DAM vs. WCM - do you really understand the difference?

I've heard too many people say Digital Asset Management (DAM) is "kind of like Web Content Management" (WCM) or "just like document management, but for pictures." While there may be similarities between DAM and WCM or DM, DAM is often mis-perceived, or over-simplified, and most of the information out there about DAM is infused with vendor-specific marketing and sales-talk, rather than concrete hard facts about what DAM software does and doesn't do.

I recently wrote an article for Infonomics magazine, featuring a few short excerpts from our Digital & Media Asset Management Report, about some of the differences between DAM and WCM. This article sparked some discussion among DAM practitioners on one of the LinkedIn DAM groups; it seems that while those who work in DAM know the differences, most others don't. That sometimes makes it difficult to justify the purchase of a DAM-specific tool when you may already have a WCM or DM system in place.

The DAM scenarios highlighted in this article and explored in detail in our report as well as our DAM education course are the sorts of scenarios where DAM uniquely fits the bill.


Our customers say...

"The Digital Asset Management Research is a straightforward, comprehensive report that's invaluable to anyone considering or implementing digital asset management. With a no-nonsense approach to evaluating the major vendors and best practices, this report is a true handbook. It's my new bedside reading..."


Faith Robinson, Content Strategist & Industry Thought Leader

Other Digital Asset Management posts

DAM Trends to Watch in 2024

To navigate this dynamic environment, we are excited to announce a must-attend webinar: "DAM Trends to Watch in 2024," scheduled for February 28, 2024, at 01:00 pm ET / 18:00 UTC. This webinar is designed to accelerate and align your DAM initiatives with the evolving marketplace, ensuring your strategies are current and ahead of the curve.

DAM New York 2023: Year 20!

Henry Stewart’s next in-person event, DAM New York 2023 (aka the World’s largest event dedicated to Digital Asset Management) is the 20thyear of the conference!

Join Us at DAM LA

After a few long years, we are now just a few weeks away from the DAM community reconvening on the West Coast.