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Why WoodWing

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icon-woodwing-enterprise-information-management-eim

Enterprise Information Management

Take charge of your content and information with Enterprise Information Management

icon-woodwing-unlock-your-potential

Unlock your potential

Unlock your potential with WoodWing's innovative solutions

icon-woodwing-content-orchestration

Content Orchestration

Managing content at scale has never been easier or more profitable

Solutions

Content Creation

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Content Creation

Collaborate and create high-quality channel-neutral content

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Digital Asset Management

Manage and distribute digital assets for streamlined content

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Multichannel Publishing

Maximize reach with seamless multi-channel content publishing


Content Management

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Document Management

Centralize and control your documents, ensuring secure access

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Information Management

Become more agile, reduce risks and benefit from available data

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Share knowledge for better collaboration and productivity

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Process Management

Document and optimize business processes for greater efficiency

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Quality Management

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How one of Germany’s largest news publications increased editorial and production workflow efficiency using WoodWing’s publishing software.

Read this case
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WoodWing Studio

Streamlined content creation and multichannel publishing solution

WoodWing Studio

Collaborative content creation and multichannel publishing solution that simplifies workflows and streamlines production processes.

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Enterprise-grade digital asset management for streamlined workflows

WoodWing Assets

Enterprise-grade digital asset management solution that streamlines your creative workflow and simplifies collaboration among team members.

WoodWing Swivle

Cloud-based DAM for seamless file management and collaboration

WoodWing Swivle

Cloud-based DAM solution for managing, sharing, and collaborating on digital files from anywhere and on any device.

WoodWing Scienta

Simplified quality and process management for regulated industries

WoodWing Scienta

Quality management platform for regulated industries that simplifies compliance, knowledge sharing, and collaboration.

WoodWing Xtendis

Secure digital archiving and document management system

WoodWing Xtendis

Digital archiving and document management system that allows organizations to store, manage, and access their digital assets securely.

Connect Logo (base)

Powerful integration suite for seamless connectivity and automation

WoodWing Connect

Powerful integration suite, including APIs, webhooks, plugins, and the best-in-class iPaaS solution (powered by Workato).

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WoodWing Smart Styles

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Modern document and quality management helps you manage risks and improve processes

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Ensure unity with document, quality, and knowledge management

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Healthcare

Always access the latest version of each process, protocol, guideline, or agreement

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Housing Corporations

Document management from context, always up-to-date, complete and accurate documents

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'Zero Defects' Manufacturing: how the manufacturing industry aims for perfection

'Zero Defects' Manufacturing: how the manufacturing industry aims for perfection

What is document management? And why is it so important?

What is document management? And why is it so important?

Enhance team collaboration with WoodWing Studio Cloud's Commenting feature

Enhance team collaboration with WoodWing Studio Cloud's Commenting feature

View all blog articles

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Medium Rare

How Content Agency Medium Rare delivers better client experiences and outcomes with WoodWing.

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Home Inspiration Blog | WoodWing

Digital Asset Management

Agencies

5 minutes of reading

Easy to implement, intuitive to use: six simple steps to implementing DAM software

For brilliant-but-busy agencies, effective digital asset management can save money, time, and stress. Imagine all of your images, videos, and artwork accessible in no more than three clicks, from anywhere in the world.

Shape

If you’re putting off implementing DAM in your business – perhaps because you think it will be time-consuming and tricky – think again. Depending on your needs, DAM systems can be implemented in as little as a few weeks time. Here’s how. 

STEP 1

Shortlist and select

The first step to successfully implementing DAM is to find the right system for your agency. 

There are lots of excellent products on the market, all offering similar core functionality but with their own particular strengths.

To select the right DAM system for your business, you need to work out exactly what you need it to deliver. Here are some ways to work that out:

  • Speak to your creatives and project managers about the challenges the software needs to solve – what typically causes them delays and frustrations?
  • Consider the nature of your assets – some DAMs have specific functionality for different file types, such as video or InDesign files.
  • Look at your existing software stack – check for compatibility and integrations. 
  • Think about the future – does the software offer scope to scale securely and cost-effectively? Armed with this information, you’re ready to research the different options available.   

Once you’ve shortlisted some systems that look suitable, request demos and speak to the sales teams. If they’re anything like the staff here at WoodWing, they’ll be happy to help you work out if their product is right for you. 

STEP 2

Appoint and explore

Once you’ve chosen your dream DAM and signed on the dotted line, you should expect to meet with your supplier. In the current climate, this is likely to be through a series of virtual meetings rather than face-to-face.  

DAM systems tend to be very flexible and you can usually configure them to your exact needs. Your supplier will walk you through the full functionality of the system and outline what they’ll need to create your customized site.  

