5 Myths About Digital Asset Management (DAM)
Incorporating a digital asset management system in your organization makes work easier. Valuable assets are easier to find because they are centralized in one place and can be found using metadata, they are simple and efficient to share with auto-updating links, and features like custom permissions mean that the right people have access to the right content when they need it. It's really that good.
We know these things to be true from being in the DAM business for 20+ years yet we often hear misconceptions from prospective clients surrounding the purchasing, setup, and use of a DAM system. We're here to set the record straight on the 6 most common concerns surrounding DAM solutions.
Myth #1: Cloud Services like Dropbox and Google Drive Can Do It All
This is one of the greatest misconceptions surrounding digital asset management; the same features are available from tools like Google Drive, Dropbox, or Box and the same tasks can be accomplished as a purpose-built DAM platform.
Undoubtedly useful in certain applications, none of these systems are intended to function as a DAM, nor possess the ability to properly do so. DAM systems are meant to hold large amounts of files while providing sophisticated organizational structure through customizable folders, templates, and metadata. These organizational structures make it simple to share externally, collaborate internally, keep your valuable assets secure, and look good while doing it.
Myth #2: DAM Takes Too Long to Implement
DAM implementation timelines are situationally dependent, from a few days to a few months depending on the size of the company, the intricacies of its needs, and its commitment to adopting the solution.
There are a number of elements that go into how long implementing a DAM can take. The quantity of files to be uploaded is a central component. Some clients like to start fresh and only upload new content while others like to transfer everything in their collection. This has an effect on implementation timelines but there isn't necessarily a right or wrong way to do things.
We at Image Relay recognized that this was a common concern of brands interested in adopting a DAM solution. That's one reason why we have a team of librarians (all with degrees in library sciences!) who are dedicated to supporting onboarding clients and ensuring the most efficient and effective transfer of assets onto their new DAM platform. Librarians support designing custom organization structures based on client needs and are experts on how to make the process as painless as possible. Interested more in what our librarians get up to on a daily basis? Read more here.
Myth #3: We Have Too Many Files for a DAM!
We often hear the concern that "we have too many files to move into a Digital Asset Management system!". Not to worry. Whether it’s several gigabytes of files or several hundred terabytes, DAM systems are meant to handle hefty amounts of files and data; it’s what they are built for!
The trickiest part of having a large number of assets is onboarding it onto the new DAM platform. That being said, there are several strategies. In Image Relay's case, it could be uploading directly through the website, using a Secure File Transfer Protocol (SFTP), or sending a hard drive directly to a member of our librarian team to upload. Regardless, you'll always be supported throughout the process and can rest easy knowing all of your valuable assets will be uploaded securely.
Myth #4: Managing a DAM Takes Too Much Time
Modern, cloud-based DAMs continue to make it faster and easier to manage a DAM. With most systems, there is no need to have an IT person involved, as the DAM provider deals with all infrastructure, updates, and maintenance offsite. This means that there are few technical aspects to manage.
The goal of the DAM is to save you time, not add to it. Colleagues will no longer need to email you for files, as they will be able to find the best photo or video themselves. Since everything is in one place, all important materials will be centralized and easy to find. And there will be no need to recreate old files that you can’t find.
Myth #5: Too Much Cultural Change
We understand it can be hard to get your users to adopt a new piece of software. When individuals have been doing things the same way for years, they may be reluctant to incorporate a new step into their workflow.
We recognize this at Image Relay which is why our DAM is purpose-built to be intuitive to use. Regardless if you feel at home on online platforms or if the internet seems more like the wild west utilizing our platform requires a minimal lift to get going.
We offer onboarding training sessions, support articles, as well as chat and email support which we pride ourselves on having extremely quick response times.
