Managing digital assets is hard for organizations of any size, and harder still when you are juggling images, video, marketing creative, and content for emerging channels, each used differently with its own constraints. That is why many organizations use both Digital Asset Management (DAM) and Media Asset Management (MAM) systems. Before deciding whether you need one or both, it helps to know exactly how they differ.
Defining DAM
DAM is the solution for storing, organizing, and accessing all your digital files: images, video, audio, documents, and more. The goal is to let your organization capitalize on the value of those assets to grow the brand. Common features include metadata management, version control, collaboration tools, proper storage and organization, and easy access for the people who need assets. For the fundamentals, see what DAM is.
Defining MAM
MAM is the solution when your primary assets are media files, specifically video and audio. It is designed for the media and entertainment industry: broadcast companies, production studios, and similar. Its features lean into production: transcoding, editing, distribution workflows, and management of media creation, distribution, and archiving.
Combining the two
Integrating DAM and MAM gives you one centralized place to manage everything your organization produces. DAM excels at managing all asset types and keeping them organized; MAM is purpose-built for the heavy demands of video and audio. Run them together and you might use the DAM to organize files while the MAM automates production workflows, which streamlines the whole asset management process and helps teams produce content more efficiently.
Choosing between them, or integrating them, comes down to the specific needs of your organization and the types of assets you manage. This article adapts a piece from the Stacks blog.
Key takeaways
- DAM manages all digital asset types; MAM is built specifically for video and audio.
- MAM adds production features like transcoding, editing, and distribution workflows.
- Heavy media producers benefit most from MAM; most organizations start with DAM.
- Integrating both gives one home for all assets plus automated media workflows.