Navigating the AI Gold Rush: Insights on Marketing Automation in 2026

In the first Marketing Automation Moment episode of 2026, Hannah and Mike dive into whether marketing automation and AI truly save marketers time. They discuss insights from recent Act-On and Salesforce webinars, exploring how lean teams can succeed, the growing scepticism around generative AI, and the need to balance technology with a human touch. The episode wraps with their Insightful Tip of the Week on using list segmentation and outside perspectives to strengthen personalization and strategy.

About Napier

Napier is a PR-lead, full service marketing agency that specialises in the B2B technology sector. We work closely with our clients to build campaigns, focusing on achieving results that have a significant positive impact on their businesses and which, above all, ensure maximum return on their investment.

About Mike Maynard

Mike is the Chairman of Napier, a PR and marketing agency for B2B technology companies. A self-confessed geek who loves talking about technology, he believes that combining the measurement, accountability and innovation that he learnt as an engineer with a passion for communicating ensures Napier delivers great campaigns and tangible return on investment.

About Hannah Wehrly

Hannah a Director at Napier and leads on pitching, proposal writing, lead nurturing, email marketing, social media and content creation. Hannah joined the Napier team back in 2017 as a Marketing Specialist after completing her degree in Marketing and Communications, and her role focuses on developing new relationships with potential clients.

Time Stamps

00:01:39 - Market Automation Tools: Do They Save Time?

Exploration of whether marketing automation tools genuinely help save time for marketers.

00:05:03 - The AI Gold Rush: Is It Over?

Analysis of the current state of AI in marketing and the shift in perception regarding its effectiveness.

00:11:11 - AI as a Tool, Not a Magic Wand

Reflection on the realistic expectations of AI's capabilities in marketing.

00:12:56 - The Plateau of Productivity

Exploration of the Gartner hype cycle and the future integration of AI into marketing practices.

00:18:01 - Insightful Tip of the Week: List Segmentation

Hannah shares a tip on the importance of segmenting marketing lists for better personalization.

00:19:20 - Insightful Tip of the Week: Get an Outside Perspective

Mike emphasizes the value of obtaining external insights to improve marketing strategies and content.

Follow Mike and Hannah:

Mike Maynard on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikemaynard/

Hannah Wehrly on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hannah-wehrly-b0706a107/

Napier website: https://www.napierb2b.com/

Napier LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/napier-partnership-limited/

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Want more? Check out Napier’s other podcast – Marketing B2B Technology: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/marketing-b2b-technology/id1485417724