last wishes and personal messages in a more human, trustworthy way.

D-ID enabled the team to add emotional presence and clarity to a process that is traditionally cold and purely administrative, without compromising scalability.

My Last Will chose to partner with D-ID because it uniquely combines realistic conversational video, emotional expressiveness, and scalability, while respecting privacy and security constraints. Other options leaned toward static avatars or generic video. D-ID made it possible to create a human-centered experience that builds trust in sensitive, high-stakes situations.

Product Implementation

Implementation was smooth and fast. D-ID’s APIs and documentation made it easy to integrate conversational video into My Last Will’s workflow, move from prototype to a working experience quickly, and iterate without heavy technical overhead.

The Results

My Last Will saw a clear improvement in engagement and trust indicators:

• Session completion rates increased by over 30%
• Users spent significantly more time interacting with the experience
• Qualitative feedback highlighted higher emotional clarity and confidence vs. text-only flows
• Internally, D-ID helped reduce onboarding friction and accelerate iteration cycles

Users who were initially hesitant about digital tools became deeply engaged once they interacted with My through interactive conversational video. Several said it felt like they were “being understood” rather than filling out a form.

What’s next

My Last Will sees D-ID as a long-term partner. As the product evolves, conversational video will play a central role in building trust, accessibility, and emotional clarity at scale.

A Case Study

Name: Envy

Industry: Tech Marketing, Revops

About Envy

Envy is a B2B tech marketing and RevOps agency established in 2014. by Billy Cina and Idan Carmeli are Managing Partners. The agency helps high-growth tech companies sharpen their go-to-market strategies and scale revenue operations through a unique blend of creative marketing and technical expertise.

With a core team of 15 employees and a network of freelancers, Envy operates across two key disciplines: digital marketing, including GTM and content strategy, paid media, and growth campaigns, and HubSpot operations, where the team is recognized as an Elite HubSpot Partner.

Envy works with international Post Round A and enterprise tech clients in sectors like cybersecurity, fintech, and medtech. Billy and Idan lead the agency with a product mindset, applying rigorous KPIs and a commitment to experimentation, constantly testing the very tools and tactics they bring to clients.

The Challenge

Like many fast-moving agencies, Envy is known for a robust content strategy and a “practice what you preach” approach—investing in its own marketing with the same rigor as its client projects. But producing video content at scale was always a logistical headache.

Traditional video production brought several challenges:

• Resource-Heavy Logistics: Filming days required booking videographers, organizing lighting and equipment, and coordinating team schedules—all for a single, high-pressure day packed with ideas. If a video didn’t work out, it was months before there was bandwidth to try again.
• High Cost: Studio sessions and professional shoots are expensive, especially for a boutique agency committed to frequent content creation.
• Slow Turnaround & Creative Bottlenecks: Even with an in-office mini studio, producing video content was time-consuming. Every shoot meant setting up equipment, re-recording multiple takes, and troubleshooting technical hiccups. The process made it difficult to respond quickly to trends or spontaneous ideas. As Billy put it, “It’s a pain, and we still do it, but we wanted more flexibility—to say things instantly.”
• Personalized Outreach at Scale: Sales and event follow-up increasingly requires personalized, video-driven communication. The old process couldn’t keep up: Idan Carmeli was spending a lot of time recording short videos for sales, and I became obsessed with Loom, but it just wasn’t scalable for how much we wanted to do.”

Envy needed a solution to scale up event follow-up and sales outreach and let the team focus on ideas, not production hassles.

Enter D-ID: The Birth of “Billy 2.0”

Always keen to experiment, Envy turned to D-ID to launch “Billy 2.0” – a digital twin made for their Managing Partner, Billy. After unresolved frustrations with other avatar providers, they found the process with D-ID refreshingly smooth: “We created Billy 2.0 and put her to work, just to see if it was really that easy. Turns out, it really is.”

How Envy Uses Avatars

Personalized Event Follow-Up

After hosting events, Envy used Billy 2.0 to reach out to attendees and no-shows, tailoring the script and delivery to each contact.

Newsletter Engagement

The March edition of Envy’s monthly newsletter featured a Billy 2.0 video greeting subscribers and summarizing the content.

Sales and Client Communication

Envy now incorporates avatars into sales outreach, saving hours of filming and editing.

