How Enterprise Companies can Leverage Digizuite’s Open API Solution

Digital asset management (DAM) is for many enterprises a go-to solution when dealing with an exponentially growing amount of digital assets. 

And as businesses strive to expand their reach across various platforms and devices (aka having an omnichannel strategy), it has become increasingly important for them to integrate their DAM software (Digital Asset Management) with other applications.

This integration is necessary to ensure the widespread adoption and efficient use of DAM systems.

Enter APIs, or Application Programming Interfaces, play a crucial role in this process.

But what exactly are APIs and why do they matter in DAM?

Here’s the thing: APIs are like the backbone of DAM integrations, providing a vital link between different tools and platforms.

And as organizations increasingly recognize the value of APIs, studies have shown that over 80% of respondents consider them to be a vital part of their digital ecosystem.

In this post, we’ll explore the fundamentals of APIs and how they affect your DAM system.

• Table of contents:

  • What is an API?

  • How APIs affect digital asset management

  • APIs for DAM: 6 Use cases

  • The Digizuite DAM: Built on an open API

What is an API?

In the world of software development, Application Programming Interfaces (APIs) are the magic that enables different applications to talk to each other.

Picture this:

When you use a program or type in a URL, your device has a little chat with a remote server to get the software you need in a split second.

But here’s the thing – those applications and devices speak completely different languages.

Enter API’s, which do all the behind-the-scenes work of translating tons of codes and formats.

They make sure you can enjoy your website or program exactly as intended, no matter what device or other apps you’re using at that given time.

How APIs Affect Digital Asset Management

Most DAM solutions offer a wide range of pre-built integrations, but trying to link them all at once can be a hassle.

Fortunately, there’s a solution: DAM API.

API allows you to create unique integrations that are flexible enough to work with your already existing systems, computer programs and productivity tools.

Picture the following example:

You’re a global marketing firm with remote teams spread out across different places and area codes. You already have a DAM in place to control your content chaos and manage your digital assets.

But here’s the issue: Your teams often find themselves needing assets within their already existing collaboration and project management tools (like Wrike and Slack) which are not directly connected to the DAM.

Thanks to API’s, you can now seamlessly integrate your DAM with these tools, which gets rid of the need to switch back and forth between tools to get the content they need.

AKA: Improving efficiency all around.

Here’s two more ways API’s make everyone’s lives easier when using a DAM:

1. They empower creative teams to access and update assets within the DAM system from their already existing creative tools (like Adobe Creative Cloud). The result? Up-to-date versions of content and making it easy to accelerate content production.

2. Enabling automated workflows that trigger notifications to keep teams informed about new assets, archived assets or changes made to content. This helps streamline collaboration and make sure people get their hands on the right content at the right time.

In short:

APIs are a powerful tool for DAM, enabling businesses to create custom integrations that streamline workflows and cut down on manual tasks.

The result?

A significant boost in team productivity.

APIs for DAM: 6 Typical Use Cases

While most DAM solutions offer a wide range of built-in integrations, it is virtually impossible for them to connect with every platform immediately.

This is where APIs play a critical role in DAM systems.

The use cases for an API in DAM are numerous and diverse, but some common ones include:

1. Simplify asset sharing: Ensure seamless access to your assets from other platforms by providing easy download, sharing, versioning, and transformation options.

   Manufacturers, for example, can use DAM APis to efficiently share product images, marketing collateral and technical specifications with various stakeholders like sales teams, retailers and distributors.

   The result?

   The most relevant and consistent information across all channels, locally and globally.

2. Swift uploads: Quickly upload your new assets with relevant metadata directly from your desktop or other programs into your DAM.

   DAM APIs can allow manufacturers to accelerate the upload of production files like manufacturing instructions, CAD designs and quality control documents straight from the production systems of design software. Which means that they significantly cut down on the manual effort and make sure that all assets are made available in the most up-to-date version.

3. Manage user access: Manage your user groups and easily add, remove, or modify users from various systems.

   Making sure that only the right stakeholders are using the appropriate assets are key for larger manufacturers operating in multiple markets. DAM APIs makes sure that manufacturers can control user access so that suppliers are granted the right access to product catalogs. They can also easily limit the access to sensitive documents like pricing lists.

   In the end, they’re left with a much stronger security (and a better external collaboration) over their most valuable assets.

4. Instant publishing: Publish your content instantly by generating embed links or directly uploading them to your distribution platforms.

   DAM APIs makes it easy for manufacturers to quickly publish product videos, photos and the supporting documentation to their online marketplaces, e-commerce platforms and digital catalogs.

   What they’re left with is a much faster time-to-market plus a more consistent, seamless customer experience.

5. Enhanced search: Boost your productivity by locating your assets quickly with advanced search features such as complex filters and AI-generated tags.

   That way manufacturers can provide their stakeholders (like sales teams) a much faster and accurate search for assets like product images. Plus, their marketing teams can quickly get their hands on assets that are intended for new campaigns, or their regulatory compliance professionals can efficiently access the right product documentation.

6. Tailored reporting: Create customized reports based on the content analytics tracked in your DAM for better insights and decision-making.

   Manufacturers can make custom reports based on how much assets are being downloaded and used across platforms, in addition to how much engagement they’re generating.

   This can help empower their marketing teams to understand which assets work better than others across customer segments. That way they make much more accurate, data-driven decisions when working to improve their content strategies.

The Digizuite DAM: Built on an open API

At KeyShot, we believe that no DAM solution should be an island.

That’s why we’ve taken an API-first approach to our DAM, which means we treat the API as a software product that empowers developers, encourages partnerships, and fuels innovation.

Our DAM is built on an open API foundation, giving it the flexibility to integrate with virtually any other marketing technology solution.

But it’s not just a matter of working alongside other software.

The DAM system establishes a connection and enables data exchange with other solutions.

The result?

This means that your team can access digital assets and metadata directly from other marketing systems, including CMS, PIM, eCommerce, and social media tools, all within one “single source of truth”.

We know that your marketing solutions need to be flexible enough to scale in line with your business growth.

With our DAM Add-ons for Episerver CMS, Sitecore CMS, and Inriver’s PIM solution, our connectors offer all the functionalities of our DAM, even when logged into the base solution.

Conclusion

APIs are the secret sauce that turns a good DAM system into a great one.

They make it easy to connect with other marketing technologies, allowing businesses to optimize their workflows and scale up their operations.

Adding on: Without APIs, DAM systems would be like an island in the middle of the ocean – isolated and cut off from the rest of your marketing stack.

But with APIs, the possibilities are endless, allowing you to integrate with everything from your CMS to your social media platforms.

With an open API architecture, your business can adapt and evolve as your needs change, making it easier to stay ahead of the curve and stay competitive in today’s fast-paced digital landscape.

Want to learn more about Digizuite DAM and its open API architecture?

Book a demo with us.

• Questions from buyers:

  • What Are Some Advantages Of A PIM and DAM Integration?

  • Are There Any Tips On Seamlessly Managing Adobe Creative Files With DAM?

  • What Are Best Practices For Managing User Permissions In DAM?

  • How Can I Create A MarTech Stack With DAM At The Core?

  • How Do I Get A Complete Overview Of My Digital Assets?