Today we've published an advisory paper called "When will DAM 'Lite' suffice?" This analysis emerged out of discussions with subscription customers about the digital asset management services now available within web content management technology platforms. Our customers sometimes ask us if they can use their WCM or document management system for their growing DAM needs.  And then there's the constant question, "Can I use SharePoint as my DAM?"

The answer is, as is so often the case, "it depends." Many WCM and ECM vendors claim to offer DAM functionality as part of their product, but generally, the feature set is limited to managing images for the web. Full-scale DAM offers a wider breadth of non-web-oriented functionality that you may or may not need, so understanding how assets will be ingested, processed, and distributed will determine if “DAM Lite” will meet your needs. 

Sometimes, like a lite beer or a low-calorie dessert, DAM lite just isn't enough to make you feel satisfied. We highlight situations where you'll need to look at a full-scale DAM tools, like those we evaluate in our Digital & Media Asset Management Report.

This advisory paper helps you assess you own situation, in terms of how you need to manage images, audio and video, so that you can determine if SharePoint or your WCM is adequate for the task.