DAM solutions appeared in the market in the late 1990s in an effort to improve the management of digital assets in the gaming and media sector, but since then they have been expanding into other sectors, such as archives. These systems have an integral approach and centralize and speed up the ingest and documentary treatment of digital content, the control and follow-up of its use, the processes associated with intellectual property and rights, security issues and search and retrieval. The difference with the CMSs in the document industry may be subtle, since CMSs have greatly improved their features. In general terms, DAMs are more optimised for workflows and for search and document exchange functions, while they are not as well suited to online dissemination. However, many of them offer a good web output or allow integration with CMSs. There are different types of DAMs, but we can basically distinguish between those systems designed for the management of final versions of files and those more focused on production, which include functionalities related to editing, validating and review of versions.
License: Proprietary software
Developer: Celum
Operating system: Cross-platform
- Java-based (Java/J2EE) application. The core database supports JDBC and runs on SQL Server or Oracle.
- Highly customizable interface. Offers a SDK software development kit and additionally SOAP and REST APIs are also available for custom integrations. It also has already standardized integrations, like SharePoint, SAP Hybris, Adobe CC/CS, Microsoft Office, among others.
- Detects duplicates during import process by checking the file name, size and hash.
- Supports the IPTC, EXIF and XMP metadata standards.
- Supports most common multimedia file formats.
- The definition of fields, descriptors and the creation of taxonomies is completely flexible.
- Allows different levels of permissions in each of the three basic blocks: manage, visualize and use. Very specific restrictions and roles can be set up.
- Allows extraction of statistics and personalized reports of most of the actions.
- Workflows include the automation of processes, the creation of tasks, control versions, notification alerts, sending notifications, reaching high levels of complexity.
- The multi-server architecture (4) guarantees scalability and a large number of files and users.
- Can be installed on Windows, Mac or Linux but being a web-based application it can be accessed from any web browser or dedicated app (iOS only).
- Has an iOS app (upload, browse and share). Android users can use the browser GUI.
- Allows installing of on premises, SaaS, and hybrid.
License: Proprietary software
Developer: Fotoware
Operating system: Cross-platform
- Detects duplicates through Unique Image ID, by filename or the checksum Image Similarity.
- Supports XMP, IPTC, Dublin Core, Adobe Photoshop metadata sets.
- The system is based on the metadata embedded in the digital object. For assets produced by external systems with no embedded metadata, procedures may be enabled, either manually or automatically, in order to include metadata in each digital object.
- Supports unlimited storage space adding hard drives. Index Manager Standard supports up to 1 million files per server (with a maximum of 32 indexes of 100,000 documents each) and if needed, it can be extended to the Enterprise version that supports up to 3 million files per server with no limit on the number of documents in each one of the 32 indexes.
- Supports a wide variety of image formats (more than 200). The standard tool allows the description and visualization of the most common video formats. Additionally, it offers a video module for transcribing and inserting bookmarks as well as for make conversions.
- Uses descriptive lists, tree structures are used for multi-field documentation, synonyms dictionary and thesauri which are configurable without depending on the provider. These lists and structures can be imported from datasheets (excel files, from csv files, from tabulated text, etc.). On the other hand, to make more complex changes, the Enterprise version includes "Development Tools", that is, access to product APIs and the support of ASP scripts for customization and development.
- Has the possibility to create very collaborative workflows (approval, send, share selections, chat tool, among others).
- It is possible to sort images by similarity based on the color balance in the image.
- There are 4 standard reports (rights, sales, search and downloads) but also customized reports with multiple possibilities.
- It runs on Windows Server 2003 or a higher version. The client workstations can be both Mac and Windows.
- Has an iOS app and Android app.
License: Proprietary software
Developer: Picturepark
Operating system: Cross-platform
- Detects duplicates through the file name during the upload. Once the files are on the server they can be detected by the hash validator. It is possible to configure duplicate specification options.
- Supports IPTC, XMP, PLUS and Dublin Core metadata sets.
- The definition of descriptors and the creation of taxonomies is flexible. It allows synonyms and multiple languages with Unicode.
- Granularity of permissions. By default, you can set permissions on viewing, uploading, editing, deleting, among others.
- Through the metadata and permissions it allows workflows with approvals and revisions. You can set dates, reminders and filters.
- Supports 300 different formats for preview and conversion.
- During the download you can convert the: format, dimensions, language, processes (watermarks ...).
- It allows you to extract individual or global statistics, in real time. Standard statistics compile the activity, sharing, download, visualization statistics, among others.
- Allows distribution in different formats but does not allow social sharing. You can send selections of documents directly from the platform. The landing page of the receiver is completely editable and allows you to add annotations and approve comments.
- Offers a large number of configuration options without the need to code, and also through the RestfulAPI. Possibility of installing modules to increase capacities (conversions, video, etc.).
- It only works with Windows server and MS SQL database. Through the module "PicturePark Port" (responsive design), it can be accessed from any device through the browser, but only for viewing features. They have not developed a mobile app.
-Offer a cloud or a local host.
License: AGPL v3
Developer: SixSigns
Operating system: Cross-platform
- Java-based application (Java 8 and J2EE Application server are required). It is possible to use it with Oracle Database, MS SQL or MySQL.
- Reads and writes XMP and IPTC metadata.
- Supports a large variety of image file formats.
- Collections can be sent on URLs and/or a public webpage (lightbox).
- Good workflows can be set up by using permissions and comments.
- File formats can be converted to other formats on the fly with no need for a 3rd party application
- Reads and writes XMP and IPTC metadata sets.
- Strong access control through group permissions
- a web-based application accessible through any web browser.
- API is well developed.
- Open standard architecture guarantees the scalability