Comparing Platforms for Digital Asset Management: Google Drive vs. DAM

Digital asset management (DAM) platforms offer companies the tools they need to handle an ever-growing volume of multimedia assets. A DAM platform can help a business organize and share its files, run effective marketing campaigns, create consistent content, and much more. With so many different platforms to choose from, how do you know which one is right for your company’s unique needs?

At first glance, a DAM platform and another cloud-based system with asset storage capabilities, like Google Drive, could seem interchangeable. Upon further investigation, however, it doesn't take long to uncover critical differences that reveal why a DAM platform as the right choice for organizing your assets, simplifying your workflow, and ensuring brand consistency. 

Let's check out the differences between a DAM platform and Google Drive and what sets Image Relay's platform apart from the rest.

1. Google Drive is Not Optimized for All File Types. One of the reasons why digital asset management using Google Drive isn't the most efficient approach is its file-type support. Google Drive is optimized for written documents, but not so much for videos, images, and the wide range of asset types that a busy brand produces to support their needs. A proper DAM platform will allow you to manage almost any file equally as easily.  
   
   
2. Google Drive Doesn't Support Metadata. Metadata is important information about your assets. Metadata is essential to help you quickly and easily locate the documents you need. Unfortunately, Google Drive lacks the ability to add metadata to documents, meaning that document searchability depends entirely on the file's name. When there are hundreds or thousands of files in a library without appropriate metadata, it becomes increasingly difficult to find what you need and keep things organized. Still wondering about metadata? Learn more here. 
   
   
3. Google Drive Doesn't Have Tiered Permission Levels. DAM platforms may be used by numerous collaborators and stakeholders within a company for a variety of purposes. Many DAM platforms allow administrators to assign permission levels to ensure that everyone has access to what they need without interfering with each other's work. Google Drive, however, doesn't allow for the same kind of tiered permission levels. The inability to assign certain permissions means companies conducting digital asset management in Google Drive are stuck with an all-or-nothing choice regarding a person's ability to access and edit company documents.
   
   
4. Google Drive Doesn't Integrate With Other Popular Platforms. Using Google Drive for digital asset management will likely cause you to run into some problems when attempting to use other platforms for asset creation. Unlike purpose-built DAM platforms, Google Drive doesn't integrate with tools like WordPress, Adobe Illustrator, or Canva. This means you'll waste more time transferring files from one platform to another.

Image Relay isn't your traditional DAM platform. Where Image Relay shines is in its ability to bring together DAM and product information management (PIM) in a unified platform. Companies from all over are drawn to its ability to house all digital assets and product information alongside each other, creating a single source of truth for your brand. This unique approach means streamlined workflows, increased consistency, and optimized collaboration between internal and external stakeholders.

Year after year, Image Relay has been ranked #1 by G2 for customer relationships, ease of use, and simplicity of implementation compared to competitors (based on reviews left by verified customers).