The Results

• 50% Open Rate on the Billy 2.0 avatar email campaign, which is nearly double Envy’s average.
  
• 68% of recipients who opened the email read it in full, with another 30% skimming the content.
• 15 Direct Responses and 7 Meetings Booked so far, with more responses rolling in.
  
• March newsletter avatar edition: Average open rate jumped from 28% to 49% and Click-through rate more than doubled, from 2.6% to 5.9%

“The results blew me away.” Billy noted, “People are responding, booking meetings, and we get great feedback every time. People tell us, ‘We love what you’re doing’—that’s exactly what you want as a marketer.”

Why Do Digital Humans Work?

Cost and Flexibility: D-ID avatars allow Envy to produce videos at scale, without the cost or hassle of frequent filming days.

Personalization at Scale: Scripts are customized for every recipient, giving a personal touch to outreach. “Getting a CEO to record a video once is tough. With avatars, you get all the benefits of video without all the hassle.”

Authentic Approach: Envy made the content more approachable and memorable by using avatars transparently.

Best Practices & Tips From the Real Billy

• Don’t read from a teleprompter. Speak naturally, even if you waffle. You can always tell when someone’s reading, and it’s just not good.
• Don’t move your hands too much—I speak with my hands a lot, but it makes for some funny moments in the avatar.
• Add a ‘turn up the volume’ note to the video, because sometimes the subtitles don’t appear automatically, and engagement goes up when people can hear you!
• Keep it authentic. Don’t try to pretend your avatar is a human… People can tell, and then it becomes annoying and inauthentic. 

What’s Next for Billy 2.0

Envy plans to expand avatar usage on its website, creating personalized greetings for returning visitors. There are also plans to offer avatar-powered content for Envy’s clients and further integrate avatars into future newsletter editions.

Billy sums it up best:

“Marketing should be fun, and avatars make it easy to convey a message in a memorable way. Don’t take it too seriously—just enjoy it.”

A Case Study

Name: SIU School of Medicine

Industry: Academics, Healthcare

Company Mission & Vision: Our mission is to optimize the health of the people of central and southern Illinois through education, patient care, research, and service to the community.

Products/Services: An AI-powered patient to train medical students

Target Audiences: Medical Students around the globe

Training Doctors to Earn Trust—Before They Ever See a Human Patient

Southern Illinois University School of Medicine (SIU Medicine) is pioneering a bold new approach to medical education—one that harnesses AI-powered avatars to prepare students for the real world of patient care. Using D-ID’s generative AI avatar technology, SIU developed “Randy,” a virtual patient designed to help medical learners practice, make mistakes, build confidence, and, most importantly, learn to earn trust.

Today, Randy—and a growing roster of virtual patients—are being used to safely simulate medical scenarios that students would otherwise only experience for the first time during high-stress clinical rotations. After trying various virtual training options, SIU turned to a smarter, more human solution: an AI-driven program that reshapes how students develop clinical skills and bedside manner.

The Challenge

SIU Medicine originally set out to create a gamified training experience for its medical students, but quickly realized that a game engine couldn’t accommodate the unpredictable nature of real medical learners.

“We realized that you can’t orchestrate a video game for medical students,” said Dr. Richard Selinfreund, associate professor and head of the pathology group at SIU. “They ask the right—but unexpected—questions, and the whole thing crashes.”

On top of that, Dr. Selinfreund was tasked with something games couldn’t replicate: helping future doctors learn to build trust with their patients—arguably one of the most vital (and most overlooked) clinical skills.

The team needed something smarter, more dynamic, and deeply human. They realized the future of medical education wouldn’t be powered by games—it would be powered by AI.

The Solution

SIU Medicine turned to D-ID to bring its virtual patients to life. With D-ID’s Real-Time embedded agents, the team built out a cast of hyper-realistic AI patients powered by a custom large language model (LLM) backend. These avatars simulate conversations with medical learners, adapting in real time to student input and presenting a wide variety of symptoms, conditions, and emotional states.

The flagship patient, “Randy Rhodes,” was designed with different difficulty levels—from beginner to advanced—and trained using documents uploaded into SIU’s custom RAG (retrieval-augmented generation) system. Voices were customized using ElevenLabs to reflect each patient’s condition—sick, short of breath, or fatigued—creating a more immersive and empathetic experience.

