Content Management
All About Digital Asset Management Software: Part 1
By TechDogs Editorial Team
Share
Overview
We will be honest! This article took us more than a week to complete (and by that, we mean just the first draft). The reason is silly but hey, we promised to be truthful. So here it is... We got late because we were distracted. Whenever our team sat down to research the topic, we ended up getting distracted by some very engaging stuff. Heck, when we ordered burgers for lunch, McDonald's sent a beautiful infographic detailing the evolution of burgers and before we knew it, we were going down a rabbit hole.
We were soon looking at their latest advertisements, videos, tweets, Insta stories and whatnot. That's how powerful rich media assets can be. Any organization worth their salt will tell you that businesses need to create and deliver engaging and rich media across all viewing devices to survive in today's world. Organizations will also tell you that the sheer number of media assets created each day is more than what you can count on your fingers. For example, Unito, a workflow management company, created a whopping 100 marketing assets in 8 hours for their annual Hackathon. While they surpassed that challenge, the next thing to think about was how would this marketing content be made available for the entire organization in an easily shareable format? The solution – Digital Asset Management Software.
So, What Exactly Is Digital Asset Management Software?
Thriving, fledging, growing or just starting out, all businesses need a copious amount of digital assets such as documents, infographics, videos, podcasts, images and so on. A Digital Asset Management Software (DAMS) is a secured repository that allows you to create, store, organize, manage and distribute digital assets in real-time. The software assigns metadata (data about data) to each asset, making it super easy for users to lay their hands-on brand material and digital assets in a few clicks.
Remember the social media creative files you created a few months back that was appreciated by everyone? Now the boss wants you to spawn a sequel on similar lines. No sweat, except for the fact that you absolutely cannot find the media file on your workstation. As you frantically rummage through all the creatives you ever created, you wish there was a better system to file and find these files. Tada, Digital Asset Management Software, will do just that and a little more. It will track the assets, control who has access, find precisely what you are looking for and increase your team's productivity. Now that's what we call impressive!
Want to know more? Let's go back a little and learn how DAMS has evolved over the years.
How Old Is Digital Asset Management Software?
Digital Asset Management Software's history dates back to the 1990s when digital media began gaining momentum. At that time, the problem was that there was no right way to manage them and businesses used to store digital assets on a local server, mostly using dates to sort out the content in the library. The real breakthrough came in 1992 with the launch of Cumulus, the very first DAMS launched by Canto Software, which centralized digital content at one location. This period is famously known as the Central Library Era.
With the emergence of cloud technology in the 2000s, AKA the Social-Mobile-Cloud Era, we saw the rise of web-based DAMS, which stored and managed businesses' digital content online. By 2012, the term "MarTech" became a familiar name as numerous companies got competitive for marketing their content online, especially on social media. Today, in the Integration era, DAMS has become the "single source of truth" for all content-based platforms leaving MarTech behind in the rearview mirror. DAMS vendors are now all up for building various integrations, such as integrating the asset management solution with social media and aiming to make them more efficient.
We will end the history lesson here and quickly tell you how DAMS works in the next section. Don't worry; we will get to the future of DAMS in a while.
How Does The Digital Asset Management Software Work?
Remember Amy Santiago from the Brooklyn Nine-Nine? Similar to how she made various binders and files, DAM categorizes your content - so you can stay organized and prepared like Amy.
Digital Asset Management Software simplifies the management, creation, deployment tracking and storage of digital assets. Its indexing feature carefully stores the digital assets by attaching metatags that enable you to identify the file or asset quickly. Once indexed in the database, the digital asset is officially part of your business operations. As a result, the DAM System can track exactly how, when and who is accessing, editing or changing the asset. Additionally, with the permission control, you can also decide who in your business can access what assets, safeguarding all your content from any data breach, theft, accidental erasure, etc.
Not 1, not 2 but there are 3 different types of DAM Software; let's talk about them all.
The Types Of Digital Asset Management Software
Digital Asset Management Software is divided into types as per the needs and requirements of the organization. Although they fall under the giant umbrella of DAMS, still each has its own significance.
-
Brand Asset Management Systems
Apt for creative team to pick out and re-use content such as images, logos, sales and marketing collateral, etc.
-
Library Asset Management Systems
Mostly used to upload, store and retrieve digital assets. As the name suggests, it is a library of digital media assets.
-
Production Asset Management Systems
A subset of Library asset management system, production asset management is more focused on storage, indexing and versioning of frequently changing digital media.
That sounds familiar...
Are DAMS And CMS (Content Marketing Software) The Same?
