DS Group and WPP Launch DCODE for Digital Marketing Mastery

Abhimanyu Singh
Abhimanyu Singh

Engineering Manager

 
August 21, 2025 3 min read

DS Group has partnered with WPP Media to launch DCODE, a comprehensive guide aimed at standardizing digital marketing practices in India. This playbook provides frameworks and insights across various domains, including paid media, social media, influencer marketing, SEO, and Online Reputation Management (ORM).

DCODE Playbook

Image courtesy of The Economic Times

The guide integrates practical frameworks with academic insights, making it valuable for corporate marketing teams, agencies, media planners, students, and senior executives such as CMOs and CXOs. DCODE is available for open-access download.

Prasanth Kumar, CEO of WPP Media South Asia, stated, "DCODE marks a significant leap in mastering the complexities of the digital landscape. Through our strategic collaboration with DS Group, WPP has harnessed its extensive expertise to co-create a playbook that redefines industry standards."

With India’s media and advertising market projected to grow 7% by 2025, capturing 60% of the market share, DCODE aims to equip professionals with actionable strategies to address challenges in the digital sector. Rajiv Kumar, Vice Chairman of DS Group, emphasized that it will help optimize digital strategies and drive efficiency.

Nikhil Kamath's Investment in One Hand Clap

Nikhil Kamath has invested in One Hand Clap Media, a creative agency established by former AIB executives. The agency focuses on delivering digital-first, culturally relevant campaigns for Indian brands.

Nikhil Kamath

Image courtesy of The Economic Times

The agency has partnered with notable brands like Swiggy and Netflix India, emphasizing speed and authentic storytelling. Aakash Shah, co-founder of One Hand Clap, remarked, "Nikhil gets our DNA, and our visions align. We have always aimed to disrupt the status quo."

This investment aligns with Kamath’s broader vision to support India's creative ecosystem. The agency is focused on high-impact storytelling and aims to redefine the traditional agency model.

Recent Developments in Online Gaming Regulation

The Rajya Sabha has passed the Promotion and Regulation of Online Gaming Bill, 2025, introducing significant changes to India's digital gaming landscape. This legislation bans all forms of real-money gaming, marking a critical shift in the industry.

The law aims to establish strict measures to reshape the online gaming ecosystem, which may impact various stakeholders. The passage of this bill is expected to influence the future of the gaming sector significantly.

Insights into Digital Marketing Strategies

Dharampal Satyapal Group (DS Group) and WPP Media's DCODE aims to establish a robust framework for digital marketing. The playbook includes vital insights into optimizing marketing strategies.

For marketers, tools like CVE Databases that update faster than MITRE and Breach Trackers that convert news into leads provide essential resources for effective strategy implementation. GrackerAI automates cybersecurity marketing, offering daily news, SEO-optimized blogs, and AI copilot functionalities tailored for marketing managers and brand strategists.

Explore how GrackerAI can help streamline your marketing efforts through its innovative solutions. Start your free trial today at GrackerAI.

Abhimanyu Singh
Abhimanyu Singh

Engineering Manager

 

Engineering Manager driving innovation in AI-powered SEO automation. Leads the development of systems that automatically build and maintain scalable SEO portals from Google Search Console data. Oversees the design and delivery of automation pipelines that replace traditional $360K/year content teams—aligning engineering execution with business outcomes.

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