Widen Collective is a digital asset administration (DAM) and product info administration (PIM) software program designed particularly for medium and enormous companies. Widen is commonly given consideration as a result of it permits companies to retailer all of their model property and product info in a single central location — all of their completely different groups can discover and entry the knowledge they want, any time they want it. Via its strong suite of instruments, Widen additionally serves as a model administration and advertising and marketing useful resource administration SaaS resolution, too.

However for a lot of organizations, it doesn’t actually make sense to pay the massive bucks for a software program that’s as intricate as Widen’s. A lot of the groups we discuss to who’re transitioning to a DAM system from one other cloud storage resolution, like Google Drive or DropBox, don’t want the entire extras Widen gives — and no one desires to pay for options they don’t want or use.

So we put collectively this shopping for information with the professionals and cons of Widen, in addition to critiques of six different digital asset administration software program, so you’ll be able to determine if Widen is the very best software program resolution to your wants (or if there’s a greater choice). In our publish, we additionally take a more in-depth have a look at Brandfolder and the way our digital asset administration resolution stacks up towards Widen.

Able to do some comparability buying? Learn on or be happy to skip forward to the part you’re most enthusiastic about:

Professionals and Cons of Widen’s Software program Resolution
Brandfolder’s Digital Asset Administration System
Different Widen Collective Alternate options
– ImageRelay
– WebDAM by Bynder
– Canto
– Nuxeo
– Extensis Portfolio

If you wish to study extra about how we hold your digital property organized, simply searchable, and simply shareable, get in contact with our crew for a free demo of Brandfolder.

Professionals and Cons of Widen Collective

All through the years, we’ve spoken with many shoppers who transitioned from Widen to Brandfolder. We additionally spent hours catching up on the newest buyer critiques of Widen to know what Widen’s customers like and dislike in regards to the software program.

Listed below are the professionals and cons that stood out to us:

Professionals

• Buyer critiques of Widen are largely optimistic. Widen has a 4.4 star ranking on Capterra.
• Widen’s buyer assist crew is useful and responsive — you’ll be able to go to them with absolutely anything and so they’ll do their greatest to discover a decision for you. Many reviewers take pleasure in that Widen has a self-service portal for assist queries and that they’ll attain out to Widen over e mail and chat as a substitute of sitting on the cellphone.
• Widen gives a really strong built-in characteristic set.
• Widen is extremely customizable by means of the usage of integrations and Widen’s open supply API. Their customer support crew will arrange integrations for you, too.
• Widen gives a “Widen College” information base full of coaching movies to assist groups discover ways to use the software program.

Cons:

• Widen fees an additional annual charge if you wish to use integrations and customise their software program. Additionally they cost a one-time charge to arrange these integrations.
• Regardless of the obtainable “Widen College” coaching movies, customers nonetheless say that watching by means of these movies and studying how you can use the software program is time-consuming and difficult. There are plenty of completely different options to study and comparatively little info on how you can use these options. Studying the software program can be a heavy burden in your crew.
• Reviewers have reported that establishing admin options is complicated and never user-friendly.
• Widen’s search performance is described as “inflexible” and reviewers say it could possibly take a very long time to seek out the property or product info that you just want.
• Widen’s reporting options will not be very simple to make use of.
• Sharing property is cumbersome as a result of Widen doesn’t supply customers the power to create customized share hyperlinks.

Why Do Customers Change From Widen?

When prospects come to us after utilizing Widen, it’s usually as a result of they’re having a tough time with adoption: Although a few of Widen’s interface is intuitive, it’s been described by prospects as clunky. Some customers have additionally instructed us that Widen’s software program can take awhile to load, so not all people enjoys Widen’s consumer expertise. Couple that with how advanced the software program is to study, and it’s an ideal mixture for issues with adoption, particularly for a massive enterprise.

One buyer assessment of Widen famous: “It actually takes a devoted skilled or crew of execs inside a company to take advantage of the Widen platform, however there may be a lot potential with this instrument that it’s effectively price it.”

However troubles with adoption aren’t unusual. The truth is, the primary purpose groups expertise “failure to launch” with DAM software program is challenges with adoption — in the event you don’t have the time or assets to coach folks on how you can take advantage of Widen, you’ll want to seek out one thing that’s simpler to navigate.

That’s why we designed all of Brandfolder’s options to be extraordinarily simple to make use of and supply prospects with completely different onboarding assist packages to help throughout the adoption course of. Due to our devoted involvement throughout onboarding and coaching, we’ve got a 99% retention charge amongst our prospects.

Within the subsequent sections, we’ll discuss extra about what you’ll be able to accomplish with Brandfolder.

Brandfolder is a flexible digital asset administration resolution constructed to adapt to your crew’s wants. Whereas we provide a wide range of options to enchantment to enterprise groups, equivalent to completely different Model Portals for world crew use and limitless free visitor seats, our software program can be versatile sufficient to draw smaller companies which don’t have an enormous price range for a DAM. We’re rated 4.7 stars on Capterra and obtain nice buyer critiques from companies small and enormous.

