A DAMn good solution to rule your company digital assets

What is a digital asset?

A digital asset is anything in digital form that can be used for the web, presentation or other marketing projects. The term digital asset includes various types of files, from photo, video and audio, to archives and documents such as slides, or spreadsheets.

What is Digital Asset Management (DAM)?

The aim of Digital Asset Management is to provide centralized solutions to manage and distribute digital content. A DAM system allows users to easily search, access, and share digital assets across an organization, making it a crucial component in the digital workflow of many companies.

Digital Asset Management Lifecycle. Source: activo-consulting.com/en/solutions/dam-expert

What business problems can DAM solve?

Digital Asset Management (DAM) systems can solve several business problems related to the management and distribution of digital assets. Some of the main business problems that DAM can help solve include the following:

• Inefficient asset management
  Without a centralized system for managing digital assets, it can be difficult for teams to locate and access the files they need, leading to wasted time and resources. DAM provides a single, searchable repository for all digital assets, making it easy for teams to find and access the files they need.
  

• Lack of control over digital assets
  You need proper management and organisation to track and control the usage of digital assets in your company. DAM systems include features such as metadata management, version control, and access rights management that help ensure that assets are used appropriately and legally.
  

• Difficulty in collaborating and sharing assets
  A centralized system for sharing assets enables your team to collaborate and share files effectively. DAM systems allow teams to easily share assets and collaborate on projects, improving workflows and reducing the time it takes to complete tasks.
  

• Difficulty in tracking the performance of assets
  Without proper tracking, it can be difficult to know how assets are being used and what the return on investment is for those assets. DAM systems often include analytics and reporting features that allow teams to track asset performance and make data-driven decisions.
  

• Difficulty in scaling and handling large numbers of assets
  As the number of assets grows, it may become difficult to manage and organise them. A DAM system can handle and scale a large number of assets, making it easy to search, access and share them.
  

Overall, a DAM system can help businesses improve the management, distribution and tracking of their digital assets, leading to increased efficiency, reduced costs and improved collaboration.

DAM features

A DAM system typically includes features such as metadata management, version control, and integration with other systems, such as content management and creative software. They are optimized on speed asset delivery across the globe. The most advanced DAMs offer features far beyond basic digital asset management functionality. They provide content editing and extended workflows that make editing collaborative assets easier than ever.

DAM vs cloud-hosted file storage

Digital Asset Management (DAM) and cloud-based storage are both used to store and manage digital files, but they serve different purposes and have distinct features.

Cloud-based storage is a way to store digital files on remote servers accessed over the internet. It is primarily used for data backup and file sharing. Some popular cloud storage providers include Dropbox, Google Drive, Azure Storage Service and Amazon S3.

DAM, on the other hand, is a specialized system for managing digital assets such as images, videos, audio files, and documents. It provides a centralized repository for storing and organizing digital files and allows for easy search, access, and sharing of assets. DAM systems often include additional features such as metadata management, version control, and integration with other systems like content management and creative software.

While cloud-based storage is primarily used for data backup and file sharing, DAM is used to manage digital assets throughout their entire lifecycle, from creation to retirement. It also includes features like search, metadata, and access right management that make it easier for users to find and work with the files they need.

In summary, cloud storage is a place to store files, while DAM is a system for managing, organizing and sharing digital assets.

DAM comparison table

Below is a detailed features comparison of six DAM solutions available on the market. We hope it will help you select the best solution for your organization.

That’s it! We hope that you found the above information useful and that it helps you to understand different DAMs better. Hopefully, it will help you decide which DAM to use. If you have any questions or if you would like to consult with us on the topic of DAMs, you can reach us at: post.uk@noaignite.com.

And if you want to know more about DAMs, take a look at this article on our blog: DAM with Optimizely CMS – get more value from your digital content