Today, business process automation is essential for success.
In fact, 97% of companies acknowledge how crucial it is to automate workflows for a truly successful digital transformation.
So what does this mean for industries like manufacturing, where security, efficiency and customer engagement are paramount?
In order to make sure that manufacturing enterprises remain on their toes, competitive (and secure) in today’s digital landscape, they should find ways to automate everyday content tasks.
Tasks like content organization, management and distribution – you get the drill.
Why? Because not only does automating day-to-day workflows save heaps of enterprise time — it also reduces costs and improves overall marketing outcomes.
So, in order to streamline content operations, enterprises are turning to tools & technology, with digital asset management (DAM) being a valuable option to get their automation started.
In this article, we take a look at what workflow automation is, plus how DAM software automates 6 day-to-day content workflows.
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Table of contents:
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Why workflow automation is here to stay
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What is content automation?
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How DAM automates 6 day-to-day content workflows
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Why choose Digizuite DAM for your entire content operations
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Conclusion
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Why workflow automation is here to stay
In manufacturing, refining and automating digital asset workflows is crucial for operational efficiency.
Digital assets like CAD files, blueprints, and technical specs are the backbone of production.
They guide design, manufacturing, and quality control, making any inefficiencies or errors costly in terms of delays and profitability.
McKinsey reveals that workflow automation can save a significant 30% of time for the majority of employees.
Managers currently dedicate an entire workday each week to manual data tasks, with these responsibilities accounting for over 20% of their total weekly hours.
And looking at the broader landscape, there’s substantial potential for automation.
McKinsey also estimates that 50% of work can be automated, giving manufacturers a huge window of opportunity to optimize their workflows.
The Global Business Process Automation Market is expected to grow steadily at 13.2% per year, reaching $19.4 billion by 2026. This highlights the growing significance of workflow automation in the manufacturing industry.
What is content automation + DAM’s role
Content automation is all about simplifying various content-related tasks, from creation to distribution, by replacing manual, repetitive, and time-consuming processes with automated technologies.
The goal? To make content operations more efficient, cost-effective, and less labor-intensive.
Not only can automated content distribution enhance how fast your social media campaigns go live, it also future-proofs content by automated tagging and categorization of assets.
In the manufacturing industry, where precision and efficiency are paramount, consider a day-to-day scenario: Managing product catalog files.
Ensuring clear version numbers like “V1” or “V2” on these files is crucial to avoid costly and brand-damaging mistakes, like sharing the wrong product specifications with clients or external partners.
Content automation streamlines the process of tagging, archiving, and distributing these catalogs, ensuring that the right version is used for each platform and reducing the risk of errors.
A DAM system plays a vital role in content automation by providing a centralized platform for content storage, management, and distribution.
In the next section, we describe how DAM automates 6 of your day-to-day content workflows.
How DAM automates 6 of your day-to-day content workflows
From content management and approval to speeding up product launches, here are some ways DAM automates your content workflows:
Content management and approval workflow
In manufacturing, precision is paramount, especially when it comes to important digital assets like CAD files, blueprints, and technical specifications – you name it.
Here’s where DAM comes in by automating the approval process, ensuring the use of authorized content, precise terminology, and adherence to terms and conditions for these critical assets.
Not only does this safeguard your brand reputation and brand management – it also helps prevent costly errors.
Content distribution and repurposing workflow
A lot of manufacturers face the challenge of reaching a diverse, specialized audience, including engineers, production teams, and supply chain partners.
DAM simplifies content distribution, enhancing the efficiency of social media campaigns and strategies directed at these technical audiences.
And it doesn’t stop there.
Thanks to the feature of content analytics, DAM identifies high-performing assets, enabling manufacturers to repurpose engaging content across platforms, ensuring the right message reaches the right audience.
New product launch automation workflow
DAM plays a crucial role in automating the entire product launch process, from capturing the initial product photos to resizing them for web, social media, and advertising channels.
Specific to manufacturers and their need for strong security, DAM incorporates workflow automation for the review, approval, and seamless sign-off of assets before product launches.
This ensures that all product-related content adheres to brand guidelines and regulatory requirements.
Once assets are approved, DAM takes the lead in automatically distributing new products across multiple channels.
Tagging and metadata automation workflow
Picture the following scenario:
A car manufacturer uploads product images of a new vehicle model into their DAM system.
The DAM system can automatically tag these assets with precise metadata, like the vehicle’s make, model, production year, and even compliance data.
The result?
An organized digital asset repository that facilitates easy search, retrieval, and content production.
This not only ensures seamless adherence to industry standards but also helps in meeting regulatory requirements. Safeguarding the company’s digital assets for the future, all while minimizing the risk of compliance violations.
Additionally, it maintains a reliable record of asset history, making it a valuable resource for tracing back content that’s already gone live.
Image enhancement and resizing workflow
Furthermore, DAM harnesses the power of AI to enhance image quality.
Imagine this in practice: The software automatically adjusts the size and format of product images to perfectly fit various platforms like e-commerce websites, social media, product catalogs, and distributor networks.
This is especially valuable for a car manufacturer. It makes sure that images showcasing their latest vehicle models are perfectly sized and formatted for various digital platforms.
This not only saves time but also maintains a consistent brand appearance.
Marketing automation and omnichannel marketing workflow
DAM’s role as a central repository (a “single source of truth”) for marketing materials simplifies content transfer between systems, which means two things:
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Reducing manual intervention, and
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Ensuring easy access and distribution.
Additionally, DAM includes pre-configured workflows, enhancing your omnichannel strategy:
These workflows streamline asset approval, channel distribution, usage validation, and end-of-life processes, ensuring brand consistency across all your digital platforms.
For example, car manufacturers leverage DAM to seamlessly share their latest vehicle models on websites, social media, catalogs, and partner channels.
Why choose Digizuite DAM for your entire content operations
Digizuite DAM empowers manufacturers to streamline content operations:
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One centralized asset hub: Harness the power of DAM to manage all digital assets from a unified hub. Which means you can say goodbye to the complexities of maintaining different versions for various platforms. (In other words, better version control).
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Seamless integration: DAM smoothly integrates with your existing systems, erasing the need to jump between platforms.
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Efficient workflow automation: DAM’s automated workflows help you boost content creation, reviews, and distribution. This helps ensure content accuracy with timely approvals.
Digizuite DAM in action: The success story of Etex Group
Etex Group, a global construction company with over 15,000 employees across 40 countries, faced the challenge of optimizing global collaboration and extending its reach.
They implemented Digizuite DAM to complement Optimizely Content Cloud during a digital transformation initiative.
This integrated solution empowered Etex to manage the entire content lifecycle efficiently, from creation to distribution across various channels.
Plus, with the combined power of their CMS and DAM, Etex now delivers personalized content experiences throughout individual customer journeys.
They can communicate tailored messages to end users, establishing valuable connections and improving website efficiency.
This integration provided an opportunity to engage with customers in a more meaningful way, resulting in a significant boost to their global impact.
Conclusion
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In conclusion, DAM is pivotal for workflow automation in manufacturing, streamlining:
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Content management and approval.
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Content distribution and repurposing.
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New product launches.
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Tagging and metadata.
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Image enhancement and resizing.
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Marketing automation and omnichannel marketing.
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A DAM is necessary for enterprise content management today: Streamlining operations, helping distribute personalized experiences.
Plus, enhancing customer interactions across all your channels, offline and online.
Interested in learning more about how Digizuite DAM can automate your daily content workflows? Book a demo today.
