Meet the Member: Fabrice Rault, Director of DS Agency

In our latest Meet the Member Feature, we had the pleasure of speaking with Fabrice Rault, Director of DS Agency. DS Agency works with their clients to help craft their digital strategy and then deploy this strategy across creation, production and the activation of various channels and digital marketing tools. Fabrice has been a supporter of the Chamber since 2014 and we're happy to introduce the work of DS Agency and DS Digital, bridging the gap between France and the United States for international marketers. 

FACC: DS Agency has offices in Paris, New York and Sydney and proposes services in audit, strategic recommendations, digital transformation and consulting. Your clients have been very diverse, from Christofle, to Dior, Michelin, Alten, Peugeot and more. What approach do you use to crafting digital experiences that best reflect the sector and mission of each of your clients?

FR: In Paris or New York, we take a partnership approach to any strategic project. Developing a compelling and effective strategy requires considerable honesty and transparency from both parties. 

Whether it’s a technical website build or a creative new app, we approach every project with energy, enthusiasm and a focus on results. We take the time to understand goals, and we deliver customised, creative solutions - on time and on budget. Behind every successful DS DIGITAL project is an expert and customised strategy. We won’t start any project until we have a rock solid understanding of requirements; nor until we’ve defined an innovative and practical plan of action. Every strategy we develop is unique and addresses specific goals and business challenges. We’ll never create unnecessarily long, drawn-out strategy presentations just for the sake of it, and you’ll never find us regurgitating the same plans, time and time again. Before defining a digital strategy, we conduct an extensive Discover phase - in which we listen, ask, question, challenge, review and absorb everything we can about your business. The deeper we immerse ourselves, the better our strategic input. We believe creative thinking should lead every element of a project; from the initial strategy, to ongoing maintenance and support.

FACC: As Director, what does your role consist of? Are you focused on the NY market or is your role global in scope? What experience to you bring to the table and how has it helped you to be an effective leader?

FR: As Director, I manage a smart, passionate and highly experienced team of digital experts based in New York and Paris. With close to two decades, digital experience, I’ve evolved alongside the technology we use, and with our clients’ needs. I've deep technical knowledge and creative ability, make sound recommendations based on real experience, and love nothing more than a new challenge.

Whether in Paris or New York, I try to build a people-first team, with a strong focus on work-life balance, and on working cohesively and collaboratively. I employ bright, digitally-focused experts who are able to work independently and proactively, and we give our people the support and the freedom they need to uncover the most creative and clever solutions.

We mix hard work with plenty of fun.

FACC: Are there any trends or up-and-coming initiatives you have remarked that companies should be considering as part of their digital strategy? i.e. apps, payment processors, internal production tools, anything specific to web design ( beyond mobile responsive…)?

FR: Oh yes, there are so many ! The world of digital marketing is constantly changing, especially in the modern era of social media, automated ad tech and audience analytics. From technology like virtual reality and artificial intelligence to Voice search and Chatbots, here's how DS AGENCY and their clients can take advantage of the latest trends.

Virtual reality is becoming more popular as a marketing tool for big and small brands. The challenge is using VR in a way that makes sense for your overall brand messaging and target audience. VR marketing is still emerging, so it's a great time to explore your options and get ahead of the curve.

Voice search is one of the most rapidly adopted technologies in recent history and it's changing the way consumers interact with the world around them. When you ask a question, you do not get 10 links back; you get one direct answer.

Chatbots are popping up everywhere, both in Facebook and other live chat solutions. As cat-based AI takes off, I expect to see more chatbots being used in everything, answering FAQs, placing orders and getting in touch with customer service. 

FACC: Does DS Agency work with small and large companies alike?

FR: Of course, DS AGENCY offers companies of all sizes their expertises. We collaborate with small companies (like https://www.tristangodefroy.com) and big companies (like https://www.christofle.com/us_en) but also with startups (like https: //www.fused -events.com/en).

FACC: Do you have a simple piece of advice that you would give to startups establishing their digital presence and company identity?

FR: Unfortunately there is no simple answer… It's a content war out there, only the strongest brands win. But here are five steps for building a strong company identity.

• Step 1: Conduct a Thorough Brand Audit
• Step 2: Establish Your Unique Value Proposition and Messaging Statements
• Step 3: Develop Your Brand's Creative Elements
• Step 4: Implement Strategies to Establish the Brand Identity
• Step 5: Analyze and Refine the Brand Identity

FACC: How did you hear about the FACC and what are you most looking forward to for the rest of 2019?

FR: I heard about the FACC from a friend in New York and I’m most looking forward to meet other members of the French community :)

Read more about their new office in New York (article in French). 

Interested in connecting with Fabrice? Log in now to the FACC Member Directory.