Whether you realize it or not, your company uses some form of digital asset management. You create and share countless files, images, videos, and other digital content daily.
Keeping track of and organizing these assets can be a real challenge. Each asset lives somewhere – probably in multiple places across your organization. And when you need a specific asset, it takes time to track down the final version, reformat as necessary, and get the asset wherever it needs to go.
Digital asset management (DAM) software helps companies streamline this process. It provides a central location to store and manage all digital assets.
And DAM goes beyond just storage and organization. It includes tools and workflows to help you find, upload, edit, and distribute digital assets in a controlled and secure environment.
Why is digital asset management important?
Digital assets are the backbone of most marketing activities. That includes creating different types of materials, including imagery, infographics, catalogs, brochures, ads, email campaigns, presentations, videos, and more. The effectiveness of your marketing depends on the quality and relevance of the digital assets used.
Without effective digital asset management, you risk losing track of your digital content. Your teams will duplicate efforts, wasting money and time on recreating existing assets. Your staff will struggle to distribute, copy, and move assets to the right locations at the right time to get your assets to perform.
Without DAM software, you run the risk of having assets with timed rights usage that may expire without your realization, leaving you exposed to a lawsuit by leaving an unowned asset accessible to the public.
Poorly organized digital asset libraries lead to poor brand consistency. That means your customers get an inconsistent experience across channels. And since B2B buyers use a range of sites to transact, that’s a risk you cannot take.
For these reasons, the implementation of digital asset management software is essential. By streamlining asset management, your business can cut costs and increase efficiency. You can ensure your content creators can access the right assets, simplifying collaboration and project management. And most importantly, you can create consistent and compelling customer-facing material that drives business growth.
Which is the best digital asset management software?
Our answer here is the same with most software—it depends.
There are many choices for DAM software. First, we recommend establishing your business case for DAM. Gather and prioritize your requirements. Then, evaluate which software meets them.
Factors to consider with DAM software include ease of use, scalability, integration options, security, CDN (Content Delivery Network) capabilities, image transformations, rights management, syndication options, and customizability—to name a few.
Ultimately, the choice of DAM software depends mainly on your organization’s unique needs and budget. If you’d like to work with a consulting partner with an established software evaluation process, drop us a line.
What are digital assets?
Digital assets include any digital file that holds value to your business. This can include images, videos, audio files, logos, catalogs, print files, user manuals, packaging files, and more. If an asset can be captured or created digitally, it can be stored and managed in DAM software.
Given the diversity and complexity of these types of assets, proper management is critical. With DAM software, you have the tools you need to ensure the effective use of digital assets in marketing and operational activities.
Digital asset management is essential for effectively organizing and storing digital content. By embracing DAM software and adopting new governance processes, you can streamline your workflow, improve efficiency, and ensure consistent brand messaging.
Integrating a robust digital asset management strategy will improve internal processes and drive business growth in the long run.