How to Choose the Best DAM Software for Your Product Team
Finding the right DAM software will transform the way your product team manages digital assets.
Imagine a space where you can instantly find the images you need, share them with your team and feel confident that everyone is working with the latest, approved version.
DAM software simplifies the chaos of organising your digital assets, removing the need to search through endless emails or folders for the right file.
In fact, companies that use DAM software can launch campaigns 20% faster than those that don’t.
Source: https://blog.adobe.com/en/publish/2020/09/24/connecting-dam-dots
However, not every DAM software will be a perfect fit for your business – and choosing poorly can lead to a lot of wasted time and resources.
We’ve put together this guide to help you make the right decision when it comes to choosing the best DAM software.
Not sure what DAM software is? Find out more on our What is DAM? page.
What to look for when searching for the best DAM software
Pull back the curtains and some DAM solutions are simply pricey file storage systems.
Nowadays, fast-growing brands demand more – a system that’s smarter with your data, scales with your business and provides an intuitive user experience.
Here are some of the features you should look out for when considering the best DAM software:
Advanced asset organisation and search capabilities
Advanced search and metadata tagging allows you to find assets using keywords, categories or custom filters. Spend less time searching, sharing, recreating and managing your digital assets
User permissions and collaboration tools
Granular user permissions give you total control over who can view, edit and share your assets. Protect sensitive content and comply with regulations, licensing laws and usage rights.
Integration with existing workflows
The best DAM software slots into your existing workflows, design tools, project management platforms and production systems. This eliminates friction and the need to duplicate content across multiple platforms.
Common pitfalls when selecting DAM software
There are some typical mistakes teams make when choosing the best DAM software for their team – and we see it time and time again.
Choosing based on price alone
Basing your decision on cost alone only results in money wasted on a solution that fails to solve anything for your business. And even worse – it may even cost you more in the long run, thanks to additional delays, mismanaged files and lost productivity. Even the most expensive option doesn’t always guarantee the best – you need to make sure the features solve real problems for your team.
Ignoring scalability needs
Your DAM needs to have the ability to scale and evolve with your brand. Look for systems that accommodate a growing asset library, more users and are embracing new technologies. Remember – what might be a great fit today might fall short in a few years time. You’ll be back to square one, spending time and money searching for a better solution.
Overlooking user adoption challenges
Investing in a new software solution isn’t just about the cost of the subscription. It’s important to think about the time and money spent on getting your team up and running on the platform. Look for software that has great support from real people – not just chatbots and support tickets. This will help you overcome any user adoption challenges.
Why traditional DAM solutions fall short for today’s product teams
For product teams already juggling deadlines, multiple suppliers and rapid seasonality, some DAM systems simply don’t fit the pace of today’s product development.
Legacy architecture limitations
Legacy DAM solutions limit modern brands, forcing you to match their way of working. Many are not cloud-based and cannot offer features that we often take for granted in our day-to-day lives. For example, instant access to assets from anywhere, real-time collaboration and support for modern file formats.
Hidden costs and feature restrictions
Confusing pricing models, hidden upgrade fees and pay-walls blocking access to essential functionality all lead to one thing – nasty budget surprises. Watch out for extra expenses like servers, licenses and upgrades. Usually you’re hit with these secret fees when it’s almost too late in the process to pull out.
Disconnected solutions
A DAM system that doesn’t speak to your other platforms – PLM, PIM ERP etc – is just overpriced file storage. Disconnected systems result in duplication of work and data entry, which is not only time consuming but opens up opportunities for error and version confusion. The best DAM software connects with your other systems.
Disconnected solutions
A DAM system that doesn’t speak to your other platforms – PLM, PIM, ERP etc – is just overpriced file storage. Disconnected systems result in duplication of work and data entry, which is not only time consuming but opens up opportunities for error and version confusion. The best DAM software connects with your other systems.
The Bombiix difference - designed by real product people
Bombiix was born out of the frustration of real product people working in the industry, who were fed up with using clunky and outdated product software that serves no one.
Here’s how we do DAM differently:
Everything connected - DAM, PIM, PLM and DPP
With Bombiix, your DAM is integrated into our full product suite that combines PLM, PIM, DAM and even DPP.
This gives you a truly unified product management experience. All your product information is brought together into one single place – no duplication of data, unnecessary admin or version confusion.
Bombiix also integrates with major e-commerce platforms, ERP, CRM, supplier tools and communications systems.
Smarter collaboration
Bombiix is cloud-based, giving you the ability to collaborate across different teams and timezones.
Your in-house creative teams can collaborate from every corner of the world, without worrying about outdated information. Suppliers and freelancers can even directly input and update their own information, reducing the need for extra admin and duplication of data.
Secure asset sharing
Granular permissions allow you to grant the right level of access to your team and collaborators.
Access to your digital assets is tightly controlled and only granted through secure, temporary links – protecting your files and brand IP. We keep your data safe with private, fully encrypted Amazon S3 storage.
Scales with you
We offer a per user, per month model that includes our full suite of product tools and users can scale up or down the number of users and the amount of storage that they require.
No hidden pricing surprises
We are clear from the beginning on costs, so there’s no nasty surprises later down the line.
Bombiix has no onboarding or installation fee – simply pay for the package you signed up for. We roll out updates for everyone on the system, so no need to worry about being locked out of features in the future.
Support from real people
Speak with real humans who understand your everyday struggles working in product.
No frustrating chat bots or slow support tickets that don’t quite answer your questions or provide solutions. Support is included in all of our tiers with up to 8 hours of support for Luna customers and unlimited for Atlas and Hercules.
FAQs
What's the difference between DAM software and cloud storage?
Basic cloud storage offers a repository for files, with no useful way of connecting data with the rest of your product development process.
By contrast, DAM software provides advanced metadata, workflow automation and collaboration features beyond simple file storage.
For example, advanced search and metadata tagging allows you to find assets using keywords, categories or custom filters. Meanwhile, additional collaboration tools allow you to work with teams across the world to create, upload and manage product information.
How long does DAM implementation typically take?
Legacy DAM systems often require extensive setup and costly onboarding costs that can last up to a year. Modern solutions like Bombiix get you up and running in a few months – sometimes even weeks.
What's the ROI of investing in DAM software?
DAM software provides a high return on investment when you consider the time savings, reduced asset recreation and improved team productivity.
Teams no longer need to spend hours searching for the right asset, or checking with colleagues if they have the latest version. Assets are easily accessible and searchable, preventing the need for recreation of missing assets.
Can DAM software integrate with our existing tools?
Some DAM solutions offer integration with seamless tools. It’s important to check if the DAM software you’re investing in is compatible with your existing systems. Look for API-friendly platforms that offer you this flexibility and connectivity.
How do we ensure team adoption of new DAM software?
Look for DAM solutions that already have intuitive features and speak in your team’s language – tools that have been designed by real product people.
Keep an eye out for DAM systems that provide support and onboarding from humans and not chatbots.