Dentsu Unlocks Deep Understanding of the B2B Buyer, Launches Fourth Annual Superpowers Index

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Dentsu, an integrated growth and transformation partner to the world's leading organizations, today published the largest study of B2B buying behavior globally for the fourth consecutive year. The Superpowers Index includes over 14,000 individual buyer interviews​ and covers over 25,000 in-depth buying experiences. The research provides a diagnostic platform that addresses the real drivers behind B2B buying decisions, where to improve the B2B buyer journey and the business impact ​of experience.  

The publication of this research coincides with the global expansion of dentsu’s B2B Specialized Practice. Dentsu B2B is designed to connect modern businesses, driving growth through integrated B2B solutions that bridge the gap between marketing, IT, and sales, helping brands achieve unprecedented levels of performance. The specialized practice is an evolution of the successful Merkle B2B offering.  Already one of the largest and fastest growing B2B practices, it is expanding to include additional capabilities across dentsu’s agency brands and geographies, ensuring global consistency and local relevance. The expanded dentsu B2B global practice is led by Patrick Hounsell, President dentsu B2B, Americas, Rob Gold, President, dentsu B2B, EMEA, Kiaran Geen, President dentsu B2B, APAC, and Tsuyoshi George Komuro, Managing Director, Marketing Division 8, Dentsu Inc., who leads B2B marketing consulting in Japan. 

The Superpowers Index, originally published in 2021, uses a single metric that captures overall brand experience and provides a comprehensive, single index to help brands assess their performance against key criteria that drive success. This index offers invaluable insights, enabling businesses to fine-tune their strategies and achieve superior outcomes. 

  • Brand building has jumped from the fifth priority in 2023 to the number one priority in 2024 
  • The number of brands considered as part of B2B buying journeys is up 62% since 2021 
  • Average decision time has increased 54 days since 2021. The estimated value to the world economy of these delayed B2B opportunities is approximately $1.9tn 
  • Only around two in five business were highly satisfied with the brand they chose in tailoring their offering to fit their needs, and these scores have shown no sign of improving since 2022 
  • A 10-point increase in the proprietary Superpowers Index Score results in a 14% average  uplift in the dollar value of each opportunity 

In addition to the Superpowers Index, dentsu B2B has launched specialty capabilities aimed at transforming B2B marketing and sales strategies, via the dentsu B2B growth engine: 

Marketing For Growth — This growth framework leverages both technology enablement and marketing services to accelerate business expansion. By integrating advanced technology with strategic marketing efforts, businesses can achieve scalable growth and enhanced market presence. 

Intelligent ABX — By harnessing the power of artificial intelligence, Intelligent ABX revolutionizes account-based management initiatives. This solution empowers clients to transform their approach, ensuring more effective targeting and engagement with key accounts, ultimately driving better business results. 

Brand to Demand Advertising — Focusing on a full view of the customer, this solution seamlessly integrates brand and demand generation efforts to enhance B2B performance. By aligning these critical elements, businesses can create a cohesive strategy that maximizes brand impact and drives demand, resulting in sustained growth and success. 

Sales Enablement — Designed to propel B2B leaders into the future, Sales Enablement focuses on driving commerce and enhancing customer experience. This solution helps businesses improve revenue by optimizing their sales processes and delivering exceptional customer journeys. 

“The Superpowers Index provides a framework for driving client growth by benchmarking performance across the 30 decision drivers, pinpointing improvement opportunities and measurement and gives a comprehensive look at the evolving landscape of B2B marketing year over year. The research allows us to target and refine our dentsu B2B capabilities to the needs of global clients across markets,” said Patrick Hounsell, President dentsu B2B. “Our goal is to provide B2B brands with the tools and insights they need to connect their marketing, IT, and sales efforts more effectively and these solutions represent a significant leap forward in our commitment to driving B2B success." 

Read the full Superpowers Index here.