Metadata refers to all the information held by a single asset. A taxonomy is a list of categories and tags used to search for those files. But what exactly are they and what is the real benefit? A taxonomy is a hierarchical classification system that organizes digital assets in a Media Asset Management (MAM) or Digital Asset Management (DAM) system. It involves the division of data into categories, subcategories, and keywords, for example, according to the attributes of the asset.
A DAM and MAM taxonomy provides a systematic framework for the careful organization of a digital content repository. It makes it easy to store and, most importantly, to find. A properly constructed taxonomy ensures no single file is lost, even if the repository contains millions of files. For a taxonomic system to work, you need to have the metadata of the assets in order. Metadata is descriptive information about each file and asset. Metadata is also described as data about data. It provides detailed information such as file name, description, creator, creation date, keywords, permissions, file format, size, color type, and more.
More and more companies are using an increasing amount of digital assets in their day-to-day operations. Whether it’s giant movie files, marketing materials, or articles for an online magazine, the volume of files can become enormous. To be able to make sense of assets, a tool is needed to manage the mass of files in a meaningful way. In recent years, DAM and MAM systems have been taking a growing foothold in this field. They refer to cloud-based asset management systems whose main task is to make the management of small or even the largest amounts of digital assets as seamless as possible.
These systems aim to act as a central hub for archiving, editing, distribution, and many other operations that are required for digital assets. But to keep files organized and always available when you need them, you need a sensible and comprehensive taxonomy model. A taxonomy provides users with a common language for finding digital materials. However, the taxonomy must be of sufficient quality to work. The MAM and DAM taxonomy defines the route to the file, and the more road signs along the way, the easier it is to get there. So, in practice, the more tags and categories available to the user, the faster they can find what they want.
A well-functioning DAM and MAM taxonomy model brings numerous benefits. Not only is the material easily accessible and findable, but the risk of it being lost and forgotten in the archives is also reduced considerably. Having all the materials available and stored at all times makes it easier to make the best use of them. This facilitates the work of the whole organization and, above all, frees up time for other tasks as if by magic.
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