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What unBoxed 2025 Tells Us About the Future of Amazon Advertising

What unBoxed 2025 Tells Us About the Future of Amazon Advertising

Commerce Commerce, Retail media, eCommerce Platforms 4 min read
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Written by
Monks

unboxed-mainstage

Amazon Ads’ annual unBoxed conference gives advertisers a glimpse into how Amazon is evolving their advertising solutions to help brands reach shoppers more effectively. The Monks team was on the ground (and onstage!) to get the latest news, so we can help brands stay on top of the changes.

This year, Amazon’s keynotes reinforced a clear message: positioning their ad offering as “full-funnel, at scale, for everyone.” Every announcement aimed to unite ad types, streamline operations and measurement for advertisers, and make creative more accessible to brands of all sizes. Here’s what advertisers need to know about the new product lineup, and what it tells us about the future of Amazon Ads.

Here’s what’s rolling out across Amazon’s newest products.

1. Eliminating silos between awareness and conversion. 

Amazon is making it easier for advertisers to connect upper- and lower-funnel campaigns, closing gaps that often make measurement and optimization harder. Brands should keep an eye out for:

  • Full-Funnel Campaigns, a new campaign type that expands on last year’s Brand+ and Performance+ formats. Amazon cited examples in which Brand+ and Performance+ are most effective when run together, such as a 144% lift in conversion rate and a 35% improvement in cost per acquisition for H&R Block, so they created a product to deliver that effect in one.
  • New consolidated interfaces to unite upper- and lower-funnel ads in one view. The new Campaign Manager combines AMS/Ad Console and Amazon DSP into a single workspace. This provides a complete view of Sponsored Products, Sponsored Brands, and programmatic campaigns in one place. Crucially, it also includes new unified metrics so brands can make apples-to-apples decisions. Amazon is doing the same for streaming and linear TV, launching Complete TV and Inventory Hub to unite digital and traditional media planning.
2. Democratized access to creative generation and deeper insights, even for smaller advertisers. 

Amazon is improving access to advanced creative and analytical tools for brands of all sizes. These updates help teams large and small act faster and test new ideas with fewer barriers. Brands should experiment with:

  • Ads Agent, an AI assistant that uses natural language to understand ad performance, make changes instantly, uncover new audiences, and pull insights from Amazon Marketing Cloud (AMC) without SQL knowledge or data science support.
  • The improved Creative Studio produces image, video and audio ads using generative AI with greater fidelity and complexity than prior iterations of the tool. For brands without a deep bench of design resources, this enables faster creative production and more relevant messaging during shopping “micromoments” and holidays.
3. A more educational shopper experience to reduce “leaky” funnels. 

These updates make it easier for shoppers to educate themselves and overcome friction while in the middle of their Amazon search journey, ultimately boosting sales for brands who need to educate their buyer in order to win the sale. The Amazon results feed will now include:

  • Sponsored Products Video, for brands to showcase motion assets directly within search results. This could be key for challenger brands to highlight their differentiators without requiring users to reach the product detail page.
  • AI Prompts, powered by Rufus, to anticipate shopper hesitations and educate them while they compare products. The in-feed Q&A modules will guide shoppers toward purchase by educating them when they’ve slowed their scroll through the results list.

Amazon’s changes point to two major themes.

Amazon is making it clear that they’re investing in taking control of advertiser perception of their offering, and are aiming to get two major themes across to brands:

  • They’re in your corner and responsive to your feedback. In all main stage talks, Amazon leadership reinforced how many of the product evolutions they were announcing were direct results of feedback from brands and partners. For example, advertisers have long asked for more accessibility and actionability from the gold mine of shopping data Amazon controls; in response, they expanded AMC’s ad-traffic lookback window from 13 to 25 months, launched country-level budget/bids in Amazon Ads Console, and premiered the Ads Agent for generating SQL queries faster. Additionally, even evolutions of existing products—like the launch of Sponsored Products Video—achieved an audible reaction of delight on the conference floor because brands have long asked for more engaging ways to stand out on the results page.
  • They’re more than the largest point of purchase, they’re the most integrated ecosystem in digital commerce. Amazon is making the most of their huge investments in upper-funnel properties (from Prime Video to Thursday Night Football to Twitch) with the launch of dedicated products for closing the gap between discovery and conversion. In the context of their history as an ad platform, these rollouts are an even firmer push into efficient, insight-driven advertising across the full funnel. Amazon is solidifying their shift from a purchase-focused platform into a connected ecosystem that partners with brands to drive discovery and educate shoppers, not just convert demand.

