When do you need a DAM (Digital Asset Manager)?
June 10, 2024
Have you ever scrambled to find a file for a last-minute presentation or an urgent campaign? Were those files scattered across different folders, drives, or even team members' emails? If so, you're not alone. Marketers today juggle a myriad of digital assets—images, GIFs, videos, audio files, documents—often scattered across various platforms. This chaos can lead to frustrating hunts for the right file when you need it most.
At first glance, digital asset management may seem trivial, but fast-growing companies often hit hurdles sharing and collaborating on brand assets, especially for web content that is regularly updated. Makeswift offers two ways to manage these digital assets — our built-in files manager or an integrated, external DAM (Digital Asset Manager) like Bynder.
Simplifying digital asset management
At Makeswift, we believe in starting simple and adding complexity only when necessary. Our approach to digital asset management reflects this philosophy. We've built a straightforward DAM into our product, which we call our Files Manager. This tool is perfect for companies that need a simple folder-level organization structure for their assets.
However, as needs grow and evolve—such as adding metadata to files, asset editing features, and omnichannel capabilities—we recommend transitioning to an integrated DAM like Bynder. This setup empowers our users to maintain full control over their files, choosing the solution that best aligns with their immediate priorities and needs.
Comparing Solutions: Makeswift’s Files Manager vs. Bynder
Makeswift’s Files Manager
We recently updated our files manager to make our search functionality and folder organization more intuitive. It works just like other file storage systems you’re familiar with, ensuring there's no real learning curve. Too much complexity early on can decrease productivity as teams adapt to new workflows and learn a new system. That’s why we’ve focused on simplicity first, providing our users with an easy-to-learn, centralized hub for all of their digital assets. Our key features include:
- Straightforward file and folder structures
- Sorting menu tailored to your preferences
- ‘Move to’ functionality for quick file management
- Multi-select for efficient file handling
- Visual cues for different file types
- Comprehensive search functionality
For more info you can read more about our recent updates here.
Going beyond with an external DAM
While our files manager caters to the more intuitive and basic asset organization needs, we know that at some point — especially with enterprise companies — a deeper level of management will eventually become necessary. An external DAM will offer a more specialized approach to file management with feature such as:
- Advanced metadata management
- Asset editing tools
- Workflow automations
- Collaboration features
- Brand guideline management
You can learn more about our Bynder integration here.
Choosing the right fit
When it comes to choosing what is best for you, several factors come into play. Let's take a look at the key considerations when deciding between using Makeswift’s files manager or our Bynder integration.
Complexity of Assets
Are you dealing with a diverse array of assets that require advanced organization and metadata management? If so, our Bynder integration is the way to go. For large enterprises with extensive libraries of digital assets, the ability to standardize metadata, streamline workflows, and manage content rights can be invaluable for operational efficiency. Granular naming conventions can result in a more powerful and useful search functionality when you have large amounts of different assets and a need for teams across the organization to be able to find and use them.
If you are a smaller business with fewer asset varieties, our Files Manager provides a tailored experience without unnecessary features that could clutter your workflow.
Workflow Requirements
Do your workflows involve extensive collaboration and approval processes? If so, the built-in collaboration tools that Bynder provides may be worth considering. Bynder is designed to facilitate collaboration among team members, editors, and external partners, eliminating the need to manage collaboration and approval efforts externally. This reduces the risk of duplicative work and missed reviews before content is posted.
If you don’t foresee the need for extensive collaboration on your files, or don’t yet require a rigid approval structure, keeping your assets in Makeswift’s Files Manager should have you covered.
Budget & Resources
Last but certainly not least, consider the cost implications of these options. While any external DAM offers an array of advanced features, they often come with a higher price tag and require additional resources to implement and maintain. For large enterprises, this might not be an issue, but it can significantly impact smaller businesses.
In the spirit of keeping things simple as long as possible, Makeswift’s Files Manager comes with your Makeswift account, providing a cost-effective solution that doesn’t require additional resources to manage. When the time comes for more advanced features, transitioning to Bynder will be seamless and efficient.
Making the right choice for your needs
Ultimately, the choice depends on your specific business needs. Consider the amount and diversity of your assets, workflow and collaboration requirements, and budget constraints. With these considerations in mind, you’ll be set up to choose the solution that best aligns with your business objectives and minimizes the frustrations and risks associated by operating without a defined asset management tool or strategy.
Ready to check out what files management solution works best for you? Sign up for a free Makeswift account and get started!
