If you own a business with any kind of Web presence, then you understand the importance of having a cloud-based service that lets you store, organize and access your digital content. It’s not only about delivering your goods and services to your customers, although that certainly plays a big role — it’s also about having a place where you can collaborate with coworkers and clients while guaranteeing that your documents, images and videos are secure.
There is an ongoing debate about which kind of service best achieves these goals. On one hand you have free, widely available services like Google Drive; on the other, you have companies like WebDAM that provide digital asset management solutions that cater specifically to the business-minded cloud user. As you’ll see, it’s not necessarily a question of which is better, but rather one of how each can fulfill your specific needs.
How Big Is Your Digital Asset Library?
If your asset library is relatively small and you work with your team to develop an efficient organization system, then Google Drive can be a surprisingly powerful tool for storing digital assets. However, once your assets expand beyond a certain point, it might be best to convert to a niche digital asset management platform that understands the nuances of your specific content. An effective enterprise-based DAM solution is going to relieve the stress caused by some of DAM’s biggest hurdles, from asset ingestion to storage capacity to serving.
And of course, there’s also security to think about. The security of Google Drive it tied directly to the security of those who are given access by way of a Google account. DAM providers are going to provide a whole suite of additional security features, from asset monitoring to digital encryption.
Is Cost a Factor?
Google Drive’s most attractive feature is its cost. The storage capability of the Google cloud is virtually unlimited, making the cost of real estate extremely cheap. And by leveraging Drive’s global accessibility and low redundancy threshold, you can feel comfortable knowing that the low cost won’t affect your ability (or your client’s ability) to access to access your digital assets.
At some point, however, your company may experience a cost tipping point, wherein the cost of managing your own digital assets outweighs the savings created by cheap storage. This is where enterprise DAM can step in.
Are Your Assets Also Your Product?
Enterprise DAM solutions are tailored to the specific assets of the client, and they are designed to efficiently deliver that asset to paying customers. Google Drive is more likely to see your content as just that: content. Enterprise DAM understands that no two assets are alike. Whether it’s pictures, video or digital applications, there are nuances to managing assets. These can range from logistical demands like file type and size, to market-based concerns like consistency and brand proliferation. Just look at WebDAM’s customer base, which ranges from high-end fashion brands like Dooney & Burke to widely available consumer goods like Tabasco and Seattle’s Best Coffee. The digital asset demands for these brands must be wildly different, and yet WebDAM has built an adaptive platform that serves them all.
