Streamlining Assets

It's axiomatic: Time is money. For companies with either to waste, digital asset management holds few enticements. For budget-squeezed ad agencies, package designers, and converters that need to make the most of both, however, the tools of digital asset management (DAM), properly implemented, can greatly enhance their ability to locate, manage, and archive digital files and the metadata (format, authors, versions, permissions, etc.) used to describe them. Whether customers opt for a client sever-based system, or a subscription or SAS (software-as-a-solution) option, Web-based workflow systems with integrated asset management functionality enable creative professionals to archive and recall images, artwork, audio, video, or text for use in new jobs. This will save the time and energy that would be needed to recreate a project from scratch, avoiding redundant project approvals, and shrinking the overall time to market.

For consumer product companies (CPCs), organizing, tracking, managing, archiving, and retrieving digital assets plays a critical role in managing a global brand presence, as well as in protecting their brands from regulatory or legal challenges. It can also help alleviate the disruption that can arise from an unforeseen change in print provider. For converters, asset management saves production time and labor by avoiding unnecessary rework and enabling the fast, efficient recall of package elements for preparation and modification.

Automate and streamline

Workflows that generate the "rich media" assets typical of consumer product packaging are fundamentally dynamic, in line with requirements that must be updated as regulations change; as flavors, colors, or other ingredients are added; as design elements are revised; and for myriad other reasons. Applied to packaging, DAM systems or modules should automate and streamline the collection of assets; ensure the security and confidentiality of those assets; and accommodate growth and change in assets—all without compromising the speed or functionality of the creative or production process.