Another DAM Blog

Blog about Digital Asset Management

Tag Archives: challenge


by 3 Comments

Midwest Digital Asset Managers launches in Chicago

In May 2013, the Midwest Digital Asset Managers meetup group was launched in Chicago (IL) as “…a group intended for anyone interested in the various aspect of Digital Asset Management.”

I would imagine DAM professionals and people interested in Digital Asset Management (DAM) from all over Chicago area could meet together with like-minded people about DAM. Regardless of market sector, they are likely are faced with similar challenges around people, process, technology, information, budgets and other issues. There are solutions to all of these issues a

Then again, maybe Chicago has more rainbows than everyone else in the world and they may not have to face any issues with Digital Asset Management. Otherwise, Chicago can join their regional DAM community just like New York, Southern California and London has to discuss their successes and challenges with all aspects of DAM.

Speaking as one of the co-organizers of NYC Digital Asset Managers, our membership have grown by over 20% between January 2013 and May 2013 by having 7 meetups in 5 months. Meetups are possible with good content, discussion, marketing, networking and organization. The interest in DAM does exist and it is a matter of people with that interest wanting to get together.

We wish the Midwest Digital Asset Managers all the best.


by Leave a comment

I see your DAM trading cards and raise you

Recently, a company came out with their list of Top DAM Influencers and I am honored to be listed as one of them. Maybe the blog and podcast had something to do with it.

Then, during a recent Digital Asset Management (DAM) event, the same company introduced their first set of DAM trading cards based on their list of Top DAM Influencers. I see your DAM trading cards and raise you some DAM voodoo dolls.

What I am wondering is where are all the DAM voodoo dolls? Someone has to have these somewhere. Really. Think about it. A voodoo doll of each DAM professional could come ‘complete with a large set of pins.’ Every pin could be listing each of the common DAM challenges, issues and pitfalls. I would be curious to know who has these dolls and who is inserting the pins into each doll. If you are a DAM professional, how many of these pins have been inserted into your own voodoo doll? (I am not going to ask where these pins were inserted though)

Just imagine that large list of pins (challenges) to choose from. (Come on. We could either cry about it, ignore these issues or we can laugh about them and do something about it, right?)

  • Lack of user adoption
  • Plan? Where do you see a plan?
  • No file naming convention nor guidelines
  • Missing metadata
  • Lack of metadata field ownership and accountability
  • Lack of metadata consistently and accurately associated/embedded to digital assets, individually or as a group
  • Taxonomy oops
  • Poor search results
  • Search engine? What search engine?
  • Inability to filter  to relevant results
  • We do not have time for an audit. Breathing is optional as well.
  • Implementation delays
  • Contract oops
  • SLA does not cover this or that
  • No version control of metadata
  • No version control for digital assets
  • Siloed thinking
  • Why do we need to collaborate with people? I thought everyone worked on their own island.
  • How do you spell communication again?
  • Implementor has not touched a DAM before…oops
  • Budget woes
  • Lack of sponsor buy-in
  • Stakeholder dissatisfaction
  • Internal politics
  • Scope creep to include new requirements…daily
  • Lack of executive sponsorship/support/understanding
  • Forgot to illustrate  value of DAM when talking to sponsors
  • ROI just means ‘king’ in French
  • User interface confusion
  • Missing vital functionality
  • You want this to do what this time?
  • Forgot this is supposed to make our lives easier.
  • Loss of productivity
  • Unscheduled outages
  • Backup? What backup?
  • Term not clearly defined nor documented
  • No complete DAM Glossary of terms and definitions
  • Lack of information
  • Missing documentation for review
  • Lack of readily available training
  • Lack of ongoing support
  • Long hours
  • Unrealistic deadlines
  • And much, much more

All DAM professionals have experienced some or all of these challenges. Maybe more. These pins in our side are some of the challenges we face and these  become opportunities to overcome and succeed. DAM professionals have experience in resolving these issues.

Now, where did this metadata pin come from?

Where is your DAM voodoo doll? By the way, Happy April Fools Day.

What pins (challenges) are you feeling with Digital Asset Management?

Note that the author does not practice any voodoo. The author has been found to have a sense of humour. Insert another pin.

Let us know when you are ready for some vendor neutral consulting on Digital Asset Management.