Strategic implementation frameworks: How to get DAM right from day one

If you’ve searched the web for “how to maximize your digital asset management implementation”, most companies won’t provide you with real examples of how implementation can bring value to your organization.

This article flips the script here. Not only are we sharing examples of how DAM implementation can bring value to your organization, but we’re going to position it within a framework that is trusted by industry leading consulting firms like McKinsey, BCG, and PwC.

These firms often use a variation of the performance gap → growth opportunity → risk model to map out how technology rollouts connect to real business outcomes. We’re going to apply that model to implementation and provide real examples of how that deployment carried out will bring value to your DAM implementation with Canto.

Identify business gaps in dire need of transformation

When successful organizations take on a transformation project, they start by:

• Identifying what’s broken or underperforming
• Defining what success could look like if that gap were closed
• Calculating what the business stands to lose if nothing changes

This process isn’t just a planning exercise. It’s a way to make sure the investment delivers actual results, not just new, fancy tooling and capabilities.

Despite how widely this thinking is used at the enterprise level, most DAM implementation content skips this step. It focuses heavily on tactical checklists, system configuration, and training guides.

What often gets lost is the bigger picture: why is the DAM being implemented in the first place? Without that clarity, adoption suffers, workflows stay fragmented, and the platform ends up underused.

Before you dive into vendor selection or your tags, take a step back. What problem are you solving? Where are your current processes falling short? That’s your performance gap. What kind of improvement would create measurable value if that gap were fixed? That’s your growth opportunity. And what happens if you don’t fix it? That’s your risk.

In the sections that follow, we’ll explore five ways to approach DAM implementation that go beyond best practices and apply the performance gap + growth opportunity + risk framework to each method.

These strategies are designed to deliver business impact and not just technical completion.

1. Build a framework that ties implementation to business goals with Canto

Canto’s implementation process is designed to address these aspects by providing a structured onboarding experience that aligns with the customer’s specific needs and goals.

• Performance gap identification: During the kickoff call, Canto’s implementation managers and migration specialists discuss use cases and priorities with the customer to understand their current challenges, such as inefficiencies in product image version control. This is how Canto helps identify performance gaps and acts as a strategic partner – not just a SaaS vendor.
• Growth opportunity: Canto offers different implementation packages (Basic, Standard, and Premium) that include training sessions, metadata management and library organization workshops, and asset migration services. These are designed to optimize asset management processes, which can lead to faster campaign execution and brand consistency. This growth opportunity applies to every team member involved in the DAM implementation.
• Risk mitigation: Choosing a strategic DAM partner like Canto to help with a robust implementation strategy ensures that the DAM system is effectively integrated into your workflow, reducing the risk of wasted spending, inconsistent branding, or compliant content usage.

2. Proactive preparation for change management

Plenty of DAM rollouts succeed from a technical perspective and still fall flat in the real world. That’s usually because the people who are supposed to use the system aren’t prepared for the change.

• Change management: Canto doesn’t utilize a “train the trainer” model for implementation, which is especially helpful for teams that are new to DAM. Canto’s implementation process emphasizes early engagement with users to ensure they are prepared for the transition. Canto’s process includes customized training for all users and roles, which helps in managing change effectively by addressing specific departmental needs and workflows.
• Department champions: Identifying department champions is crucial. Canto’s onboarding process involves key stakeholders and power users early on to ensure they are part of shaping the system, which increases buy-in and adoption.
• Feedback loops: Canto incorporates feedback loops through end-user experience testing and feedback sessions before the system goes live. Adjusting the DAM with real-time feedback ensures the system meets the needs of its users.

3. Post DAM launch preparation

Getting the system up and running is only the beginning of your DAM success journey. If you don’t have a plan to maintain and scale usage, it will plateau fast.

Here’s how Canto’s implementation team ensures DAM success after go-live:

• Define success metrics: Canto’s implementation process includes setting clear objectives and success metrics from the start. Setting goals like reducing asset retrieval time or improving brand compliance are ideal. These metrics help track progress and ensure the DAM continues to support business goals.
• Regular check-ins: Canto emphasizes ongoing support and regular check-ins with stakeholders. Canto’s check-ins include weekly touchpoints during the initial implementation phase and continued engagement post-launch to review system performance and gather feedback.
• Usage data and feedback: Canto provides built-in analytics and reporting tools to track asset usage and engagement. Content engagement data helps in understanding how the system is being used and identifying areas for improvement. Regular feedback sessions are encouraged to ensure the system evolves with the business.
• Adaptability and growth: Canto’s implementation services are designed to be scalable and adaptable, allowing the DAM to grow with the business. This includes training teams to manage and scale the system independently, ensuring it remains relevant and effective over time. This means, when your team grows and the volume of assets increases, we ensure you team is getting the best DAM experience possible, via trainings and collaboration sessions.

4. Use technology that moves with you

Most DAM platforms offer AI in some form, but it’s how you use it that makes the difference. Canto delivers a uniquely intelligent search experience that no other DAM platform replicats: natural

Here’s how Canto stands out amongst the competition:

• Canto AI Visual Search: AI Visual Search revolutionizes asset discovery by allowing users to find both images and video content using natural language, eliminating the need to remember specific filenames or metadata and significantly speeding up the search process. Canto’s powerful AI enhances creative workflows by quickly locating and repurposing top-performing assets, thereby maximizing content efficiency and return on investment.
• Video transcription and search: Canto offers video transcription and AI-powered video search, allowing video content to be transcribed and made searchable by description and dialogue. Adding transcriptions enhances the discoverability of video content and can be a significant time-saver for teams working with extensive video libraries.
• Compliance and metadata management: Canto AI Visual Search can assist with finding assets that are non-compliant before they are published, reducing errors and ensuring brand compliance across different markets.
• Continuous improvement and feedback: Canto’s Innovation Lab allows users to explore and test new AI-driven features, providing feedback that influences future developments. This position your team at the forefront of DAM innovation, giving you the tools to influence, adopt, and stay ahead of the latest advancements in AI and content management. By leveraging Canto’s evolving AI capabilities, your organization plays an active role in advancing the future of digital asset management.

5. Make the DAM everyone’s system

Too often, DAMs are treated solely like marketing tools, or IT projects, or creative resources, depending on who championed the purchase. However, a DAM only works when everyone who touches content is part of the plan.

Canto’s implementation model emphasizes cross-departmental collaboration to ensure the DAM system meets the needs of the entire organization. Cross-department collaboration involves engaging teams from marketing, creative, IT, legal, and other departments early in the process to align on roles, permissions, workflows, and success criteria. By incorporating diverse perspectives, Canto helps avoid blind spots and builds a system that works for the whole organization.

Drive DAM success with Canto

Canto is a strategic partner in digital asset management. With over 30 years of DAM experience and a customer base of more than 4,000 organizations, Canto provides deep implementation expertise and long-term guidance. Our focus is on aligning people, content, workflows to create scalable systems that support growth, collaboration, and consistent brand performance.