Interview with Artem Fedin, CEO of aff.studio

Artem Fedin, CEO of aff.studio, outlines the challenges affiliates face due to data fragmentation across multiple operator dashboards. This interview reveals how his company addresses the absence of unified standards in the industry.

Initial Problems in the Affiliate Industry

When aff.studio began, Fedin and his team faced data and financial issues. The content team spent time verifying details about casinos and games, while profit figures were scattered across different dashboards, complicating the report generation. The solution was to create tools like CasinoMass, which keeps data updated, and AffStata, which consolidates partner information into one dashboard.

Challenges of Lack of Standards

Fedin notes that the lack of standards in affiliate reporting is not a technological issue but one of incentives. Operators design their dashboards for themselves, without a common standard. Terms like "active player" or "NGR" vary by operator, and the lack of commercial pressure prevents standardization. Affiliates, being fragmented, cannot demand changes, leaving each to solve problems individually.

Common Mistakes in Reading Reports

Some of the costliest mistakes for affiliates include comparing non-comparable numbers, interpreting absolute figures instead of ratios, and evaluating short periods. Fedin suggests looking at ratios over time to spot anomalies in the data.

Recurring Issues in Tracking

Tracking conversions is complex due to the ongoing degradation of cookies and issues with deep links. Tracking failures are often silent, and discrepancies remain hidden unless the data is compared independently. Fedin recommends using server-to-server postbacks and maintaining consistent naming conventions.

Impact of AffStata on Affiliates

AffStata centralizes data, allowing affiliates to manage their time and business decisions better. With a unified view, trends and variations in programs become apparent, facilitating real comparisons.

Future of Automation and Analysis

Fedin emphasizes that automation is more valuable in the collection and cleaning of data, allowing for more immediate analysis. However, he warns that data accuracy is essential before conducting any analysis.

Overlooked Metrics

Fedin suggests that more attention should be paid to player quality over time and cohort values at 60 and 90 days. He also cautions about the difference between what a program accumulates and what it actually pays out.

Lessons Learned at the Helm of aff.studio

Fedin learned that trust is crucial in this business. Value does not only lie in features but in how the product addresses the true problems of affiliates. Constant dialogue with affiliates is essential to adjust solutions.

Future Vision for aff.studio

Looking ahead, aff.studio aspires to be an infrastructure for affiliate businesses, providing tools designed for a professional approach to the market.