In recent years, cloud-based DAM has emerged as a popular solution for organizations looking to streamline their content management processes. In this blog post, we discuss the advantages of cloud-based DAM and how it can benefit your organization.
We also introduce Brandspace, our cloud-based digital asset management (DAM) platform, which makes it easy for you to manage the creative assets that bring your brand to life.
Let's get started…
What is cloud-based digital asset management?
|A cloud digital asset management system or cloud DAM is an online platform that allows you to upload, store and access digital files.
Being "cloud-based", means your DAM software and your files are stored online. This is achieved using remote servers rather than "locally" on your computer or company servers.
One of the main benefits of this is you can access your brand's media files from any location (providing you have internet access).
Cloud based brand asset management:
Is it the same thing?
You may have come across this term in your research, and be wondering if DAM and BAM are the same things.
The answer to this question is essentially yes.
You could get into detail and look at the slight differences between the two types of systems. Mainly around the focus of each type of platform.
DAM has a pure focus on storing and managing your digital assets. Whereas Brand Asset Management software builds on this functionality and tailors it more towards a marketing and brand management use case. Introducing things like brand guidelines, and supporting marketing campaign roll-out.
For the sake of variety in this article, we're using the terms interchangeably.
Some interesting cloud based DAM stats
The digital asset management market was valued at USD 2,962.2 million in 2020.
It is expected to reach USD 8,158.6 million by 2026, registering a CAGR of 18.46% during the period of 2021-2026.
Worryingly, many brands store their digital assets in several different locations and only a few store them in one system.
According to the study of over 3,400 marketers and creators, by Demand Metric in 2020:
- 61% mentioned cloud storage platforms,
- 51% a server of their company,
- 34% Digital Asset Management,
- 32% local storage,
- and 21% mentioned a tool with a suite of solutions, including an asset storage component.
How can cloud DAM help your business?
More and more enterprises are recognising the benefits of Cloud DAM. It is helping them gain control over their digital assets.
In turn, this helps them manage their brand much more effectively.
This better organisation supports brand growth and helps them gain a competitive advantage in their market.
Keep reading to see how your business could benefit from cloud based brand asset management.
Scalability and cost-effectiveness
Cloud-based DAM is highly scalable and cost-effective.
Unlike traditional on-premise solutions, cloud-based DAM does not require significant upfront investments in hardware and infrastructure.
Instead, organizations can pay for what they use on a subscription basis, which can be scaled up or down as needed.
This makes cloud-based DAM an ideal solution for organizations of all sizes, from small startups to large enterprises.
Access cloud DAM from any location
One of the key benefits of cloud-based DAM is improved accessibility and collaboration. Using online brand management software like Brandspace gives you one, centralised, platform that anyone in your business can access from any location, as long as they have an internet connection.
- This makes remote working so much easier.
- It supports collaboration as teams across the globe can easily access the files they need instantly.
- It removes cumbersome processes like needing to email files or post hard drives.
Cloud-based DAM also allows for real-time collaboration, where multiple users can work on the same asset simultaneously, without the need for file transfers or version control.
Secure storage with cloud based digital asset management
Storing your digital assets in specialist web-based DAM software is a lot more secure than using internal servers or hard drives.
Daily file backups to different server locations mean less risk of loss and damage in the event of theft, fire or flood.
Collaboration made easy
Developing and rolling out marketing campaigns is easy with digital asset management software like Brandspace.
Because the software is stored in the cloud all your teams can access the files they needed from any location.
Marketing teams can share strategy documents and campaign plans.
Creative teams can easily upload their latest design, video and audio work.
Marketers can access these and publish them on your promotional channels.
Everyone on the same page
DAM software supports more effective and efficient working. It achieves this by providing one easy to access online platform for all your brand and marketing collateral.
With everyone on the same page, communication is made so much easier.
- No lengthy email trails sharing zip folders of logos.
- No contacting multiple teams looking for the correct graphics.
- One online DAM software.
- One simple process for storing and sharing your brand assets.
Improved analytics and reporting
With cloud-based DAM, you can also gain access to improved analytics and reporting.
Many cloud-based DAM providers offer robust reporting capabilities, allowing organizations to track asset usage and performance over time.
This information can be used to make data-driven decisions about content creation and distribution, further improving the effectiveness of content marketing efforts.
Integration with other systems
Another advantage of cloud-based DAM is the ability to integrate with other systems. Many cloud-based digital asset management providers offer APIs and integrations with popular content management systems, such as WordPress or Drupal.
This allows you to seamlessly incorporate your digital assets into your existing workflows, further streamlining your content management processes.
Alternatives to cloud digital asset management
While the benefits of cloud-based DAM are clear it's worth weighing up the alternatives when looking at where to invest your brand asset management budget.
Onsite using internal servers
This option gives you full control, which is super important. However, you won't get the same specialist functionality you would get with a DAM platform; things like advanced image search, easily accessible brand guidelines and user management. It's also potentially riskier as the servers are stored on-site.
Google Drive and Dropbox
These platforms are easy to get started with. They also have generous free tiers. However, as soon as you start to scale, their per-user pricing can get expensive. They're also platforms that try to do it all, so aren't optimised for DAM. With the folder structure, the user interface can get a bit clunky when it comes to reviewing the visual assets you need. You also run the risk of multiple team members setting up separate drives further adding to your file management issues!
Hard drives
Please don't use this method! While it's by far the easiest to get started with, it comes with massive downsides – basically all the things that online DAM solves. Things likes, poor security, no opportunity for collaboration, and files being hard to find.
Conclusion
Cloud-based DAM offers numerous advantages over traditional on-premise solutions, from improved accessibility and collaboration to scalability and cost-effectiveness.
By leveraging cloud-based DAM, you can streamline your content management processes and boost productivity, while also reducing costs and improving data security.
If you're looking for a better way to manage your digital assets, cloud-based DAM is definitely worth considering.
I’m a marketer based in Wales, UK. I love working with ambitious small businesses and helping them unlock the full potential of proper marketing. I created Brandspace as the starting point for doing this, and while we focus on websites and search, I can provide full strategic marketing support for your business.