You’ll also learn about the technical side of effective asset management. Things like file structure, taxonomy, and permissions. You might not know much about them yet but these are the behind-the-scenes superheroes that ensure your assets are always easy to find and available to the right people.   

Once you’ve been briefed by your supplier on these, you’ll need to consider them in more detail and reconvene once you’ve made some decisions.

STEP 3

Plan and prepare

A DAM solution makes it easy to manage and secure your digital assets, but make sure to implement a clear structure for roles, users and permissionsWhilst your DAM supplier tailors the system to your needs, you need to plan and prepare for how the system will be used.

Here are some of the things you’ll need to think about, to make sure the system is set for success.  

Users and permissions
Who is going to use the system and what are they going to be able to do? 

Typical roles include:

  • Administrators – the people able to edit the DAM system itself and everything within it
  • Editors – people able to upload and edit assets within the system
  • Users – people with fewer privileges, such as download or preview only 

Will you allow external users to access the system, such as clients or their contractors?  

Structure

  • Will you have one central store for all of your clients or segment it into individual client portals?
  • What categories will you use to structure how assets are stored? For example: nature, portraiture, landscapes

Search and retrieval

  • What filters will you use to make search results easier to sort through? 
  • What’s the best way to collect metadata about the assets? User input or AI?
  • Once you’ve decided these key factors, your DAM supplier will be able to activate that within the system, ready for you to check and test.

Don’t forget: Getting people onboard and using the system to its full potential will maximize your ROI. Think about what people need to know and how you’ll communicate with them now, rather than leaving it to the last minute. Download our comms plan template to help you prepare.

STEP 4

Locate, audit, and upload

Once your system is set up, you’ll be ready to start uploading assets. That’s assuming you know where they all are!   

One of the main reasons agencies need a DAM system is because staff have files squirreled away all over the place: personal desktops, email folders, USBs, and in the cloud.   

A DAM provides one central place for all assets to be stored: ‘a single source of truth’ for your creative files.  

However, to get there, they need to track them all down first. Start by asking all staff to centralize any assets they currently hold on their personal desktop, network or emails.   

Next, you need to decide what to upload.   

Many businesses have obsolete files, old artwork, and expired assets. There’s no point adding those to your DAM as they’ll just clutter up your shiny new system. So, decide some criteria in advance.   

For example:

  • Currency (are they still relevant to current work?) 
  • Popularity (how often is an asset used?)
  • Scarcity (is this the only asset you have for a particular purpose?)
  • Age (is the asset now obviously out-of-date?)

Once you’ve decided which files to upload, you can add them to the system, allocating them to specific categories and adding relevant metadata.  

Added bonus: thanks to the information your new DAM will hold about assets, you should be able to run reports on things like popularity and age automatically in the future, helping you make informed decisions about what to keep and even commission.

STEP 5

Launch and onboard

Now your system is set up and populated, it is time to test that everything works as you’d expect. There’ll probably be one or two kinks to iron out and it’s best to find them before your grand unveiling.  

Depending on the size of your agency and the complexity of your DAM, you might simply work through each process yourself to check it works intuitively and as planned. Or you might involve a small group of users to test the functionality for different groups.  

Once you’ve got rid of any glitches or gremlins, you’re ready to roll it out.   

If you’re a small agency with a handful of users, this may be as simple as sitting everyone down and walking them through it. If your agency is larger and has a higher number of users, you may need to schedule some training sessions.  

And there you go! That’s you up and running. If you’ve chosen WoodWing Assets, all of your files are now no more than three clicks away.

STEP 6

Maintain and develop 

Once your DAM is established, you will need to dedicate some time to upkeep. This will maximize your ROI by ensuring it remains effective and easy to use. We recommend appointing a system admin who will be responsible for keeping your system shipshape. The key areas they’ll need to attend to are:

Ensuring old assets are archived
Old and outdated assets can be a liability. You need to archive them regularly. Most DAM systems allow you to do this automatically (for example, archiving assets after a set amount of time) or manually (by getting a reminder to review assets after a set amount of time).  

Onboarding and supporting staff
It is important that new staff understand how to use the system effectively. At WoodWing, our clients tell us our interface is easy and intuitive, so users can get stuck in with minimal support. However, not all DAM systems are as straightforward.

Consider:  

  • Creating self-service ‘how to’ information 
  • Adding training to new staff inductions
  • Making sure staff know who to call if they have any queries 
  • Updating and upgrading  

Most suppliers develop new functionality for their systems, released to users as updates. It is important to keep on top of these to make sure your system runs in optimum condition. Often these will be security updates to make sure your assets – and clients’ – are properly protected.   

And there you have it. WoodWing’s guide to implementing a digital asset management system in six simple steps. If you are ready to explore your DAM options, we’d love to show you what makes WoodWing Assets so special. Get in touch today for a no obligation demo.

Shape

Published on June 01, 2023

WoodWing

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