Prepare for the next chapter of Amazon advertising. 

This year’s unBoxed event showed a clear direction for where Amazon advertising is heading. Campaign management, creative production, and performance measurement are becoming unified to give advertisers more speed and clarity across the funnel. Looking to 2026, Amazon is positioning itself as an integrated partner for brands throughout the entire buyer journey, not only at the point of purchase.

As innovation accelerates, the opportunity lies in choosing the advancements that support long-term goals and applying them in measurable ways. Amazon Ads’ unBoxed 2025 offered a preview of what the future of commerce media will look like when insights, creative and optimization work within one connected ecosystem. If you’re exploring how these updates could fit into your 2026 plans, reach out and we can help assess which changes are worth testing.

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Learn about key updates from Amazon Ads unBoxed 2025 and what they mean for brands’ full-funnel growth strategies for holiday and 2026. What unBoxed 2025 Tells Us About the Future of Amazon Advertising Learn about key updates from Amazon Ads unBoxed 2025 and what they mean for brands’ full-funnel growth strategies for holiday and 2026. amazon amazon ads amazon advertising full-funnel media Amazon Ads Partner amazon unboxed amazon announcements amazon advertising updates full funnel advertising Commerce eCommerce Platforms Retail media

Quality and Quantity • Paycor & Monks Double Average Lead Value with Google’s Demand Gen

  • Client

    Paycor

  • Solutions

    Performance MediaMediaProgrammaticPaid Search

Results

  • 2x average lead value
  • 90% increase in appointments
  • 20% improvement in cost per opportunity

Scaling lead generation for future growth.

Paycor is a platform built to help leaders recruit, manage and develop high-performing teams through technology that supports everything from payroll to performance management. The SaaS brand needed to scale their primary indicators of pipeline growth, marketing qualified leads (MQLs) and first-time appointments with sales reps (FTAs), but already had a mature digital program in place. With their existing digital strategy reaching a plateau, Paycor challenged Monks to unlock new avenues for scalable growth.

Businessmen shaking hands in a factory. Two factory workers and two people in suits are collaborating.
A man in an office working on a computer.

A full-funnel media mix guided users to act.

Standard display tactics on the Google Display Network had been relatively effective for the brand; engagement was strong and the campaigns helped maintain visibility with remarketing audiences, but cost-per-click (CPC) was relatively high. To really scale, we turned to AI. Unlike traditional display tactics, Google’s Demand Generation product could learn, adapt and scale outcomes faster if given the right inputs.

Our team designed a two-part Demand Gen strategy tailored to Paycor’s goals. We started by running prospecting campaigns focused on competitor audiences to attract new, high-potential users. Then we layered in remarketing to re-engage users who had already shown interest but hadn’t yet converted. Both campaigns used a mix of static imagery and messaging pulled from top-performing Search ads, but video quickly became a standout performer.

We tested a range of video formats, from 30-second feature clips to five-minute product tours. The long-form videos drove the highest engagement and view-through rates, helping build interest and familiarity with Paycor's offering. The shorter videos were stronger at driving direct conversions. This combination formed an integrated creative system that guided users from awareness to action within the same campaign environment.

In partnership with

  • Paycor
Client Words We value our partnership with Monks because of their consistent push for experimentation. The strong pipeline contributions of the Google Demand Gen campaigns are a result of our close collaboration on business priorities and a testament to their never-settle approach.
Nick Berta from Paycor, smiling at the camera in front of a window

Nick Berta

Manager, Digital Marketing

Smart bidding aligned spend with business goals.

To build early traction, we launched with a Max Clicks bidding strategy to give Google room to gather data and optimize delivery. Once the campaigns were capturing enough engagement volume to shift out of the algorithmic learning phase, we shifted to Maximum Conversion Value to align spend with deeper-funnel results. We also implemented a tailored value-based bidding structure that reflected Paycor’s business goals. To align with these goals, we dynamically weighted MQLs based on company size and historical close-rate trends. FTAs and Opportunity Created conversions were given higher, fixed values to reinforce the quality of those users, while early-stage leads were excluded to sharpen the algorithm’s focus on revenue-ready prospects.

The AI-powered campaigns drove impressive results.