The result: an intelligent, responsive AI patient that students can access on their phones, at their own pace, and as many times as they need to build confidence before ever entering a real exam room.

Real Impact: Reducing Anxiety and Accelerating Competency

One of the most challenging skills for new medical students is learning how to take a patient history. It’s also one of the most crucial. “There’s no such thing as a bad history,” Dr. Selinfreund explains, “just bad history-takers.”

By giving students a chance to practice in a safe environment, SIU is helping them build trust, reduce anxiety, and develop critical clinical instincts before the stakes are real.

Students have responded enthusiastically. Some even asked to replace parts of the traditional curriculum with the AI simulations. “A 24-year-old told me, ‘I get to see every disease and practice before I get to the emergency room,’” says Selinfreund. “This generation grew up on phones and screens—this is how they learn.”

Emergency departments have also taken notice, with residency directors seeing the potential for what SIU calls an “acceleration to competency.” Rather than starting from scratch, incoming residents arrive having already practiced core diagnostic conversations.

Scalable, Trusted, and Ready for Growth

SIU’s in-house prompt engineering team built the patient personas and backend integrations but relied on D-ID for avatar creation, infrastructure, and support. “We’re constantly evaluating other platforms,” said Selinfreund, “but one thing D-ID is crushing it on is service. I wouldn’t take any other company into this 10-university alpha trial.”

The large-scale pilot, launched on March 10, brings Randy to medical students worldwide and is expected to generate millions of interactions. To prepare, Dr. Selinfreund routinely stress-tests the system, running Randy through varied scenarios to ensure stability at scale. “We’re about to publish this work, and I need a robust infrastructure and a team I can trust,” he said. “This is a global study—I can’t afford for Randy to crash.”

Separately, the team collects anonymized feedback through REDCap and publishes academic studies to validate outcomes. They also tracked usage in real-world deployments by publishing a QR code in a regional newspaper that connected readers to Randy—and it went off without a hitch.

What’s Next for SIU Medicine

With 11 AI patients already live and new ones being released weekly—including “Alex,” a young adult diabetic—SIU is rapidly expanding its virtual clinic. The next generation of avatars may include body language, hand gestures, and more expressive behaviors to further boost realism and trust-building.

The ultimate goal? Train doctors not just to diagnose, but to connect. “We measure whether medical learners are developing trust with the patient,” says Selinfreund. “That’s the goal.”

As the university moves toward spinning out a company to support and scale this effort, SIU continues to push the boundaries of what’s possible in medical training, with D-ID by their side.

A Case Study

Name: Alzheimer’s Foundation of America

Industry: Nonprofit – Healthcare & Support Services

Company Size: ~50 employees

Company Mission & Vision: To provide support, services, and education to individuals, families, and caregivers affected by Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias nationwide.

Products/Services: An AI-powered assistant for their national helpline.

Target Audiences:

• Families and caregivers of individuals with Alzheimer’s
• Healthcare professionals and social workers
• General public seeking educational resources on Alzheimer’s

From Vision to Virtual Assistant: Inside the Creation of Allison

The Alzheimer’s Foundation of America (AFA) is a national nonprofit organization dedicated to providing support, education, and resources for individuals and families impacted by Alzheimer’s and related dementias. Recognizing the growing need for round-the-clock assistance, AFA introduced Allison, an AI-powered virtual help assistant designed and developed by Bold Crow AI using D-ID’s advanced video avatar API solutions. By delivering reliable information and personalized responses, Allison ensures caregivers have access to critical support at any time, even beyond traditional helpline hours.

Addressing the Gaps in Caregiver Support

AFA operates a national helpline staffed by social workers from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., seven days a week. However, Alzheimer’s caregiving needs don’t follow a schedule. Families often need urgent advice in the middle of the night, early in the morning, or during unexpected crises. Common concerns include:

• What should I do if my loved one is wandering at night?
• How can I help them relax or go to sleep?
• Is it safe to give them certain foods or medications?

AFA needed an innovative way to provide immediate, accurate, and human-like support whenever caregivers needed it most, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

How AI Delivers Real-Time Caregiving Assistance

To bridge this gap, AFA partnered with Bold Crow AI to develop Allison, the first AI-powered virtual assistant designed specifically for Alzheimer’s support. The system built for Allison by Bold Crow AI made perfect sense to utilize D-ID’s digital human technology. Unlike traditional chatbots, D-ID enables Allison with features that offer a more natural and engaging experience by combining a human-like face, voice, and expressions. 