Right here’s what units us aside from different DAM techniques:

Adoption & Ease of Use

Brandfolder’s customer support crew has been voted the most effective within the DAM business as a result of we do the heavy lifting throughout the transition course of — serving to with the whole lot from importing and organizing property to coaching groups to make use of our software program — and supply round the clock assist.

Our tiered assist packages are good for groups who don’t have the interior assets to allocate in direction of DAM coaching. We additionally permit groups to vary up their assist packages at any time. This manner they’ll make the most of our extra hands-on assist choices whereas they’re getting arrange in our software program, after which downgrade once they don’t want as a lot assist.

However maybe the very best factor about Brandfolder is that after the whole lot is about up, the software program isn’t onerous to study. It may be rolled out to some customers, like your gross sales groups, with minimal coaching. Admins and creatives could expertise some studying curve with the software program, however even in these instances, coaching takes a few hours vs. a few days.

Organizing & Looking out Property

Brandfolder has a clear interface. We neatly show asset thumbnails so customers can simply scroll by means of their libraries (if scrolling is your desire… but it surely’s tremendous simple to go looking and discover what you want; extra on that later). We even auto-organize property by asset sort so you’ll be able to view comparable teams of property whereas shopping.

Let’s discuss extra about how we manage property for simpler looking.

• Brandfolders: Groups can retailer all property associated to a particular model in a single central repository. In the event you handle property for multiple model, you’ll be able to create a number of Brandfolders to maintain these property separate. That is helpful for entrepreneurs at an company, for instance, who’ve a number of shoppers and have to hold advertising and marketing content material for every of these shoppers independently housed.
• Collections: Collections stay inside Brandfolders and let you manage teams of associated property in a single folder. For instance, you’ll be able to create Collections to arrange model logos, fonts, and colours, or create Collections to curate social media collateral for various platforms and campaigns.
• Model Portals: Model Portals let you manage subsets of related property for particular finish consumer teams. Multinational manufacturers actually take pleasure in this characteristic as a result of they’ll arrange portals for his or her regional groups throughout the globe.

Despite the fact that customers have alternative ways of organizing their property in Brandfolder, our search continues to be fast and environment friendly as a result of it operates on a flat construction. While you sort a phrase or phrase into the search bar, our search characteristic analyzes your total asset library so that you don’t need to go digging by means of a bunch of various folders and subfolders.

Our search additionally makes use of AI to investigate the precise content material of your property (i.e., product names, colours in images, dialogue in movies) and pull all related outcomes so that you don’t have to recollect actual file names.

Asset Descriptions & Product Data

When importing and organizing property, admins can add detailed asset info, utilization pointers, and metadata for different customers. (Our AI will even fill in metadata info with automated tagging so that you can prevent time.)

Including descriptions and particulars about your property has two advantages: 1) it helps our search uncover property, and a pair of) it’s helpful for finish customers who have to know extra in regards to the asset and the way/the place it may be used.

If you wish to use Brandfolder as a product info resolution, you’ll be able to add all related product info — like product descriptions for eCommerce websites and SKU numbers — within the asset’s description, and that info will observe the asset when it’s shared with each inside or exterior customers.

Asset Sharing

To enhance collaboration, we give our customers with just a few choices to share and obtain digital property:

• Use permissions so as to add different crew members to Brandfolders, Collections, and Portals
• Create customized share hyperlinks to share property with exterior customers
• Ship asset request hyperlinks to freelancers or exterior creatives to consolidate all new property in Brandfolder

We additionally present customers with limitless free visitor seats, so you’ll be able to ship and obtain property with non-Brandfolder customers and never fear about additional charges.

Collaborative Workflow Options

We additionally permit customers to collaborate with different crew members proper in Brandfolder. Inside every asset is a devoted Workflow tab. Inside this tab, customers are capable of transfer tasks alongside in a lot of methods:

• Remark forwards and backwards with different customers in real-time
• Test property out for updating and push them again into Brandfolder when edits are full
• View remark historical past and model historical past to enhance model management and hold all people on the identical web page

Integrations

Brandfolder integrates with a number of instruments so groups in numerous industries can tailor our software program to suit their wants. Brandfolder has an open supply API so builders can customise our software program much more.

A few of the instruments we combine with embody:

• CRM Methods — Salesforce
• Workflow Administration Methods — SmartSheet and Wrike
• Artistic Instruments — Adobe’s Photoshop, InDesign, and Premiere Professional
• Content material Administration Methods — WordPress and Contentful
• E mail Advertising Software program — MailChimp
• Mission Administration Instruments — SmartSheet and Asana
• Google Workspace Functions
• Microsoft Workplace & Microsoft 365

Pricing

Brandfolder’s pricing construction is what makes us so versatile for various enterprise sizes. Whereas Widen’s pricing is influenced by space for storing and variety of customers, their software program reportedly begins at 20K, with integrations and visitor customers as added prices. Opinions about Widen’s pricing say that the long-term price of utilizing Widen is larger than simply investing in a customizable DAM that doesn’t have all of Widen’s out-of-the-box superior performance.

