Xerox | Football & Process Mapping

In this ad, Xerox uses a clever analogy between football and process mapping to showcase how their solutions can streamline workflows and improve business processes. The commercial humorously compares the strategic planning and precision of a football game to the step-by-step organization of business operations. The idea is that just like a football team needs a clear playbook, businesses need effective process mapping to succeed.

The Formula (That Works at Any Budget)

Analogy = Clear Understanding – Using football as a metaphor for process mapping makes the concept more accessible and easy to understand for a wide audience.
→ Lesson: Complex business solutions can be broken down into relatable, everyday scenarios for better understanding.

Humor = Relatability – The humorous interplay between the football players’ actions and the business processes highlights the ease and efficiency that Xerox’s solutions can bring to businesses.
→ Lesson: Humor can simplify complex business concepts and make them more approachable for a broader audience.

Strategic Thinking = Business Efficiency – The ad emphasizes the idea that just like football players need a strategy to win, businesses need a clear process to succeed, which Xerox helps facilitate.
→ Lesson: Position your product as the solution to optimizing operations, making strategic thinking more effective.

Subtle Product Placement = Brand Focused – The ad doesn’t explicitly highlight Xerox products, but instead shows the importance of good strategy and the process mapping Xerox offers.
→ Lesson: Focus on showing results and impacts rather than overt product promotions.

Humor Breakdown:

The humor here is light and situational, using the contrast between the serious strategy of football and the seemingly mundane task of process mapping. It’s clever, as it turns a typically dry business topic into something more engaging through a familiar and entertaining analogy.

Final Verdict

Xerox successfully uses humor and a relatable analogy to make process mapping more understandable and appealing. The ad effectively highlights Xerox’s value in streamlining business operations by making the complex process of optimization fun and relatable.

Brave-o-meter score: 

B-7 | R-8 | A-7 | V-8 | E-8

BRAVE – 7.6/10

Watch the full ad & learn more:
Website: Xerox
LinkedIn: Xerox LinkedIn Page

(See what BRAVE means in our collection)

Understanding the B.R.A.V.E. Scoring System

The B.R.A.V.E. scoring system uses AI to deliver an unbiased evaluation of top-of-the-funnel B2B brand ads. It measures potential impact, memorability, and effectiveness by assessing five key components of a video ad or commercial. This system gauges an ad's capacity to drive brand recall and enhance salience, ensuring that creative work not only captures attention but also leaves a lasting impression.

What B.R.A.V.E. Stands For:

Each letter represents a key factor in determining an ad’s success:

  • B — Boldness: Is the ad original, creative, or daring? Does it break away from generic B2B marketing, or is it just another forgettable corporate video?
  • R — Relevance: Does it connect with a real buyer pain point? Is it addressing a specific frustration or need, or just listing product features?
  • A — Attention: Does it grab and hold attention in the first few seconds? Is it visually or tonally engaging, or easy to skip?
  • V — Vibe: Does it create an emotional response—laughter, recognition, or surprise? Or does it feel like just another corporate info dump?
  • E — Effectiveness: Will buyers remember the brand when they need a solution? Does the ad make an impact that lasts beyond the moment?

How It’s Applied to B2B Video Rating

Each video is scored 1 to 10 in all five categories, based on how well it meets the criteria. The total score (out of 50) is then divided by 5 to give a final B.R.A.V.E. score out of 10.

For example:

  • An ad scoring B-8 | R-9 | A-7 | V-6 | E-8 has a total of 38/50.
  • The final B.R.A.V.E. score is 7.6/10.

Why It Matters

B2B ads often struggle with being bland, forgettable, or ineffective. The B.R.A.V.E. system ensures they are judged by their ability to break through, connect with buyers, and drive action.

Simply put: If your ad isn’t B.R.A.V.E., it’s invisible.

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