For large corporations, the way they store and share digital assets has changed since the introduction of artificial intelligence and pricing based on the number of users actively using that system.

Companies were previously using simple hard drives to store their files; this is not optimal for teams that need quick access to and complete control over their brand image.

This article will provide a comprehensive breakdown of the leading platforms, real-world cost, and the best way to prevent the leak of on-brand assets.

Moving Beyond Basic Storage Solutions

Brand consistency leads to increased revenue (up to 33%); however, achieving this goal requires more than just a shared Google Drive account. A quality system will also provide strict rules for how assets are used, allow for the creation of public portals where materials can be viewed by customers and employees, and include intelligent visual tagging options to make finding and accessing digital files simple and fast.

The overall industry consensus is that merely having a place to store files is no longer sufficient; the new goal is to take products through the development stage and bring them to market without losing brand control.

Companies are moving away from flat, simple storage solutions; they are looking for solutions that offer facial recognition capabilities in photos, speech recognition in videos, and instant detection of duplicate files. Companies that have made heavy investments in an organized brand asset management software system will typically experience an increase of 27% in ROI for their efforts.

However, even with this level of usage, potential buyers are still uncertain as to whether or not a given solution will provide adequate results due to hidden costs and difficulties in determining what type of pricing structure will work best for them. In addition, a company will not reap the benefit of using a brand management system unless the employees actually enjoy using it.

The Best Brand Asset Management Software Platforms

1. Bynder

Bynder is the clear winner in the market for large corporations that require strict regulations and automated tagging of digital assets.

The excellent integration of all channels is a huge attraction for customers. The most recent customer growth for the firm has been 46% in the past year due, in large part, to the strong capabilities of its artificial intelligence and agentic options. However, the price tag associated with this level of power is also substantial, with the median contract price for Bynder being approximately $41,417 per year, plus a high startup fee.

2. Brandfolder

As Smartsheet's subsidiary, this platform is a good fit for teams who want to begin their file hunting by searching first, and will seamlessly synchronize with project/react trackers to help teams see their files in parallel with their daily work activities.

The annual expense is approximately $24,700, and it works best for organizations where strong visual compliance is tied directly to daily workflow and campaign activities.

3. Frontify

Frontify is a solution that includes both effective archive functionality and actionable (clickable) brand guidelines.

It creates a cohesive public portal for external partners to access approved files effortlessly. Contracts are typically for about $32,400/year. Organizations that prioritize extinguishing raw, un-licensed creative within their global offices typically use this solution.

4. Canto

Canto ranks highly due to its user-friendliness and the speed at which it relies on visual search and automatic tagging directly from the system's built-in tools.

Starting prices are typically around $600/mo, making it a more manageable purchase than larger enterprise-level platforms. Therefore, this would be an ideal solution for marketing teams who desire rapid adoption without overwhelming their staff with confusion.

5. Marq

This platform includes all of the basic template features that are essential for non-designers. The original artwork can only be modified by the sales teams to change words and/or images.

Pricing begins at around $10/month/user, making it an attractive option for limiting poor creative decisions on the local level.

6. Papirfly

Papirfly is a tool that is used most effectively for global campaigns that require significant localized modifications. It provides local teams with the ability to modify text and images while remaining compliant with strict corporate guidelines.

Papirfly is geared toward large international organizations and typically has a pricing structure tailored to their specific needs. The focus is on creating efficiencies in local campaign delivery.

7. Widen

Widen is a widely used product data system in the product-heavy industries. Widen's built-in product data manager ties the imagery and video of the products directly to the product data.

The system is priced on the higher side at approximately $250,000 a year and can deliver superior performance in meeting the demands of large-scale catalog stores.

8. MediaValet

MediaValet is the perfect solution for companies that produce a lot of video content. MediaValet uses artificial intelligence (AI) to search for and find video files and audio tracks.

As a company that has to continually produce new video, creative teams prefer MediaValet because it has all the features needed to quickly locate and share large media files without the need to send an email that might be several attachments large. Pricing is available by request.

9. Air

Air is a creative workspace designed specifically for visual teams. Air simplifies information holding for visual teams through the use of AI and visual organization through a layout.

There is a free plan available for all users, but for teams that are frequently using creative content, they may find that the better AI features are priced close to $900 a month.

10. Dash

Dash is a simple storage solution for smaller and mid-sized companies that are growing. Dash clearly lists its monthly pricing of $109 per month for unlimited user access to the Dash platform.

When compared to enterprise solutions that charge for every new login to the platform, Dash is a cost-effective way to store and manage files.

11. Jam

Jam combines file storage with the social media component of sharing and collecting content created by users.

Jam is geared for teams that want to publish frequently; while at the same time enabling them to use the Jam platform to easily store files in the same location. Pricing ranges from $99 to $299; thus allowing for a simple, user-friendly way to find and share files.

12. Cloudinary

Cloudinary was created for software developers. It is an online service that reduces load times for image files on website and mobile app applications by utilizing a file API input/output.

The cost of the service is $89 per month. To fully benefit from the utility of this program, it is necessary to have some code experience; this helps speed up media movement through the system.

13. Filecamp

A cost-effective choice to customize your own logo and colours within the system. From $29 per user per month. Filecamp is great for small groups looking for a clean and professional looking portal at a reasonable price.

14. IntelligenceBank

The mid-market program that is open about their pricing models. IntelligenceBank establishes a fair set of rules and standards on how to manage creative files without hiding the cost of those services behind deal negotiations.

Although prices vary by region, the open nature of IntelligenceBank provides buyers with confidence.

