The State of Digital Asset Management in 2022

The 2020s decade got started with the most widespread pandemic in a century. Beyond the health crisis, this had profound impacts on the ways people work. As professionals and teams find their new footing in 2022, it is the perfect time to reflect on some of the trends in digital asset management and how they will impact work in the years to come. Marcom is seeing not only increased interest in digital asset management technology but also changes to how it is being applied.

Digital Asset Management in the World of Remote Work

Although the big story of the last two years was the health crisis, one of the most significant secondary stories was the transition to more remote work. Laws, executive orders, and health concerns caused many physical workplaces to close. Workers who could continue to work remotely made the transition to ensure that workplaces remained properly socially distanced. This has continued to be a big factor in how people work. In fact, after seeing the benefits first hand, many professionals now consider remote working to be a major factor in job hunting.

To adapt to the needs of a remote workforce, many businesses have needed to invest in their IT infrastructure. For businesses that need digital assets, DAM software is a necessity. It allows teams to have a centralized hub for their photos, videos, and other digital assets. Opposed to shared drive solutions, companies also rely on DAM software to satisfy legal/regulatory requirements that other solutions fail to fulfill. A DAM system can protect sensitive assets through a number of ways including encryption, password-protected shared links, and set expiration dates on assets that are only meant to be shared for a certain period of time.

However, the change is more than just implementing software. There has also been a more subtle shift in how DAM solutions are used. They are no longer just repositories for digital assets. Instead, they are centerpieces of digital and remote workflows. That calls for better organization and more intuitive solutions.

More Dynamic Workflows in 2022

Every team finds its own balance between autonomy and control. There is both a need for people to be on the same page to foster employee collaboration and a need to empower talented professionals. One of the main trends in digital asset management in 2022 is the shift towards more dynamic workflows that empower both teamwork and individual excellence.

While working remotely, many professionals have had to adapt the ways that they work to be able to achieve team success with little or no in-person contact. Digital asset management has empowered this by giving team members a single final destination for finished files. It helps teams to work more asynchronously and dynamically than they would be able to in more traditional, rigid workflows. DAM empowers teams to work together without being together.

Increased Focus on Integrated Workflows – With DAM Software Playing a Key Role

Another big takeaway of the remote work revolution has been the importance of integration. Professionals are typically at their best when their technology systems work smoothly. Integration between solutions is a big part of this. When systems work smoothly together, there is less frustration and greater productivity.

A good way to think about DAM software is being a key player in the overall digital work ecosystem. For example, your team likely has software for image and video editing, writing, creating layouts and other such tasks. These can all be combined into an inclusive ecosystem with digital asset management at the center. With a DAM, you can save time because you know exactly where your assets are, upload/organize the way you want, find it easily with search/tagging, and simply share assets with the right people. This investment in integration can help your team to work more efficiently.

Smarter Tracking and Management of Digital Assets

For many teams, digital assets are both important resources and (potentially) significant expenses. However, a lot of teams have substantial waste. Some assets are acquired but never used, others are added to the system multiple times. Good tagging, tracking, management, and reporting can help you to keep your digital asset management system more organized and more efficient. DAM can help with better tracking of assets. In-depth analytics can help you know who is using each asset, how many times it’s downloaded/viewed, and more. You can avoid wasting time creating assets that aren’t effective, and keep your DAM organized by archiving the least-used assets.

Modern DAM systems are getting smarter. They can use AI and other technologies to make tracking and management easier than ever. With the right tools, even small teams can properly manage large libraries of assets. Better yet, automated features in digital asset management technology can help your team members to find exactly the right assets with little more than a couple of button clicks.

Future Trends in Digital Asset Management

If 2020 and 2021 have taught us anything, it’s that the only constant in life and business is change. As 2022 continues and the above trends evolve (and new ones emerge), we look forward to providing solutions that support the new, remote work environment.

This post was originally published on December 2, 2019 and updated Feb 2, 2022