We're sure you are thinking on those lines but nope. They are as different as chalk and cheese, apples and oranges, Friends and How I Met Your Mother.
So, the functionalities might sound similar but do not confuse one for the other. Marketers mostly use CMS to create and publish content. DAMS, on the other hand, is used more to organize and manage content. It will store, organize and filter brand assets required by users, while a CMS will allow the user to develop content creation and publish it on the website or blog.
This is all great but do I really need one?
Do Organizations Really Need DAMS?
Yes... A resounding Yes! Let's revisit our earlier example where Unito created 100 marketing assets in 8 hours-wow! It will probably provide content firepower for the next two months - again, wow!
Although, once the euphoria of this feat dies down, the next big question is where these assets are stored are and how to access them? This is why you need DAMS. A whopping 50% of marketing teams admit they have scattered storage and important files are often unorganized. DAMS will not only store these existing assets for you but also make them available across organizations with simple indexing techniques. This will ensure teams have access to the right assets at the right time.
This Doesn't End Here…
In this article, we've covered what DAMS is all about and how organizations can use it. There is more to it than what meets the eye. In Part 2 of our Digital Asset Management Software series, we talk about how insanely important this tool is, how businesses can reap the benefits and most importantly, is it wired for the future? Stay tuned for Part 2 of Digital Asset Management Software .
Frequently Asked Questions
What exactly is Digital Asset Management Software?
Digital Asset Management Software (DAMS) is a secured repository designed to create, store, organize, manage, and distribute digital assets in real-time. These assets can include documents, infographics, videos, podcasts, images, and more. DAMS assigns metadata to each asset, making it easy for users to locate and utilize brand material and digital assets efficiently. Whether you're a thriving business or just starting out, DAMS provides a centralized solution to manage your digital content effectively.
How old is Digital Asset Management Software?
The history of Digital Asset Management Software dates back to the 1990s when digital media started gaining traction. Initially, businesses stored digital assets on local servers, mainly sorting content by dates. The breakthrough came in 1992 with the launch of Cumulus, the first DAMS by Canto Software. Over the years, DAMS evolved alongside technological advancements, transitioning from the Central Library Era to the Social-Mobile-Cloud Era and eventually to the Integration Era we see today. These advancements have made DAMS the "single source of truth" for content-based platforms, enhancing efficiency and productivity for businesses.
Are DAMS and CMS (Content Management Systems) the same?
No, DAMS and CMS are not the same. While their functionalities might overlap to some extent, they serve distinct purposes. Content Management Systems (CMS) are primarily used to create and publish content, whereas Digital Asset Management Software (DAMS) focuses on organizing and managing content assets. DAMS stores, organizes, and filters brand assets for users, ensuring easy access and utilization across organizations. On the other hand, CMS facilitates content creation and publishing on websites or blogs. Understanding the differences between DAMS and CMS is crucial for effectively managing digital assets and content creation workflows within organizations.
Liked what you read? That’s only the tip of the tech iceberg!
Explore our vast collection of tech articles including introductory guides, product reviews, trends and more, stay up to date with the latest news, relish thought-provoking interviews and the hottest AI blogs, and tickle your funny bone with hilarious tech memes!
Plus, get access to branded insights from industry-leading global brands through informative white papers, engaging case studies, in-depth reports, enlightening videos and exciting events and webinars.
Dive into TechDogs' treasure trove today and Know Your World of technology like never before!
Disclaimer - Reference to any specific product, software or entity does not constitute an endorsement or recommendation by TechDogs nor should any data or content published be relied upon. The views expressed by TechDogs' members and guests are their own and their appearance on our site does not imply an endorsement of them or any entity they represent. Views and opinions expressed by TechDogs' Authors are those of the Authors and do not necessarily reflect the view of TechDogs or any of its officials. All information / content found on TechDogs' site may not necessarily be reviewed by individuals with the expertise to validate its completeness, accuracy and reliability.
- Promoted By TechDogs -
- Promoted By TechDogs -
Trending Introductory Guides
Serve AI Easily With AI As A Service
By TechDogs Editorial Team
All About Internet Of Behaviors (IoB)
By TechDogs Editorial Team
Let It Flow With Cash Flow Management
By TechDogs Editorial Team
Everything You Must Know About Automation
By TechDogs Editorial Team
A Quick Look At Natural Language Generation (NLG)
By TechDogs Editorial Team
Join Our Newsletter
Get weekly news, engaging articles, and career tips-all free!
By subscribing to our newsletter, you're cool with our terms and conditions and agree to our Privacy Policy.
Join The Discussion