News and Updates

What is digital asset management (DAM)?

Digital asset management, also known as DAM, is a strategy, and supporting system and process for the management of content that exists and needs to be managed in a digital format. The basics of managing this digital content include ways to store, search, share and transform it. Content owners can then better utilise and leverage the content they have invested in creating.  

What is digital asset management (DAM) software and why do I need it?

Digital asset management (DAM) software supports digital content strategies. It overcomes several common business problems:
- Time wasted finding and sharing content stored across your network or share drives.
- Sometimes content is forgotten or lost due to its lack of visibility, wasting money that was invested creating it.
- Security concerns in an age where cyber-security is more important than ever.
- Inconsistent branding or brand damage due to old content being shared with clients.
- Sharing of content with disconnected teams, spread geographically, in a timely manner.

DAM software provides an online library where digital content can be securely uploaded, filed, organised, and stored ready for retrieval and use. Once stored the DAM software supports users with search and filtering tools that allow them to quickly find their content again as needed. A good DAM system will have advanced tools that support the on-going maintenance of the stored content, including editing, transforming, or resizing of the content, automated application of search tags to content, archiving tools, bulk editing of metadata. Content can then be shared with the necessary stakeholders, both inside and outside a business. This is achieved by either granting permission-based access to the library, or by sending the content to recipients easily by email or download sharing links. Advanced DAMs will have reporting functions that deliver insights into the performance of your content and users.

What information can you store in digital asset management (DAM) software?

You should be able to store all common file types, including documents, images, graphics, videos, audio, and HTML. If the content is used in the daily running of your business, sales, and marketing, both online and offline, then a DAM should be able to store it.

What are the features of digital asset management (DAM) software

As a web-based solution facilitating a process, you can expect a DAM software solution to have the following features:
- A secure, online library, available 24/7, anywhere internet access is possible.
- The ability to tag, file and organise the content you upload with directories, filters, and tags.
- Powerful search tools that allow you to quickly find the content in your library.
- Maintenance features that help you quickly edit and manage the content in your library.
- Role or permission-based user profiles that allow you to control the access and functionality of the users that you allow to enter your library.
- The ability to quickly share content with stakeholders, or allow them to self-serve, regardless of where they are geographically located.
- Reporting tools that allow you to monitor the use of your library and digital content.

What are the benefits of digital asset management (DAM) software?

Introducing DAM software to your business resolves many common team frustrations:
- Trying to locate content across your network, by providing a centralised library and powerful search tools.
- Increased use of content, by making it more available to teams across your business.
- Reduced time performing admin tasks, by automating tasks, or allowing users to self-serve and access content themselves.
- Reduced branding issues, by ensuring business teams only have access to the most current and correct content.
- Improved ROI for content, by creating visibility through reporting of content use and system adoption.
- Improved security and control of content, by providing a secure library that can only be accessed with permission-based roles.

Who uses digital asset management (DAM) software?

Administration teams, legal teams, and document owners have official forms, reports, event photography, and documents they are responsible for managing, storing, and sharing across their business or clients.

Marketing and brand teams produce marketing material and content. This can include completed design work, brand guidelines and elements, imagery, video, and radio advertisements. This content needs to be stored for team reference and efficiency, or shared with agency partners, branches, sales teams, or other departments, these could be local or international.

Agencies, photographers, and videographers produce physical and digital design work for clients. These teams need to store work for future reference and be able to share it with clients, who could be based locally or internationally.