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A complete guide to media management software

by Casey Schmidt  |  October 22, 2019

3 min. read
Different media files.

Media asset management is used by companies to organize media files. As companies continue to grow their media libraries, a way to handle large quantities of files is a necessity. Use this guide to understand what media asset management is and the benefits of media management software.

What is media asset management?

Media asset management is software used for organizing rich media files such as images, videos, documents and presentations. It is the overseeing of all operations that include the use of media assets. This includes things like storage and sharing files.

Think of media asset management like a sports club. You have players (media assets) and your goal is to get them to play to the best of their abilities. However, practicing and playing in games is just part of the equation. You need management to handle their finances, contract negotiations, food, travel and housing. The same goes with your media assets. You need to control them extensively, and this is where the management part comes in.

A group of women's volleyball players.
Media asset management is similar to a sports team.

5 benefits of media asset management software

Media asset management has a lot of different features that make it an important system. Here are five key benefits:

1. Metadata synchronization

Media asset management syncs necessary files with metadata, keeping tags relevant and applying new ones when needed.

2. Search and organization

Media asset management finds files for projects and sharing. It does this by organizing media files in a collected space.

3. Improved workflows

Projects with media asset management are accelerated due to the elite organization, sharing and communication that it provides.

A hand drawing gears on a chalkboard.
Media asset management improves company workflows.

4. Accelerated communication

As file-sharing increases, communication follows suit. Since media asset management lets users share relevant media assets with one another, company communication is boosted tenfold.

5. Integrates with important systems

It’s a huge time-saver to have valuable company tools synced with media asset management software. Integrations cut down on the amount of time it takes to switch between systems and tools when working.

A digital laptop.
Media asset management increases team communication.

The difference between media asset management and digital asset management

Differences between media asset management and digital asset management (DAM) have changed over the years, making the systems similar. However, they still have some contrasting characteristics that make them different. Years ago, media asset management software was highly necessary, especially for companies. As times changed, DAM overtook it due to its wider scope of media asset coverage.

Ultimately, media asset management is limited in scope to handle media assets such as videos and images. Digital asset management, however, is a comprehensive system that handles media assets as well. Furthermore, it manages security, tagging, administrative control, digital rights management and more.

As you can see, there’s a lot in common between DAM and media asset management. However, it’s clear that DAM has taken the next step in becoming a comprehensive system. It accomplishes everything media asset management does with more efficiency. It also has features that media asset management doesn’t, making it the right system for businesses in need of asset management.

Make sure you understand the benefits of media asset management and how it compares to DAM. The differences between the two are important – so make sure you give your company the best chance to succeed.