3 Steps for DAM Automation and Integration

What are the three steps for digital asset management (DAM) integration and automation? Automating a digital asset management solution and integrating it into key applications is critical to success, whatever business or vertical you are in.

What good is the best DAM solution if it can’t be integrated into the rest of your tech stack? Siloed technologies won’t scale and automating your DAM solution is one of the biggest reasons to purchase one. The value of digital asset management is extensive. However, you first need to take steps to integrate and automate it. Then, you’ll experience the full benefits of the solution including faster time to value.

3 Steps for DAM Automation and Integration

1.Identify the source of every piece of metadata (Source of Truth)

These may include the following categories of metadata:

· Embedded Metadata: This is a component of a digital file that exists in with the content including text, numbers, data, or other information that is inputted into a native file. For example, embedded metadata for a photo may include camera model, F-stop, ISO speed, GPS coordinates, or copyright information. It’s important to understand the differences between the different types of information.

· Project/Campaign Information: Content creation usually starts with a project that is well-defined and the data originates in project management tools such as marketing resource management tool or a workflow system. This data is captured within those systems and should be carried into the DAM for the deliverables of these projects.

· Product Information: This information relates to product images, videos, marketing materials for your products, etc. This information originates in product lifecycle management (PLM), enterprise resources planning (ERP), or product information management (PIM) systems.

· Rights Information: Either a rights management system or contract lifecycle management might be the source of rights information for each asset. All of this complex data is stored somewhere else and can be married up with the assets in the DAM simplifying rights tracking and compliance.

· Descriptive Metadata: This is the hardest metadata to populate. This is now being handed off to AI engines to identify objects, people, backgrounds, colors etc. The source of truth for this data is usually the DAM unless the content is retrieved from other stock houses or agencies.

· Technical Metadata: This is the characteristics of your files. Usually this can be extracted by the DAM system itself.

There can be many other categories of data based on your industry and the use of your DAM. You can classify and identify the sources as you review what manual metadata is currently being input by users of the DAM. This saves significant amounts of time and resources. It also ensures you capture all relevant metadata.

2. Identify systems and platforms where assets are consumed

Look for who is using your assets and in which systems.

· Start to identify them and see if the use can be automated. Can you begin pushing assets based on criteria or exporting assets based on various format requirements automatically?

· A basic example of this is a CMS for website content, or it can be more complex with eCommerce content.

· If integration can deliver the content to these systems automatically and consistently, you can also start strategizing on collecting information on how your assets are used and what ROI you get from them. This can be a good way to show the value of your DAM to stakeholders.

3. Identify laborious manual tasks

This is where you can start prioritizing your automations and integrations.

· If this is metadata entry, look for the sources of each metadata element. If this involves the importing of content from various sources, look for the integration into those source systems.

· If it is the export of content to other systems, look for automations of content transformations, metadata extraction and integrations to push and pull content based on criteria.

Once these elements are identified, a phased approach will always allow the DAM system to evolve in time and improve user adoption. The benefits of a DAM are numerous, and automating tasks and integrating is the best way to get started. Levering an iPaaS solution like OneTeg solves the complexity of integrations. OneTeg is a no-code iPaaS solution that seamlessly integrates into any solution, saving time, resources, and speeding time to value.

Learn more about getting started with DAM automation and integration at the upcoming DAM New York event September 14-15. Attend the session with Bulent Dogan, Founder and Chief Architect, CyanGate to get tips live and join in the discussion on DAM automation.