When I first started working in the DAM-business, five months ago, I did not know what Digital Asset Management (DAM) really was. I knew that it was a storage for rich media, but not what kind of features and benefits that came with it. For those of you not yet convinced, bear with me.
Working with digital assets are time consuming, but there are keys to make it more efficient. Maybe, you have a similar experience as me when it comes to searching and managing digital assets. Whether it is a specific image you are searching for, or an error when emailing too large files, or the loss of knowledge and assets due to personnel loss - there is a solution to your problems. With a DAM there are no more 'searching for hours' after that specific image, or using FTP-servers to share large files with your advertising agency. A great DAM solution has that covered.
Can a DAM solution help you?
Implementing a DAM solution requires investing a bit of time, to get a suitable and long lasting setup. But once you put in that extra effort, a new workflow processes significantly improves the overall quality of your digital assets flow across channels and departments. It will enhance your workflow, and it will become a part of your everyday work, across the organization. With a more efficient workflow your employees will have more time for your core business, and will not get stuck in logistics.
Furthermore, a DAM system not only help employees make their workflow more efficient, but it also open up possibilities for external receivers and users. By smart user right settings, external users can easily upload or download assets, when needed, to your DAM. For example, a photographer can upload images into the DAM, and the uploaded images metadata, geospatial data and camera details automatically will be included. You could also choose to use Digital Assets Portals, so called Frontends, for external users to access assets and help you to enhance and improve client relationships. This will also shorten your time to market.
Integrations
A smart DAM system like QBank, has a number of plugins for you to integrate with your current solutions. Such as web publishing systems (CMS) and production systems, including Adobe CC. The integrations will provide you with access, cropping and resizing of original images, instantly in the interface of the integrated program. Features as drag-and-drop for inserting assets from your DAM into Adobe InDesign are highly appreciated. By integrating you can do all your publishing work on on platform, instead of multiple. This can save you up to 80% of the time it takes to publish images on different platforms. Simple and time saving.
Except storing your assets, a DAM solution should be smart enough to keep track of who is using your assets, and when. That way you can trace your images, logotypes and videos without risking lose it, nor the control of different versions. In QBank you can also set terms on who is allowed to use which assets. Your organization will not be as vulnerable and risk losing knowledge or assets if someone in your marketing department would decide to leave their position, see previous blogpost.
What’s so great about Digital Asset Management is its scalability, it can be used by a small business with a couple of employees, as well as a global enterprise with thousands of employees. We all have the same core issue, efficiently managing and storing our digital asset.
Hopefully I have inspired you on how to save time and keep in control of your precious assets. Good luck!