The Myth of the “Stack”

Retailers love to brag about their media stack like it’s a trophy case. Loyalty app? Check. Digital screens? Check. Coupons and retail media networks? Double check. But ask them about audio and you’ll often hear: “We don’t really need that.”

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That’s a miss. Audio is one of the most cost-effective channels available. It reaches every shopper in the store by default, yet too often it’s left out of the mix. Without it, the so-called stack is just a pile of tools with a gap right in the middle.

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Clutter vs Integration

Clutter looks like this:

- Screens flash promos that doesn’t reach anyone outside of view

- Apps push out rewards that feel random or mistimed.

- Shoppers hear nothing in-store that connects to what they saw online.

- Retailers can’t measure what worked, so they just guess.

Integration looks like this:

Messages are consistent across speakers, displays, screens, and apps.

- Audio reinforces visuals, driving shoppers to notice and act.

- Data flows across channels, turning every impression into something measurable.

- Campaigns adjust in real time based on what actually sells.

What a Fully Integrated Stack Looks Like

A truly integrated in-store media stack doesn’t just line up channels, it choreographs them.

- Audio grabs attention in-aisle and provides reach to millions of customers

- Screens and Displays bring offers to life visually with dynamic pricing or QR codes.

- Apps personalize and extend those offers before and after the trip.

- POS and transaction data close the loop, showing exactly what worked.

Together, these elements form a system that doesn’t just broadcast messages but adapts, learns, and scales with every campaign.

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Why Integration Wins

When channels act separately, shoppers shrug. When they work together, shoppers act. Integration makes in-store media feel less like noise and more like a guided journey.

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Audio isn’t just background filler… it works. Research from IAB Canada shows that 58% of shoppers who heard an in-store audio ad went on to make a purchase as a result (source). That’s proof that when you connect audio to the rest of the stack, you’re not just creating cohesion, you’re creating measurable impact.

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How QSIC Delivers It

QSIC doesn’t add to the clutter. We connect the dots.

- Audio tied to transaction data for real attribution in minutes.

- AI Ad Creator that slashes the cost of producing retail-ready audio.

- APIs that sync audio with screens and apps, so every touchpoint reinforces the next.

With QSIC, audio stops being the forgotten channel and becomes the driver of integration.

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The Punchline

A “stack” is just a buzzword if the pieces don’t sync. Integration is what makes in-store media matter. Audio, the channel too many retailers overlook is the cost-effective glue that makes the whole system stick.

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