Definition: Digital Asset Management

What is digital asset management?

Digital asset management (DAM) is the process of organizing, storing, and distributing digital assets, such as images, videos, audio files, and documents, in a centralized system where they are easily accessible and usable by the people who need them.

DAM software allows businesses to store digital assets in a centralized location, making it easy to search for, locate, and retrieve them. It can also help ensure the consistency of digital assets across different channels and platforms, making it easier to maintain brand consistency. Some DAM systems can help manage digital rights, ensuring that digital assets are used in compliance with copyright and licensing agreements.

Some examples of DAM software solutions are Widen, Brandfolder, and Cloudinary.

What are some features of DAM software?

While some digital asset management software has its own bespoke functions, most have the following common features:

• Asset organization to import and organize digital assets such as images, videos, audio files, and documents.
• Metadata management to add, edit, and search for metadata associated with each asset, such as title, description, keywords, and copyright information.
• Asset preview and distribution to preview and distribute assets to multiple channels, such as web, social media, and print.
• Access control to manage user access and permissions for assets based on roles and responsibilities.
• Version control to manage and track different versions of assets over time.
• Workflow management to create and manage workflows for asset approval, editing, and distribution.
• Analytics and reporting to track asset usage, performance, and ROI.
• Integration with other systems such as PIM, CMS, and marketing automation tools.
  

What is the difference between DAM and PIM?

When it comes to data asset management, Digital Asset Management and Product Information Management (PIM) are two similar solutions, but they serve different purposes.

DAM focuses on managing and distributing digital assets such as images, videos, and their associated metadata. On the other hand, PIM is focused on managing and organizing product information, such as descriptions, specifications, and pricing.

While some DAM solutions can manage product information, they typically lack the advanced data management capabilities and features of a dedicated PIM solution, such as automated data standardization and product data syndication. Likewise, some PIM solutions can handle basic tasks related to digital assets but do not carry the same level of functionality as a dedicated DAM solution, such as digital rights management and the ability to manage audio files.

However, by using both PIM and DAM together, businesses can leverage the strengths of each solution to create a more comprehensive and robust data asset management strategy.