When we looked at performance side by side, the difference between the Demand Gen and traditional GDN campaigns was immediately clear: we saw a 2x increase in average lead value, a 90% increase in appointments, and a 20% improvement in cost per opportunity. These improvements reflect the stronger intent and relevance of the audiences we reached through AI-powered targeting and a dynamic value-based bidding structure that mapped directly to Paycor's business priorities. By focusing on signals that aligned with revenue potential, we quickly outperformed legacy display tactics and validated Demand Gen campaigns as a scalable approach to drive pipeline for Paycor.

Want to talk demand generation? Get in touch.

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See more examples of excellence in media.

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Off-Season, On Strategy • Turning Seasonality into a Strategic Advantage

  • Client

    Orbit

  • Solutions

    CommercePerformance MediaMediaProgrammatic

Results

  • 30% YoY increase in Q4 sales
  • 4.5x ROAS on new product launch
  • 15% higher conversion rate in Q4
  • Finalist for "Best Use of Retail Media" at the Digiday Awards 2025
  • Winner of "Best in Commerce Media" at the AdExchanger Awards 2025

Challenging seasonal norms.

Orbit Irrigation, a trusted brand in home watering systems, typically sees demand spike in the warmer months, while Q4 has traditionally been slower. Orbit partnered with Monks to build a seasonal Amazon Ads strategy that turned Q4 from a quiet period into a meaningful growth opportunity. Instead of scaling back, we used the off-season to boost brand visibility and lay the groundwork for a high-stakes product launch.

A strategy built for seasonality and sustained growth.

To set the foundation, we optimized 50+ product detail pages, refreshed Orbit’s Amazon Brand Store, acquired early customer reviews and ensured inventory was positioned to meet demand. From there, we used insights from Amazon Marketing Cloud to rebuild Sponsored Ads and DSP campaigns around real shopper behavior. To increase visibility, we expanded keyword coverage and used variation testing to group similar SKUs under a single parent listing. This helped capture more long-tail search traffic, while high-intent retargeting kept Orbit top of mind during key holiday moments.

In partnership with

  • Orbit
Client Words Q4 has always been a quieter time for our business, but working with Monks helped us turn that off-season into a strategic advantage. Their team brought fresh ideas, clear strategy, and thoughtful planning. We stayed focused, moved quickly, and made confident decisions—all while building on what already works.
Logo for Orbit Irrigation, a subsidiary of Husqvarna Group

Jose Preza Torres

Account Manager

Off-season strategy. On-season results.

Orbit’s new approach set a higher bar for seasonal planning. Q4 sales increased 30% compared to the previous year, with a 391% revenue surge in their top product category and a 15% lift in conversion rates. New-to-brand purchases remained above 70%, while Amazon DSP emerged as a top driver of performance. That momentum continued into January, where the new product launch achieved a 4.5x return on ad spend, proving that strategic groundwork during slower months can lead to strong results when demand returns.

Setting the stage for year-round performance.

Monks’ vigilant approach ensured that as consumer demand returned, Orbit was not just ready to respond but positioned to accelerate—maintaining share of voice, protecting search rank, and investing in audience engagement when others paused. By rethinking seasonal investment and leaning into full-funnel planning, Orbit not only saw a stronger-than-ever off-season but also created momentum for an even more successful on-season.

Want to talk retail media? Get in touch.

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Please fill out the following quick questions so our team can get in touch with you.

See more examples of excellence in commerce.

Winning the Shift to a 360 Video Approach

Winning the Shift to a 360 Video Approach

Media Media, Video (TV/CTV) 1 min read
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Written by
Monks

Bryan Sherman, Global EVP of Monks, and Jeff Cohen, Tech Evangelist at Amazon Ads at Amazon Port

Marketers are faced with navigating the complexities of today's fragmented video ecosystem and challenged with making crucial advertising budget shifts from linear TV to streaming.

In this conversation, recorded live at Cannes Lions, Bryan Sherman, Global EVP of Monks, and Jeff Cohen, Tech Evangelist at Amazon Ads, unpack how advertisers can master this new landscape.

Discover how Amazon DSP has evolved into a full-funnel video consolidation platform. Learn how marketers of all sizes—from enterprise to mid-market—are leveraging the partnership between Monks and Amazon Ads to access a powerful combination of inventory, including:

  • Exclusive Amazon Properties: Prime Video, Twitch, Freevee and a growing slate of global live sports.
  • Premium Third-Party Supply: Consolidated access to top-tier streaming services like Disney+, Hulu and Roku.

The conversation goes beyond inventory, exploring the crucial role of measurement in proving the value of upper-funnel video investment. Learn how tools like Amazon Marketing Cloud (AMC) enable brands to connect video campaigns to real business outcomes, measure incrementality and justify shifting budgets toward new customer acquisition.

