Digital asset management is a collective term used for storing and retrieving digital data on computers and computer storage systems. Digital assets may consist of all types of digital media such as audio, video, text, multimedia etc. These assets are managed and controlled by digital asset management systems, a combination of software and hardware. The role of digital asset management is becoming central in the field of information technology. Its role is evident in a wide spectrum of applications. Storage and retrieval of content is inescapable in a computer environment which practically encompasses the entire data of an organization. Digital asset management may be a simple software or spreadsheet to store data or a complex system to manage diverse data created by media companies and content development firms. Data archiving or library asset management primarily consists of storing vast amounts of data. The stored data is not usually modified or altered frequently. Magnetic and optical storage devices, like magnetic tapes and CD/DVD-ROM are used for storage.At the other end of the spectrum, a digital asset management system may handle data which is used in a production environment. An animation development center may use digital assets which may undergo repeated changes in a collaborative environment with a number of people handling the same digital asset simultaneously. Such an environment may require systems which have faster response time.



The main advantage of using digital asset management systems is the saving on time and effort in retrieving data. Searching for information and data is a time consuming activity. With the implementation of digital asset management software, this task can be automated to a large extent, saving time for more important tasks like planning and project execution. To cater to the fast expanding demand for asset management systems, many software firms have developed off the shelf packages with varying degree of complexity. Cost of implementation, product match and ease of use are some factors to be considered while purchasing a digital asset management system.