Key features include:

Conversational Interaction – Allison’s lifelike presence creates a sense of connection, making digital interactions feel more natural and reassuring.

24/7 Availability – Equipped with answers to over 300 frequently asked questions, Allison ensures caregivers can get immediate guidance, even when the live helpline is offline.

Help Ticket System:  If a user asks a question outside the agent’s database, Allison will triage and help them write up and submit a help ticket. Social workers respond when they’re back online, ensuring a seamless blend of AI and human support.

Multi-language Support: Allison is programmed to answer questions in multiple languages, including English, Spanish, and even Farsi, increasing accessibility for diverse communities and further fulfilling the organization’s mission of inclusive support.

From Concept to Reality: Bringing Allison to Life

The project began with an in-depth review of frequently asked helpline questions, ensuring Allison could provide accurate and relevant information. AFA partnered with Bold Crow AI, to create Allison and to design and develop the application. Bold Crow AI has enjoyed partnering with D-ID because the technology is a game-changer for organizations looking to engage their communities in more meaningful and interactive ways.

The project was executed in phases:

Customization and Testing: Bold Crow AI meticulously designed and programmed Allison with compassionate responses over several months, refining her tone and delivery to ensure a seamless, glitch-free user experience.

Integration and Launch: Leveraging D-ID’s API, Allison was brought to life and was configured to serve as an on-demand resource for caregivers.

Continuous Improvement: User feedback and social worker insights continue to shape Allison’s evolution, improving her ability to adapt and respond effectively to real-world caregiver needs.

The collaboration between D-ID and Bold Crow AI was essential to Allison’s success. The two teams worked closely from the outset, holding several intricate discussions regarding streaming minutes, technology direction, and implementation.. Bold Crow AI led the technical development, while D-ID provided guidance on integration, response time, and quality assurance, helping fine-tune Allison’s performance. This close partnership ensured a smooth development process and brought Allison to life as a highly interactive, accessible, and effective tool for caregivers.

The Measurable Impact of AI in Alzheimer’s Care

Since its launch in December, Allison has significantly expanded support beyond traditional helpline hours, ensuring caregivers always have access to assistance, even when social workers are unavailable. Currently handling scores of inquiries per week, Allison’s engagement is expected to grow as AFA increases awareness through targeted outreach and promotions. Feedback has been overwhelmingly positive, with social workers and users praising the accuracy, ease of use, and seamless integration of the help ticket system, which bridges the gap between AI and human intervention.

Allison alleviates pressure on AFA’s human support teams by providing instant answers and reducing wait times, allowing them to focus on more complex caregiver needs. As awareness and adoption continue to increase, Allison is proving to be an invaluable tool for families navigating the challenges of Alzheimer’s care, offering reassurance and timely information when needed most.

Why AFA Chose D-ID?

AFA chose D-ID because of its advanced AI and lip-syncing technology, which provides realistic and dynamic human-like interactions that enhance user engagement. Bold Crow AI’s seamless integration of D-ID’s API, coupled with comprehensive documentation, made the implementation and customization process smooth and efficient. Additionally, D-ID’s team offered exceptional support throughout the development process, ensuring Allison was built effectively and aligned perfectly with AFA’s vision. This collaborative approach empowered AFA with a compassionate, functional, and innovative virtual assistant that truly serves the needs of its users.

Impact and Future Plans for the AFA Virtual Assistant

Allison marks a new era in Alzheimer’s caregiving, demonstrating how AI can extend vital support to families and caregivers when they need it most. To increase adoption, AFA is expanding promotional efforts through social media, caregiver conferences, and targeted outreach.

AFA envisions Allison evolving into supporting its National Memory Screening Program by providing free memory screenings 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. By continuously improving its capabilities, AFA is setting a precedent for how nonprofits can use AI-driven solutions to enhance public health services.

A New Era of Assistance for Alzheimer’s Caregivers

Allison is more than a virtual help assistant—the platform is a trusted resource for families navigating the complexities of Alzheimer’s care. By leveraging D-ID’s AI technology, AFA has set a new benchmark for how digital humans can enhance access to reliable, on-demand support.

As Allison’s reach continues to grow, it reinforces AFA’s commitment to ensuring no caregiver faces Alzheimer’s alone, no matter where they live.

