On March 27th, Digital Turbine and AppsFlyer co-hosted the Preload Pioneers Summit at CHAO Hotel in Sanlitun, Beijing. This gathering brought together nearly 30 decision-makers from over 20 industry-leading companies, including TikTok, Kwai, IGG, and iQIYI for in-depth discussions on the future of preload strategies.
Returning to the Basics: The Essential Value of Preload Solutions
“Inherent user trust is the cornerstone of preload solutions,” stated Suri Huang, Director of Demand Sales at Digital Turbine, during her keynote speech. By embedding apps natively into devices, users naturally shift their credibility to the advertised app. Moreover, the ability to engage users across their entire device lifecycle brings together cost efficiency for UA and premium mobile experiences for end users.
"Embedded at the source of the user journey, we build trusted connections from the first touch. With sustained exposure and predictable scaling, DT’s preload offerings deliver precisely matched growth that endures.” With that, Suri elaborated on DT’s state-of-the-art UA products for the audience:
Dynamic Installs: Also known as Intelligent App Preloads, this product offers dynamic delivery of always up-to-date versions of house, partner, and sponsored apps during device set-up. The number of slots is also configurable to ensure peak performance.
App Select: During device setup, users select recommended apps to install and shape the nature of the device early on.
App Match: A new feature which allows top apps worldwide delivered to opted-in users based on preset cadence.
Dynamic Widgets: This product extends our traditional app install experience to mobile web & in-app web views. It supports static images with animations, interactive JavaScript playables, FABs, & video creatives.
Moto GameTime: A new offering that comes with three placements including My Games, In-game Menu and GameTime Toolkit, all built-in within Moto GameTime – a premium app discovery platform that proudly owns a massive number of savvy gamers.
Ecosystem Synergy: From Theory to Practice
Emma Gao, APAC Strategic Partnership Development Manager at AppsFlyer, took the stage and addressed longstanding industry concerns: "Preload solutions enable brands to collaborate with OEM partners and mobile carriers to pre-install apps directly on user devices at first activation and during device life-cycle. This approach provides marketers access to installation metrics and user engagement data, allowing them to assess campaign performance and continuously optimize their return on ad spend (ROAS)."
As noted in the guide “Boosting your user acquisition strategy with preload campaigns” recently published by AppsFlyer, among the 300+ apps analyzed, preload campaigns represent 30% of user acquisition ad spend, reinforcing their importance as a cornerstone of successful acquisition strategies.
These campaigns drive remarkable growth in engagement and conversions. From 2023 to 2024, preload conversions increased by 15.77%, demonstrating how reaching users early in the funnel, at the perfect moment when they are highly engaged, leads to greater long-term engagement and improved user acquisition outcomes.
Looking Forward: Mapping Growth Together for 2025
As champagne glasses clinked during the “Don Julio 1942 Moment,” participants shared visions for the future. Conversations about “Brand Exposure With Every App Delivery” crystallized a shared belief: The key to growth in 2025 lies in bridging the first encounter between device and user.
In this spirit, we raise a toast to partnerships that transform silent installs into roaring success stories. The future of scalable, sustainable growth is not just imagined—it’s preloaded.
