17 October 2017

Managing Digital Files With A Digital Asset Management System

While it might be true that you can get a pretty good quality image from the low priced digital cameras these days, one thing that many people overlook is the kind of file asset managers that come with the camera. The more people use a digital camera and the more pictures they take will develop into a need to effectively manage the files, so it is important to evaluate the digital asset management system that is included with the camera.

Customarily, the low end digital cameras simply store as much data as possible on the data card in the camera and the files have some kind of numeric numbering scheme. The main problem is that the user has to constantly engage in "sneaker net," which mean manually going back and forth between the digital camera and data card with its limited storage capacity and transferring the file to a computer hard drive.

It doesn't take long before the user can find themselves with a jumble of digital photos that are difficult to sort through and view. Good digital asset management software that provides a technology solution to this situation is one way of overcoming this challenge.

A digital asset management system for handling these types of files can be found for any kind of operating system, including Windows, Mac and Linux. Software asset management solutions are available for the individual or family that might have just a few hundred personal photos that need to be managed. Often, such software is included with the operating system, such as iPhoto on Apple computers.

However, companies that have a great deal of the total assets of their company in the form of electronic image files need digital asset management software that is considerably more robust than the technology solution software that is designed for personal usage. Advertising agencies, professional photographers, photography studios, publishers, online retailers and many other types of businesses increasingly find that adequate electronic asset management systems can make a huge difference in their profitability.

Much of the issue of profitability, when it comes to properly handling a large number of digital files in a company, comes down to simply being able to find the right file in a timely manner. Employees who need to access the files to collaborate, store, edit, distribute, and archive must have the asset management knowledge to be able to quickly and easily find the needed files in order to work with them as needed.

Having a good digital management system starts with the creation of a standardized naming and filing scheme so that everyone in the organization knows clearly how a new digital media asset should be named and filed. When this is done from the start there is a great deal less confusion and potential for lost files or for a great deal of time lost in tracking down the electronic data files.

An essential part of digital asset management that must be in place in order to protect a company's current assets in the way of digital work, is to have an automated system for backing up and archiving valuable data. Many software asset management systems today take advantage of internet connections to create backups of all files on remote servers, which adds a layer of protection in case of damage to on-site equipment.