Video Campaigns Pilot Test Case

As digital marketers continuously seek innovative strategies to engage customers effectively, D-ID initiated a pilot program to evaluate the impact of personalized video email campaigns. This initiative aimed to reinvigorate interest among less active contacts, enhancing engagement, conversions, and, ultimately customer retention through dynamic, personalized content and coupon redemptions.

Shortcomings of Standard Email Campaigns

Traditional email campaigns frequently face a variety of challenges that can diminish their effectiveness. One major hurdle is the difficulty in achieving meaningful personalization at scale; this often leads to messages that do not resonate on a personal level with recipients. Additionally, businesses incur significant costs by sending large volumes of emails, many of which go unopened, leading to inefficient spending. Once these emails are sent, the content becomes static—updates or corrections post-deployment are not feasible, missing potential opportunities for improvement. Furthermore, conventional emails typically suffer from low engagement rates as they lack the compelling elements necessary to spur recipient interaction.

Introduction to D-ID’s Video Campaigns

In response, D-ID developed a sophisticated platform integrating personalized video content into email marketing campaigns. Key features include:

• Scalable Personalization: Dynamically tailored content for each user to enhance relevance and engagement.
• Cost-Effective Engagement: Charges are only incurred for emails that effectively engage customers, optimizing marketing expenditures.
• Flexible Content Updates: Capability to modify content post-launch, allowing for ongoing optimization.
• Comprehensive Campaign Management: Entire campaigns can be orchestrated within D-ID’s workspace, ensuring seamless integration with any email marketing platform.

Exploring What Worked: Insights from Our Pilot Campaigns

D-ID conducted multiple tests comparing different content formats and personalization levels to thoroughly assess the efficacy of personalized video emails in re-engaging inactive marketing contacts. Specifically, we wanted to see if personalized video campaigns would do better than non-personalized ones in terms of open rate, CTR, and, most importantly, coupon redemption and account activation.

Test Variations:

• Personalized video vs text only: We tested the basic impact of including any visual element against purely text-based emails.
• Same email, text with static image leading to video link: Each email leads to personalized vs non-personalized videos. Personalization fields in the video included First Name / Region / No of videos created.
• Same email, text only: Each email leads to personalized vs non-personalized videos.
• GIF vs. Image: To understand the effectiveness of motion visuals in email content, we compared the engagement levels between static images and dynamic GIFs.
• Non-Personalized: Videos contain a standard, non-customized image relevant to the content of the email but not tailored to the individual user.

Each campaign targeted specific user segments with variations in the visual content to gauge differences in engagement, click-through, and redemption rates. The A/B tests included an even split between the number of recipients, all of whom fit under a similar customer profile and product usage status. All in all, from ideation to implementation, each email took just under an hour to build, the bulk of which was done through the tool’s automation process.

Video Campaign Pilot Testing Results

Building on our innovative approach, the results from our pilot testing provided clear evidence of the effectiveness of personalized video email campaigns. Let’s delve into the specific outcomes and the significant impact these strategies had on engagement and conversion metrics.

• Higher Engagement: Videos, especially personalized ones, consistently led to higher engagement rates. Personalized videos achieved a 16.3% average CTR, significantly outperforming the 11.6% CTR for non-personalized emails. Personalized videos resulted in 18% more email clicks.
• Better Redemptions Conversion: Personalized videos led to a total of 1,812 coupon redemptions, demonstrating a 30% higher redemption rate compared to non-personalized versions.
• Enhanced ROI: The pay-per-click model ensured that spending was focused on actual engagement, promoting cost efficiency and justifying further investment in personalized video content.
• Increased Urgency: Personalized videos encouraged quicker actions with higher CTR, even through complex user journeys, highlighting the need to streamline the CTA process to capitalize on created urgency. 

Strategic Insights and Final Observations

The comprehensive testing of different email formats and personalization levels in D-ID’s pilot case study clearly demonstrates the superior performance of personalized video content in email campaigns. This innovative approach not only addresses the challenges faced by traditional email marketing but also significantly enhances engagement, conversion rates, and customer retention, setting a new standard for effective digital marketing strategies.

Start your journey to success – book a demo with a D-ID expert by filling out our contact form or emailing support@d-id.com and we can help you take your business to the next level.

