If you have decided to take the plunge and make the transition to digital asset management (DAM) software, you’re likely to have some pressing questions about what the process involves. In most cases, the foremost question – how long does DAM migration take?
After all, having a workable timeframe for the migration of your digital assets is important, in order to avoid any disruption – as well as to help develop your confidence in your new software. While you may not realise it initially, this timeframe will not just include the actual data migration but the preparation leading up to it – arguably just as crucial as the migration itself.
Here’s how to plan for your data transfer to your new DAM system…
When you are readying for a DAM migration, it’s a great opportunity to do some ‘spring cleaning’ of your library of assets, as not all of them necessarily need to be transferred. Here are some top tips for pruning your assets before migration occurs!
If you have a large archive of files dating back years, it’s generally recommended that you only transfer the most recent assets – going back further than two or three years is usually not necessary and could slow down the whole process.
Before you kickstart your DAM migration, think about what you will be using the DAM for, so you can select the right assets accordingly. For example, will your new software be used as a repository for the assets of just one department of your business, or for the whole operation?
Ranking your assets by importance is a great idea before you begin uploading them, in order to avoid any workflow interruptions. It’s a good rule of thumb to migrate the assets most frequently used, or used by the most employees, before other less commonly used files.
Did you know there is more than one way to migrate your digital assets? The one you choose is up to you and your company’s unique requirements.
The fastest way to migrate your assets is by directly uploading them onto your new DAM system. This is something you and your employees can do yourself, without support. That said, most DAM vendors will be more than happy to assist. You can upload large numbers of files this way, simply by dragging and dropping them using the tools provided by your new software.
The other way to migrate your digital assets to your new DAM system is by using file transfer protocol. This method is recommended for shifting particularly large files.
And now to answer that crucial question – just how long does DAM migration take? Unfortunately, it’s impossible to give a precise answer. The exact duration will vary depending on several factors, including how many people are assisting with the migration, how many assets you’re transferring, and what method you are using. It’s possible that it could take between 3 and 5 days, but it could be faster or slower depending on the variables.
If you are still searching for the right DAM system to migrate to, or if you have any further questions about DAM, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with a member of our friendly and experienced team for a one-to-one demo of our software.
