Launched new media monitoring tech endorsed by corporate Jamaica

Durrant Pate/Contributor

Jamaican marketing and communications technology company DRT Communications is positioning to become a hub for Caribbean Media Intelligence and Marketing Solutions with yesterday’s launch of its new and improved media monitoring platform.

Declaring that this new and improved media monitoring platform could make Jamaica the nerve centre for Caribbean media intelligence. This move is set to reshape the marketing and communications technology industry in the region. 

With funding from the Development Bank of Jamaica’s Innovation Grant Fund, the new technology offers world-class solutions, finely tuned to the complexities of local markets, so that businesses can better manage their marketing and communications goals.

Speaking at yesterday’s launch event at the S Hotel in New Kingston, DRT’s Managing Director, Danielle Terrelonge, disclosed that the DBJ has to date provided grant funding to the tune of J$20 million over a one-year period to develop this new media monitoring technology. 

“At DRT Communications, we’ve always believed in being proactive rather than reactive when it comes to communication. The launch of our new media monitoring technology is rooted in that philosophy—it’s about empowering Caribbean businesses and organisations with the right data at the right time,” Terrelonge commented.

New and improved media monitoring platform

The upgraded media monitoring technology offers comprehensive coverage across all media platforms, including TV, radio, newspapers, and social media, ensuring that businesses can track their presence in real-time. With AI-powered insights, it provides deeper analysis into public sentiment and key influencers, helping companies manage potential crises before they escalate. 

Advanced features such as logo and face recognition, enhanced local speech recognition, automatic sentiment analysis, and keyword translation elevate the user experience. Furthermore, its customisable dashboard allows for easy querying and filtering of media mentions, while advertising monitoring provides detailed insights into ad spend and media activities. 

For Terrelonge, “This is the power we’re offering you—the power to quantify your efforts, measure your success, and elevate your strategy. Some of our clients have already experienced that power, and now we’re expanding. We’re offering tailored products not just for global giants but for small and medium enterprises. Whatever your business or industry may be, remember that your reputation is your most valuable asset.”

Real-time insights tailored to the region’s unique media landscape 

Continuing, she trumpeted, “This innovation, which we’re proud to say is owned by DRT, allows us to provide real-time insights tailored specifically to the region’s unique media landscape, helping brands to make strategic, data-driven decisions that can transform their trajectory. For me, this launch represents not just a step forward for DRT but a leap forward for every business that wants to stay competitive, informed, and ready to grow in today’s fast-paced media environment.”

The event was well attended by marketing and communications experts and business leaders from a wide cross-section of industries in Jamaica, where Terrelonge heaped praise on her young team of marketing and public relations professionals, totalling 19 strong, with two Caribbean nationals on the team, one in Guyana and the other in Antigua. She lauded them for seeing this product innovation technology to the point of implementation and rollout.

The launch was also attended by Minister of Industry, Investment, and Commerce, Senator Aubyn Hill, who delivered a keynote address and commended DRT for taking a step that would not only set it apart in the industry but also give other businesses a chance to maximise their potential. “This launch of DRT’s media monitoring technology demonstrates the power of innovation and is an example of how local talent, supported by strategic partnerships, is helping us to shape a better future for Jamaica. DRT is a big and important addition to the high-level services from Jamaica to the region and the rest of the world,” Hill remarked.

Meanwhile, Director of Corporate Communication at Jamaica Public Service Company, Winsome Callum, presented an account of how DRT’s media monitoring services have transformed the way the company monitors media mentions and responds to public sentiments. She recounted the days in which JPS staff were burdened with manually listening to countless media programs and the challenges that came with that.

According to her, “We were trying to keep up when we ran out of people in the corporate communications department to manually monitor media conversations. We were asking people in other departments for help; we just could not continue with that way of monitoring. We didn’t know what the answer was, but then Danielle turned up with a solution that was objective, dependable, and just solved all our problems. I thank the team at DRT for helping us on this journey, and I encourage those of you who are not using a media monitoring service to get on board. It makes a difference.”