Name: Pitango

Industry: Venture Capital

Company Mission: Investing in visionary founders and groundbreaking companies from stealth mode to mature companies. 

Pitango VC, Israel’s largest venture capital firm, has fostered innovation since its inception in 1993. With over $3 billion under management, Pitango has a rich history of investing in technology startups at founding and growth stages across various industries, including AI, Data, HealthTech, Quantum Computing, and fintech. As a fund that prioritizes innovation, Pitango continuously adapts its communication and engagement strategies to keep up with the ever-evolving market.

Implementation of D-ID’s Studio

With GenAI growing rapidly, Pitango’s marketing team identified an opportunity to elevate their quarterly newsletter, The Juice, in a way that would continue showcasing the remarkable achievements of their portfolio companies while also nurturing engagement with their readers. 

To do so, they turned to D-ID, a portfolio company in which they strategically invested in from the seed stage in 2017, knowing that it had a solution that was both revolutionary and practical. Their primary objective was to leverage GenAI to create a dynamic, unique, and engaging newsletter for their 10K+ audience. Sharon Erde, Head of Marketing at Pitango, believes firmly in humanizing brands.  By leveraging the avatar as an engaging spokesperson who embodies Pitango’s ideals and ethos, Pitango brought their alter ego to life in a modern, engaging way while also thinking tactically, as the avatar can be distributed across different platforms. The project began with the ideation of an AI-generated avatar named Sam. Sharon Erde knew exactly what she wanted Sam to look and sound like,  carefully crafting the avatar to be the ultimate alter ego of Pitango. 

The Process of Creating a Branded Avatar

The design phase involved close collaboration with a designer who utilized AI tools to bring Sam to life, aligning closely with the envisioned traits. Once Sam was designed to their liking, the team uploaded her image to D-ID’s Creative Reality Studio and let it do its magic, giving Sam a life of her own. The team then took the recording they had created and handed it to a Video Editor to add transitions, subtitles, and background imagery. Sharon noted that while Avatars are indeed engaging, watching an Avatar speak for more than 30 seconds with no other video effects would cause viewer drop-offs. The additional video editing steps played a crucial role in driving the newsletter home.

Audience Reception and Feedback

The introduction of Sam, the new AI newsletter, received overwhelming positive feedback. Internally, the initiative was seen as a testament to Pitango’s commitment to innovation and progressive marketing. Externally, it significantly enhanced engagement, evidenced by a notable spike in newsletter open rates and website traffic, as tracked through Google Analytics.

The feedback highlighted a sense of admiration from recipients, who appreciated the innovative approach and the refreshing format of updates. The success of this initiative has led Pitango to confirm further applications of AI in their communication strategies, aiming to continuously leverage technology to enhance connection and engagement with their audience. They plan on using Sam and other avatars again in future communications and projects.

Pitango’s use of D-ID’s Studio exemplifies how AI can transform traditional business processes— in this case, communication— into more engaging, efficient, and impactful practices. By integrating AI into its strategy, Pitango enhanced its brand presence and demonstrated the potential of its investments and commitment to pushing boundaries – a valuable model for other organizations looking to make waves in their respective industries.

Empowering Growth: How D-ID Reshaped Training and Marketing at Diplomat Global

Name: Diplomat Group

Industry: FMCG Distribution

Company Mission & Vision: Our aim is to drive value and provide customers with full-service FMCG supply chain solutions to become their preferred choice. Nationwide, we distribute a diverse portfolio of global and domestic brands in person­al and household care and food products. Diplomat enables customers to turn opportunity into success. Our approach to doing business adapts global strategies to local market structure and needs. We offer customers joint business planning, best-in-class supply chain, sales and marketing solutions, and a broad range of value-added services.

Diplomat stands tall as the premier sales and distribution company in Israel, specializing in fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) ranging from toiletries to food and a wide range of household items. With a global reach extending to countries like Georgia, Cyprus, South Africa, and New Zealand, Diplomat is renowned for its expansive business network and diverse clientele. Headquartered in Israel, the company operates with a multinational approach, with over 2500 employees globally, catering primarily to retailers.

Identifying the Pain Points

Like many innovative enterprises, Diplomat Group encountered challenges in its quest for efficient and dynamic communication channels, particularly concerning product marketing and employee training. The reliance on external vendors for video production proved to be cumbersome and costly. Despite initial satisfaction with traditional video tools, the integration process and turnaround time were suboptimal. Moreover, the company sought a solution to empower internal teams to create and customize video content independently, facilitating faster and more cost-effective production while enhancing employee skill development.