Listen in for actionable strategies to unlock valuable audiences at scale and ensure your video advertising resonates in the modern media landscape. 

 

A person viewed from over the shoulder, holding a smartphone and setting up a campaign in the Amazon Ads mobile app. The image is in black and white with the Amazon Ads logo in the center.

Supercharge Your Advertising with Amazon Ads

Unlock the power of Amazon Ads to create inspiring campaigns across Amazon’s complete advertising suite.

Learn More
Unlock your OTT and CTV advertising strategy with insights from Monks and Amazon Ads. Learn how to leverage the Amazon DSP to solve for media fragmentation, consolidate premium video inventory like Prime Video and live sports, and use advanced measurement to connect upper-funnel campaigns to real business growth. amazon ads ctv full-funnel media Media Video (TV/CTV)

Building to Scale • Five years of full-funnel integrated media growth

  • Client

    SketchUp

  • Solutions

    Media Strategy & PlanningPerformance MediaPaid SearchPaid SocialProgrammatic

Results

  • 70% average annual revenue growth for five consecutive years
  • Scaled to 15 countries, 9 digital channels, and 8 languages
  • Recognized finalist for Google Agency Excellence Awards

Designing a successful collaboration

Trimble has partnered with Monks since 2020 to acquire customers for SketchUp, a 3D design software for SMBs. On a mission to turn ideas into reality with accessible modeling solutions, SketchUp was aiming for global growth. Through our close partnership, we continually improved product-led sales for five years with consistent data-backed experimentation.

  1. Our Approach

    If you build it, they will come. • Multichannel scale across the globe, five years in the making.

  2. 2020

    Reinforce the Foundation
    Monks improved the feedback loop of revenue data to Google and Meta so we could eliminate waste. The reinvested cost savings supported growth through a company rebrand.

  3. 2021

    Expand Channels Profitably
    Building on stable core channels, we generated further demand by adding YouTube and LinkedIn to the evergreen media mix. Fresh experiments unlocked new highs (piloting seasonal promotions) and identified points of diminishing returns (stress tests for budget efficacy).

  4. 2022

    Unlock Upper Funnel & App Acquisition
    Proving we could maintain a sustainable ROAS across a broader mix, we expanded our measurement framework for robust full-funnel strategy: brand lift studies established leading performance indicators, and app ads generated new revenue outside the .com purchase point.

  5. 2023

    Increase Global Footprint
    Supported by the measurement updates, we ramped up testing of new creative and campaign types in NAMER. This testing playground gave a leg up on performance when we expanded ad coverage to a total of eleven markets, each with localized launch strategies.

  6. 2024

    Rapid Testing Velocity
    With multiple years of testing under our belts, we continued to push new experiments in ad creative and upper-funnel and mid-funnel media. Our learning agenda was fueled by tailoring messaging and visuals to distinct use cases and value props, achieving more relevance for unique personas.

  7. 2025

    Never Settle
    With such a large global footprint established, we shift into a phase of market refinement. This includes testing regional channels and unlocking fresh efficiencies with generative AI and AI-powered ad delivery on core channels. We’re also scaling support for additional purchase paths, including generating sales-supported leads to acquire larger customers.

  8. SketchUp was named an International Growth category finalist by Google
  9. From visualizing global growth to being recognized for it together.

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  • An interior designer showing a 3D model Example ad created for SketchUp by Monks
  • Example ads created for SketchUp by Monks, translated into multiple languages
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In partnership with

  • SketchUp
The partnership between Trimble and Monks has been vital to the success and growth of our digital program over the past few years. The Monks team consistently aligns with our goals and has shown the ability to remain agile, even as our needs have evolved significantly. I wouldn't change anything about the service we've received.
Tiffany Dequaine from SketchUp

Tiffany Dequaine

Sr. Manager, Global Digital Marketing

Google Agency Excellence awards finalist statuette on a white background

Our growth strategy has also paid off with recognition from Google's Agency Excellence Awards, as a finalist in the International Growth category in 2024.

Transforming together.

With the successful scale of SketchUp's customer acquisition program, Monks and Trimble have continued to deepen their partnership across additional software products. We're applying our full-funnel expertise to build deeper digital maturity across their entire organization, furthering their goal of powering an interconnected world of work.

Want to chat integrated media growth? Get in touch.

Hey👋

Please fill out the following quick questions so our team can get in touch with you.

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