How DAM works
Is DAM worth it?
At a Glance
A DAM system can free up your local storage.
DAM systems are ideal for use as centralized repositories of all kinds of data. Whether it’s images, graphics, video, or any other media assets, having a DAM system in place means your files are always within reach, but never slowing you down.
By 2013, as much as 25% of content users see in
a day will be audio,
video or images.
Deliver your work in a flash.
When you need to get an asset to someone else, most DAM systems enable you to send them right from the DAM UI. There’s generally no need to spend time downloading and uploading assets just to share them. This cuts way down on time spent doing menial tasks, like burning CDs, managing your email storage space and performing file conversions.
With most DAM systems, you need only store one master asset.
Go from format to format without ever opening an asset.
Some DAM programs will even enable you to store just one master asset, then convert the asset for you into your desired format (or even your desired size) every time you order it. This is especially helpful when assets are being used in multiple media.
Not all DAM providers can convert all files. Make sure to choose a provider that meets your needs.
Deep Dive
This area is, as its name suggests, for those who are looking to get a little deeper into their research on digital asset management. While we’d still encourage you to explore the rest of the site, we’ve used this page to aggregate content that’s most relevant to creatives like you.
First, there are some white papers we recommend you take a look at. They deal with issues that especially important to you and your team, who create the words and images that represent your brand.
Video in the Enterprise by Mukul Krishna of Frost & Sullivan
Enterprise video is no longer seen as "nice to have" and has began establishing itself as an integral part of everyday business.
This exclusive mini white paper from Frost & Sullivan provides a glimpse into enterprise video market and growth projections, common challenges organizations face with managing and distributing video content, and dives into the value proposition of video asset management technologies to increase the use and effectiveness of video assets. Are you equipped to manage and repurpose video content quickly and easily?
DAM as SaaS 2.0: Monetizing the Content Lifecycle by Mukul Krishna of Frost & Sullivan
DAM has evolved tremendously and has spawned the emerging model of DAM as Software-as-a-Service (SaaS). DAM as SaaS has not only capitalized on the value proposition of the overall DAM market, but also brought very compelling benefits unique to the SaaS model while freeing-up valuable internal IT resources for other productive tasks. To remain competitive, organizations across verticals are clamoring to build efficiencies and DAM has changed from a "nice to have" to "must have" technology resource. Learn more about how to deal with today's DAM challenges.
Of course, we know some of your colleagues might be a little less concerned with how it works, and more concerned with whether a DAM system is a worthwhile investment. Before the next time you talk DAM with them, take a look at this white paper:
I know what you didn't do last summer and other reason to invest in digital asset management systems by John Horodyski of dameducation.com, Lee Stadler and Nicolás Jiménez.
In today's media environment, any marketing worth doing is multichannel marketing. The fact that consumers are connected on dozens of social networks, paying for TV subscriptions that get them more content than they can ever watch, and using keyword news feeds to get their information from sources in cities they've never even heard of—well, all that means is that, if you want to reach them, you need to be in all those places, too. To the consumer, it's one picture, one video clip, one slide show, one Web site, one catalog. That is to say: one brand.
For access to other useful white papers, click here.
There are plenty of people out there blogging about digital asset management. We’ve put together a few poignant posts to get you started:
DAM as a Service for the Modern Marketer
Friday, January 14, 2011 by Widen Enterprises
Dear Dr. DAM: Our Video Content Management Needs Some Help
Thursday, July 7, 2011 by Dr. DAM
Does Your Company Need DAM Software?
Friday, May 13, 2011 by Widen Enterprises
Our resources section has some great tools for figuring out whether a DAM system is right for you and, if so, how to go about choosing one.
ROI Calculator - Use this to make sure you’re not going to put more into DAM than you get out of it. For the right organization, DAM can be a saver of time and money—but it’s not for everyone.
Authoring an RFP - Draw from this guide when put your RFP together to make sure you’re requesting all the right information.
Finally, try test driving a DAM system for yourself before you make a final decision. Click here for two different ways to get behind the wheel
of DAM software.
