Digital Asset Management

Cloud-based DAM systems can be implemented at different depths in the existing infrastructure. In principle, they are ready-to-go solutions. Users are created, roles and rights are assigned, content is uploaded and published, e.g. in media libraries, collections or directly integrated into websites and intranets.

In-depth authentication and security options, as well as internal links to other programs and interfaces, then follow successively as needed. Depending on the quality of the provider’s API, they represent a smaller or larger challenge in this further step for IT.

The costs usually depend on the number of users, the range of functions, the data volume for storage and traffic, and the number of assets. Here, providers on the market pursue different strategies. A DAM should be able to constantly adapt to the requirements on the cost level and thus enable a cost-effective and yet productive start. Important: Good digital asset management never stagnates and constantly follows new technological developments. With cloud-based systems, the provider bears the update costs. This is the great advantage of a SaaS (Software-as-a-Service) solution.

Nevertheless, in the future there will most likely be adaptation requests and a need for additional features that are not foreseeable today and are not part of the scope of functions provided. A budget defined in advance then provides planning security and ensures no unpleasant surprises when purchasing.

Enterprise versions usually offer a complete range of functions right from the start, as well as solutions for individual use, e.g. as a complete portal solution. In addition, the amount of activated users and media quotas takes into account a higher number of administrators, users and user groups from the outset. Another focus is on the integration of the DAM into the company’s own system landscape, including support for a wide range of authentication solutions such as Azure AD, SAML, ADFS or access via defined IP ranges and direct use as an intranet solution.

At first glance, the digital asset management solutions on the market today hardly differ. But on closer inspection, the differences are quite extensive and relevant. In all sub-disciplines, the scopes of services can differ greatly. For example, the setting of keywords or tags can be kept very simple or follow complex structures in the background. These are hardly visible to the user, but enable, for example, multilingual handling of keywords, tag management, tag batch processing and other automations that should not be missing from a very good DAM. The same applies to the use of artificial intelligence and many other functions. Another important factor is its scope of application. Is your focus on delivering your media or more on internal editing? Do you want to create campaigns or work with media libraries? The area of application of the individual providers can certainly vary greatly here.

Modern DAM systems today have sophisticated license and rights management. Especially when dealing with images and videos, this is an indispensable service. Stock footage is often used, with licenses that are limited in time and space. A digital asset management system always keeps an eye on these parameters and notifies the relevant users in the event of expiring rights. The processing of personal assignments of rights is also part of this traffic light system. Good DAM systems already take this area into account when uploading media to the system and offer a wide variety of workflows for this process.

In any case, it is important to carefully consider all options. As an internationally operating company, it is essential to pay attention to multilingualism. This does not mean that the system must also be able to handle English, but rather that all processes and displays can be orchestrated in multiple languages without having to create each medium twice.

Does one pay attention to pagination of search results, i.e. are only single search pages with 20 or 50 results displayed in the overall view or is it a modern DAM system with performant endless scrolling of all results? One can be amazed at how much time one can lose here with a wrong selection. Trusting a digital asset management provider that promises unlimited contingents carries its own risks: Orchestrating data and servers is an important component in the background of a DAM software. A vendor that does not budget for certain contingencies does not have its future in mind.

It should also be noted that needs change in the handling and scope of a DAM. It takes time to crystallize needs and potentially reconsider initial “nice to have options” in favor of new insights and even more important options. In the end, the solution and vendor must fit the customer and their business department and support agile change at all times.

When you work with images, videos, audio files and documents in the company, the need increases quickly. Hundreds of media can of course be stored well on a folder structure in the company. However, if one has a larger group of people working with media that one might want to publish on websites or internal communication channels, then a well-structured DAM will help them right from the start. One can also work with the media regardless of location and edit, manage and send it in a single system.
More about the benefits of a DAM system…

If you opt for a cloud-based software-as-a-service solution, none.
These systems work browser-based and can be accessed anywhere, even for use as an in-house solution.

Since almost all industries work with digital media these days, the use of digital asset management systems is also interesting for all industries – regardless of whether it’s a single department, small and medium-sized enterprise or multinational corporation. The spectrum ranges from museums and manufacturing to insurance companies, agencies, NGOs, associations and government institutions. The size of the company hardly plays a role.
More about who benefits from a DAM…

AdmiralCloud is more than just a DAM system. AdmiralCloud is a platform with a state-of-the-art and high-performance system architecture that always follows a generic and thus scalable approach. This approach allows for evolution at the cutting edge at any point in time without undermining its own systemic foundation. This advantage puts every AdmiralCloud user in the best possible and most modern starting position for dealing with media, even in times of constantly improving logics, growing format diversity and ever new digital tools. The spectrum here ranges from playout in visually appealing media libraries and collections and an ever more comprehensive use of artificial intelligence to ever more relevant security structures and workflow processes that are now indispensable.