Cross Industry Programmatic Taskforce Updates Audit Permission Letter

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.