Digital Asset Management (DAM)
Optimizely Content Management System (CMS) offers three ways to work with Digital Asset Management (DAM) assets. Each option suits a different workflow and level of DAM integration.
Note All three options require Optimizely Graph. Graph syncs DAM with CMS. Without Graph, you cannot configure or use Embedded DAM, Content Manager, or the DAM asset picker with DAM assets. See Enable Optimizely Graph service to sync DAM and CMS.
- Embedded DAM (through an Optimizely Graph sync) Embedded DAM adds the DAM library to the CMS interface. A developer enables the Graph sync integration (see Enable Optimizely Graph service to sync DAM and CMS) to add a DAM option to the CMS side panel. Browse, filter, and manage assets, including folders, tags, and renditions, without leaving CMS. Choose Embedded DAM for an integrated DAM experience within CMS. See also Manage assets with DAM.
Note Embedded DAM requires a DXP environment. On-premises CMS 13 and HIPAA environments do not support Embedded DAM.
- Content Manager (through an Optimizely Graph sync) Content Manager provides a source-agnostic interface for selecting assets from multiple systems. Supported sources include Optimizely CMS, Optimizely DAM, external DAMs (Aprimo, Bynder), Commerce platforms (Commercetools, Shopify), and third-party providers through Optimizely Connect Platform. Content Manager does not yet surface DAM-specific metadata such as folder hierarchy, tags, and filters. For example, if your DAM contains two folders:
- Summer > Banner
- Winter > Banner
Content Manager displays both as Banner without folder context. Choose Content Manager when your team works across multiple content sources. Combine Content Manager with the DAM asset picker when you need folder-based DAM filtering.
Important A developer must install and integrate the DAM asset picker with CMS before use. Evaluate Content Manager first to determine whether it meets your asset management needs. Content Manager supports embedded DAM assets and externally synced content. The DAM asset picker adds folder and tag filtering. These features are not required for every workflow.
- DAM asset picker (through a DAM integration package and an Optimizely Graph sync) The DAM asset picker opens a dedicated picker window for selecting assets from the DAM library. The DAM opens in a separate tab or pop-up window. The picker provides DAM-specific features such as folders, tags, and filters that Content Manager does not yet support. Choose the DAM asset picker when your team needs folder and tag filtering but does not use Embedded DAM. See also Add images with the CMP DAM asset picker.
Note A developer must install and integrate the asset picker with CMS 13 and create a button to access the DAM. See Onboard DAM to CMS 13 and Enable Optimizely Graph service to sync DAM and CMS.
The following table compares the three DAM integration options:
| Content Manager | Embedded DAM | DAM asset picker |
|---|---|---|---|
Stays within CMS | Yes | Yes | Opens separately |
Requires Opti ID | No | Yes | No |
Requires Optimizely Graph | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Full DAM folder, tag, and filter support | Limited | Yes | Yes |
Multi-source support | Yes | DAM only | DAM only |
Future direction | Strategic direction | Maintained | Being retired |
Developer configuration required | Yes | Yes | Yes |