15. Brandworkz

Brandworkz has a more stringent process for controlling what is published than either of the other programs listed above.

By preventing the publication of bad assets before they reach the open market, Brandworkz protects the integrity of the design room. The price of Brandworkz is viewed as confidential and tailored toward mid-size to larger businesses that operate within highly regulated industries.

16. CELUM

CELUM provides a highly complex integration between various marketing tools and the central file repository for an organization. The cost to utilize CELUM is provided on request, and it typically services large corporate accounts.

17. Lytho

Lytho provides systems for managing the processes, review and approval of content development.

The system is a perfect solution for highly regulated industries where there must be explicit approval from a supervisor before publishing any content. The price for Lytho is kept private and is designed for larger corporations.

18. Storyteq

Storyteq automates the mass production of custom ads for various cities. As a large-scale marketing tool, Storyteq removes the manual effort associated with the mass distribution of digital advertising. Pricing is customized based upon specific requirements.

19. Aprimo

Aprimo provides a comprehensive solution for managing marketing files, associated rules and expenses, and creates a full audit history.

Aprimo is particularly well-suited for industries requiring strict compliance, such as finance or healthcare since Aprimo also shows who accessed a file, when they accessed it and for what purpose. Pricing for Aprimo is not disclosed.

20. AEM Assets

AEM Assets is owned and operated by Adobe. AEM Assets integrates directly with Adobe Creative Cloud and Firefly.

A global financial services organization who recently transitioned to AEM Assets experienced a 40% increase in user interest following the transition. As one of the more expensive solutions, both pricing negotiation and corporate marketing partnerships must be established.

21. Acquia DAM

Acquia's DAM connects creative assets with an organization's customer journey. Like Widen, Acquia specializes in providing asset management services to large-scale catalogs.

Acquia's DAM is one of the largest asset management solutions in the service industry and supports large-scale and highly structured digital asset management operations.

22. Orange Logic

Orange Logic caters to large organizations with multiple file management complexities.

Orange Logic competes directly with Aprimo and Adobe by offering a comprehensive solution for managing file access, policy/asset enforcement, and accountability. Pricing for Orange Logic varies from project to project, targeting high-end market segments.

23. Scaleflex

Scaleflex utilizes flexible technology to build custom storage systems that load quickly.

Scaleflex's storage solutions support mid-size to large-scale organizations, and pricing for Scaleflex begins at $213 per month for a composable architecture solution.

How to Organize Your Brand Files Internally

Developing your company's internal file management strategy does not happen overnight. The most important decision in developing your internal file management strategy is deciding how you will structure your rules before individuals access your system.

This is often where a company gets into trouble when transitioning from design to development. When final images intermingle with raw files, versions of the images that were not intended for public release end up being posted to social media.

The correct setup makes daily operations easier; for example, with the aid of an effective brand asset management software solution, 70% more efficient procedures for managing the daily work orders of the team can be realized by the building of this system to suit the specific needs of the various teams; however, it must be built correctly so that there is absolute clarity on how it will be built.

• Keep source files and finished assets separate: Source design files and images for use in marketing are not to be mixed together. Only personnel who have access to the completed image files and are prepared to have them uploaded to the public or published can access those files.

• Know who is using the system: Know the number of editors, viewers and approvers that are using the files in your system. Pricing traps occur when an organization issues full editor seats to personnel who will only view the guidelines once a month.

• Assign regional borders: Each region of the world should have access to assets that can legally be used within that region. For example, an image that has been cleared for use in Europe and is being viewed by a team in Asia would be considered an illegal use of that image.

This is very important to you. A 5% increase in customer loyalty and trust will mean a 95% increase in profits. The establishment of strong visual guidelines allows you to maintain this customer loyalty by ensuring that your customers view a cohesive and well represented visual representation of your brand. Combining the building of your brand with your direct return on investment should provide an immediate return on investment for your business.

The key is that the files must be easy to access and use.

How to Choose the Right Brand Asset Management Software

If you are unable to hire one full-time person to oversee your enterprise tools library, you should not purchase any enterprise-level tools. Small organizations need to look towards tools with a flat-rate or unlimited users pricing model to ensure that they avoid future surprise invoices.

Enterprises require tools that can provide proper audit trails to show who viewed, shared, or approved items for legal compliance.

Smart visual tagging capabilities should not be considered optional. If the brand asset management software you are using requires you to enter all of the tagging information manually, it is time to seek an alternative solution. Make sure to select a platform that accommodates your creative team's workflow. Do not expect them to take on a new, time-consuming process of sharing their daily work.

Common Questions About Brand Asset Management Software

How will a pricing model based on active users affect software expenses?

Many of the vendors that create brand asset management software charge for their products based on a monthly active user pricing model.

For example, if your primary marketing team consists of 10 people, yet the global sales team has 500 users searching for files each week, the charges are likely to be astronomical. Always demand a vendor identify how they are tracking or defining "active" users and identify the distinction between a "casual" user and a daily or monthly "active" user.

What is the leading cause of team adoption failure during setup?

The inability for users to locate specific files (images) in less than three seconds can deter them from using the software altogether, which will leave them going back to their personal desktops or private folders.

Artificial intelligence-associated searching and speech-to-text will provide users with an enhanced experience.

How should marketing teams manage the step from design to distribution?

The transfer of design files to distribution (i.e., the drop-off) must be well-defined and entirely segmented. Designers should work in a separate working environment to create design documentation.

Once a design has been fully approved and locked, the finished file should be pulled into the storage system. If casual users are permitted to edit files in the main storage system, the total number of versions could increase significantly and eventually lead to poor design reaching the public.