Discovering D-ID’s Creative Reality Studio

In pursuit of a comprehensive solution, Diplomat embarked on a journey to explore alternatives. Through diligent research and trial periods with various tools, the company discovered D-ID and was instantly drawn to its versatility and user-friendly interface. This discovery came about through organic channels, with recommendations from industry peers and positive reviews emphasizing D-ID’s alignment with the company’s needs. 

Implementing D-ID Solutions

Armed with D-ID’s Creative Reality Studio and the PowerPoint plug-in capabilities, Diplomat’s Global Learning and Development team developed a new workflow for content creation. The platform’s intuitive features enabled the production of diverse video content assets, including training videos for new systems and processes, training guides segmented into easily digestible modules, and presentations with AI presenters. Leveraging D-ID’s premium avatars and a vast library of voices in a wide array of languages, the company crafted engaging narratives and simulations, enhancing both internal training initiatives and external communication strategies. 

Christmas Campaign Test Case

Challenge

The average person’s email inbox is filled with marketing messages and sales announcements on any given day. For Sales and Marketing professionals, standing out during the festive season can be quite a challenge.

An Experian study showed that emails with personalized subject lines are 26% more likely to be opened than those without and Rich Relevance found that revenue is 5.7 times higher in emails that employ personalization.

With this in mind, in December 2023, D-ID decided to put its technology to the test in a unique Christmas email marketing campaign. We aimed to gauge the impact of personalization in email marketing open and conversion rates by comparing personalized videos against non-personalized ones. The tool we used was our brand-new personalized email marketing integration.

Campaign Overview

D-ID leveraged its cutting-edge AI-generated video technology to create two distinct email campaigns for Christmas. The focus was on providing a personalized experience to Group A while offering a standard message to Group B.

Email Content

Both groups received an email with the subject line “Your Xmas gift is here! ”. The body of the email wished recipients a joyful holiday season. There was one key difference in the video content:

Group A (personalized): Addressed the recipient by their first name and offered 20 Studio credits

Group B (non-personalized): A generic greeting without personalization and offered 20 Studio credits

Campaign Results

Conversion Rate: A significant difference was observed in the conversion rates, with the personalized email achieving a 300% higher rate.

Analysis

The campaign’s success hinged on the power of personalization. By tailoring the video greetings, the campaign was able to establish a deeper connection with the recipients and increase engagement and conversion rates. The use of personalization also helped to create a sense of relevance and importance.

The Simplicity of Personalizing Campaigns

As D-ID continues to innovate with AI-powered email marketing solutions the potential for creating more meaningful and engaging customer interactions is vast. Customized AI-generated video content not only captures attention but can significantly enhance user engagement and conversion rates – the key is knowing how to reach your audience.

Crafting your own personalized email marketing campaign doesn’t have to be a Herculean task, thanks to D-ID’s digital humans and our email marketing integration. This email personalization process enables you to create campaigns that resonate deeply with your audience. All it takes is a few simple steps.

Embrace the Power of AI: The first step is leveraging D-ID’s AI-generated video technology, which allows for the creation of speaking avatars.

Segment Your Audience: Speak directly to the interests and behaviors of your audience using intentional segmentation.

Personalize Your Content: Personalization is key to breaking through the noise. By using placeholders in your email templates, such as {First Name}, you can ensure each recipient receives a message that feels crafted just for them. Craft an email body with a clear call-to-action (CTA) to invite your audience to engage with your content, whether it’s watching their personalized video or taking advantage of a special offer.

Monitor and Optimize: Monitoring campaign performance is essential for understanding its impact and making necessary adjustments. The insights gathered from open rates, conversion rates, and user feedback will help you refine your approach, ensuring each campaign is more successful than the last.

Creating a personalized email marketing campaign with D-ID’s technology is straightforward and highly effective. For businesses looking to elevate their customer experience, marketing, and sales campaigns, embracing AI-driven personalization is not just a trend; it’s a transformative approach to connecting with your audience.

Start your journey to success – book a demo with a D-ID expert by filling out our contact form or emailing support@d-id.com and we can help you take your business to the next level.