Updated APL will make programmatic financial transaction audits, more routine.

Published: 16 Sept 2024

London 11 September 2024 Improving the ability for advertisers and publishers to carry out financial audits of their programmatic supply chains, the UK’s Cross-industry Programmatic Taskforce has released an update of the Programmatic Financial Audit Toolkit.

First released in 2022, also known as the APL (Audit Permission Letter), Toolkit 1.2 includes refinements that will enable more efficient access to the necessary financial transaction data from the supply chain participants.

Additionally, improved definitions will ensure that the specialist and professional skills required to carry out audits of the financial transactions across the complex programmatic eco-system, are fully available to advertisers and publishers.

The APL Toolkit’s updates are based on recommendations fed-back by participants in the 2nd Programmatic Supply Chain Study launched in 2023 and carried out by PwC using the APL to obtain permission to access the log-level supply chain data required for the study.

The principal purpose of the Toolkit is to provide the industry with a recognised, standardised NDA means of gaining timely access to the required log-level data for an auditor to carry out an audit of financial programmatic transactions on behalf of an advertiser or publisher.

Commenting on the update, Dan Larden, Head of Media, ISBA said ‘Our members are delighted that these updates are now in the market, bringing the auditability of programmatic advertising spend in line with other media channels. At a time when these informed refinements will make it much easier for many advertisers to gather a deeper understanding of their spend across all media.’

The updated version of Toolkit 1.2 includes refinements to the texts of the APL, new inclusions in the Data Fields List and modifications to the Principles Document, to improve the efficiency of accessing the data required from all parties involved in programmatic financial transactions in the supply chain.

As with the original APL Toolkit, the Cross-industry Programmatic Taskforce jointly-managed the updates. The Taskforce is formed of the industry’s trade bodies (The Association of Online Publishers – AOP; The Institute of Practitioners of Advertising, the IPA, representing Agencies; IAB UK, representing ad tech providers; and ISBA, representing advertisers.

The Toolkit is freely available to all and any industry participants, downloadable via the AOP, IPA, IAB UK and ISBA websites.

DOWNLOAD TOOLKIT

ENDS

Press Contacts

AOP Lauren Jones, Ginger May lauren.jones@teamgingermay.com +44 (0) 7867 788318

IAB Jessie Sampson jessie@iabuk.com + 44 (0) 7917 831694

IPA Sylvia Wood sylvia@ipa.co.uk +44 (0) 207 201 8247 / 07881 957294

ISBA Abi Slater abis@isba.org.uk +44 (0) 7917 048835

About Association of Online Publishers

Association of Online Publishers (AOP) is an industry body representing digital publishing companies that create original, branded, quality content. AOP champions the interests of media owners from diverse backgrounds including newspaper and magazine publishing, TV and radio broadcasting, and pure online media. For more information, please visit www.ukaop.org.

About IAB UK

IAB UK is the industry body for digital advertising. We work with our members across the digital advertising supply chain to enable better business, for the benefit of everyone. This goal informs all of our work - whether we’re championing self-regulation via the IAB Gold Standard; measuring the size of the UK market via Digital Adspend; or encouraging advertisers to rediscover the joy of digital with the help of an 8ft bear. Visit our website to find out more about our purpose and projects.

About The IPA

Incorporated by Royal Charter, the IPA’s role is to advance the value, theory and practice of advertising, media and marketing communications; to promote best practice standards in these fields; and to ensure that the work it does will benefit the public, the wider business community and the national economy.

It has a well-earned reputation for thought leadership, best practice and continuous professional development and also provides core support and advisory services. Its membership base is predominantly made up of corporate members who collectively handle over 85% of the UK’s annual £22bn ad spend and who represent over 4,000 brands and employ over 25,000 staff. Based in the United Kingdom for nearly 100 years, IPA programmes can be found in more than 60 countries worldwide. www.ipa.co.uk

About ISBA

ISBA is the only body that represents brand owners advertising in the UK. We empower them to understand the industry and shape its future because we bring together a powerful community of marketers with common interests; lead decision-making with knowledge and insight; and give a single voice to advocacy for the improvement of the industry.

ISBA is a member of the Advertising Association and represents advertisers on the Committee of Advertising Practice and the Broadcast Committee of Advertising Practice, sister organisations of the Advertising Standards Association, which are responsible for writing the Advertising Codes. We are also members of the World Federation of Advertisers. We can use our leadership role in such bodies to set and promote high industry standards as well as a robust self-regulatory regime. www.isba.org.uk