When it comes to licensing, ensuring the intellectual property used is presented correctly is vital. From the logos to the verbiage to graphics to the packaging to the legal lines and more, there’s a lot to know. And there are usually a lot of hands that are involved in the production and design of a licensed product. Making sure everyone is on the same page can be cumbersome unless you have a digital asset management system in place.

Here’s Dependable Solutions’ list of 13 critical reasons why digital asset management is essential:

1. It’s All About the Look.

Fans know their brands. Licensors need their brands accurately represented. Licensees want to do right by licensors and fans. Using the right artwork is paramount to achieve all these goals. And the best way to ensure the correct look is being used is possible through a digital asset management system (DAM) that shares approved licensor artwork, style guides, brand assets to their licensees. Learn why brand style guides matter here.

2. Artwork That’s All Right.

While you may have a license to a brand, that doesn’t mean you have access to all the artwork that’s ever been associated with that brand. A DAM system ensures licensees are using the contractually correct artwork.

3. Delivering Digital Files.

It’s not just artwork that licensors will share. Digital files. like audio and video files, are being used more often and usually have more restrictions or more requirements than 2D artwork. With DAM, licensors can share all nature of digital assets easily with specific licensees that need them.

In addition, all the restrictions and requirements (e.g., legal verbiage, royalty payments to artists, and more) can be included thus removing the major headaches usually associated with digital asset sharing.

4. Capturing Correct Colors.

Brands are known for more than just the artwork. Specific colors are essential for brands. Whether it’s Tiffany Blue, SpongeBob yellow, or UPS brown, having the exact color is imperative. Knowing the correct Pantone or CMYK colors are important to ensure brand consistency. And many times, having a specific color is also for legal reasons. A DAM system ensures licensees know the correct Pantone and CMYK colors and how they should be applied.

5. Marketing Materials That Matter.

Licensors will want to share the latest and greatest marketing information with their licensees, especially if a major marketing initiative is around the corner. Knowing the most up-to-date marketing information will help licensees promote the licensed products better as well as ensure that their retailers are in-the-know.

A DAM system allows licensors the ability to share the most current marketing items and remove from circulation of older items that should no longer be used.

6. Staying Organized.

A DAM system can streamline the management of all your digital assets, serving as an asset bank for you, your team members, and external stakeholders. Creative content and style guides can be organized in folders in a user-friendly system.

This organization helps licensees follow best practices in new asset creation while also saving time for team members to quickly and easily access assets that are needed.

7. Communication Made Easier.

Brand managers and licensees can directly access and use any digital file or style guide from DAM whenever they’d like. And when updates are added, everyone gets them at the same time. This reduces delays across time zones and workdays no matter where anyone is in the world.

8. Share Instantly.

Time is money. Making sure everyone is on the same page is key. Brand asset management software allows you to efficiently review, share, and download any brand material or marketing content all at the click of a button.

9. Stay Up-to-Date.

Logos are artwork are updated all the time whether for fan engagement, legal reasons, a marketing initiative, or another reason. DAM systems allow brand owners to quickly update licensees on the latest and greatest art assets.

10. Security Matters.

A DAM system is the best way to share brand assets securely and electronically. Grant access to licensees, brand managers, creative teams, or agents to access digital assets as needed. This helps to maintain brand identity and brand integrity while keeping creative functions moving smoothly. It also allows you the ability to control who has access to your assets as well as monitor who has used your assets.

11. Customization Counts.

A customizable DAM system puts you in full control of your brand asset security and privacy. Control access levels to licensees, manufacturers, or agents. Limit visibility to external users by customizing access levels to view, download, or edit assets.

Format permission levels and choose who sees your brand materials or ongoing campaigns. A customized DAM system leads to a superior customer experience.

12. Know Your History.

Using a brand management system allows full visibility on previous download activities. See which assets are being used more than others while monitoring who is downloading your assets the most or least. Knowing your history can help improve your work process as well as your licensees.

13. Get Data for Business Analysis.

DAM doesn’t have to be simply a passive tool that shares assets. It can also generate reports and track statistics on asset usage for smarter business analysis. Useful analysis tools include tracking statistics related to downloads, users, companies, uncovering asset usage by the user, and more.

A good DAM system can give you data that will help you generate assets that work best for you and your licensees.

Keeping these 13 rationales in mind, we understand how a DAM solution can help make the creative licensing process move smoothly. Dependable Solutions’ digital asset management system makes managing brand asset rights and permissions simple, easy, and secure.