Affigates marks first year with pledge to rebuild trust through end-to-end affiliate management

Affigates, the affiliate management software provider, has reached its one-year milestone since launch. Vahe Vardanyan, the company’s Chief Product Officer, outlined how the firm has validated its integrated model—combining software, a vetted network, and managed services into a single ecosystem.

Proving the model works

According to Vardanyan, the most significant achievement is not just the growth in operator and affiliate numbers, but the evidence that its unified approach delivers results. “The real progress is the proof that the model works,” he said. Affigates’ offering blends technology with human oversight, aiming to tackle the resource gaps that often plague operator-affiliate relationships.

A core challenge operators face is the sheer workload required to run an affiliate programme effectively. Recruitment, tracking, payment handling, and fraud prevention demand dedicated expertise. “Most operators don’t have the people for it,” Vardanyan noted, explaining that Affigates steps in to operate the programme on their behalf, combining software with hands-on management.

Vetted network and trust-building

Affigates now boasts a network of more than 7,000 verified affiliates. Vardanyan stressed that scale alone is insufficient; the real value comes from matching carefully vetted affiliates to operators that fit their specific markets. “A big list is an easy thing; a vetted list matched to your market is the hardest part,” he said.

Trust between operators and affiliates often fractures over two issues: payment reliability and transparency. “Trust usually breaks down over two things: payment and transparency,” Vardanyan stated. Affigates addresses both by managing payments and ensuring clear visibility into what operators are paying for, thereby reducing friction.

Fraud prevention and AI’s role

To protect operator marketing budgets, Affigates deploys a combination of AI tools and human oversight to monitor traffic quality, detect bot activity, and prevent CPA abuse. Vardanyan emphasised that performance marketing only works when performance is genuine: “We watch traffic quality … so operators never pay for a fake acquisition.”

On the topic of AI, Vardanyan sees its greatest value in matching affiliates with suitable operators and spotting fraud in real time. However, he cautioned that technology cannot replace the human elements of trust and relationship-building. “AI runs the mechanism. Good people keep the relationship,” he said.

Looking ahead

Vardanyan indicated that Affigates will continue expanding its ecosystem with new initiatives throughout 2026, aiming to embed itself into every conversation around affiliates and customer acquisition. “Wherever you are talking about affiliates … we are involved,” he concluded.