Brandfolder’s pricing is completely depending on space for storing, variety of admins, and assist packages. We do supply some add-ons — like CDN hyperlinks to automate model administration duties and templating instruments for simpler content material creation — if you wish to dabble with additional options. Nonetheless, we don’t cost additional for integrations and we provide limitless free visitor seats.

To study extra about Brandfolder’s options, customization, and pricing, join a free demo with our crew.

5 Different Widen Collective Opponents

Brandfolder isn’t the one different digital asset administration instrument prospects take into account when switching from Widen. Listed below are another opponents our prospects have talked about earlier than selecting Brandfolder:

Picture Relay

Professionals: Picture Relay is a DAM resolution that’s each simple to make use of and reasonably priced, so it really works for many crew sizes. They provide a wide range of instruments to maintain branded property organized, and plenty of reviewers say it has a clear, trendy, and user-friendly interface.

Cons: Picture Relay gives the fundamentals by way of asset administration. It’s simple to arrange property, however some reviewers have mentioned it’s troublesome to go looking your total asset library directly. Reviewers have additionally voiced considerations about sharing property with non-Picture Relay customers and the software program’s lack of integrations/customization.

Bynder WebDAM

Professionals: WebDAM is a well-liked DAM software program that was just lately acquired by Bynder (a number one digital asset administration model). Bynder’s WebDAM is designed to assist creatives and entrepreneurs in enterprise companies work in sync. It’s filled with options to arrange property and automate processes like including metadata and tags, and it additionally has quite a few collaborative instruments to enhance workflows.

Cons: WebDAM works greatest when paired with Workstream and Model Join — its complementary software program options — and investing in all three software program could be expensive. It additionally will get plenty of blended critiques. Some reviewers love the software program, whereas others aren’t very glad with it. Some cons reviewers talked about had been gradual load instances, complicated options, and hassle with adoption.

Canto

Professionals: Canto is likely one of the solely digital asset administration manufacturers to supply cloud-based, on-premise, and hybrid software program options, so it’s a great choice for groups who want self-hosted digital asset administration software program. It’s been described as an “entry-level” DAM as a result of the software program is fairly budget-friendly and its characteristic set isn’t overly strong, however Canto has added extra options for enterprise customers.

Cons: Canto was one of many first DAM software program choices to hit the market, and though they’ve made strides with updating their software program, their interface continues to be described as outdated and clunky. It’s additionally price mentioning that Canto has an reasonably priced sticker value, however they cost additional for each visitor seat. So in the event you intend on utilizing Canto to share property with exterior customers, the price of utilizing Canto can get expensive.

Nuxeo

Professionals: Nuxeo’s Content material Providers Platform is an all-in-one doc administration, digital asset administration, and claims administration software program; so it’s an amazing resolution in the event you want all three of those software program options. It’s additionally extremely customizable so you’ll be able to join it with the opposite software program you utilize every day. Nuxeo’s complete software program has a contemporary interface and is constructed with a ton of superior options to energy every sector of their platform and enhance the consumer expertise. Since Nuxeo’s software program is so complete, it’s no shock this selection appeals largely to enterprise companies.

Cons: Nuxeo isn’t a simple software program to study, and the adoption course of takes time. Nuxeo reviewers additionally say that many primary options will not be provided out of the field, so it’s important to pay additional so as to add these primary options to your bundle. Aside from issue with adoption and upcharges, reviewers additionally say that Nuxeo’s platform could be gradual and generally “feels janky.”

Extensis

Professionals: Extensis gives two digital asset administration options: Extensis Join for small companies who want entry-level DAM software program, and Extensis Portfolio for groups of all sizes who want an on-premise DAM resolution. Their software program can be marketed as “font administration software program” as a result of it has many options to put in, view, and manage fonts. Each Extensis Join and Extensis Portfolio present customers with simple methods to arrange, search, and share property. Nonetheless, Extensis Portfolio is a little more strong — with Extensis Portfolio, customers can simply watermark property, streamline workflows with sensible automation options, and customise Extensis with a versatile API.

Cons: Reviewers say that it may be troublesome to put in Extensis Portfolio, and even after the software program is up and operating, the software program could be gradual and customers expertise glitches and crashes. With each Extensis Join and Portfolio, adoption could be overwhelming and difficult as a result of the options in each software program are fairly superior. Since a big a part of Extensis’s platform is font administration, reviewers say that it is best to have a necessity for that particular operate or else you’ll find yourself paying for options you don’t use.

Which Digital Asset Administration System is Proper For You?

Every digital asset administration system is completely different in its personal manner: some DAMs are constructed with dozens of options to allow them to function “all-in-one” options and change different software program sorts, whereas others are designed for particular enterprise sizes, groups, or industries. When evaluating the completely different DAM choices obtainable, take into consideration how you propose to make use of your DAM platform and the options your groups will want.

Then, earlier than investing in a digital asset administration instrument, take the time to learn buyer critiques and make the most of free demos. Doing this additional analysis will assist you weed out choices that received’t work to your crew, and discover the greatest DAM software program that may.

If Brandfolder feels like the best digital asset administration instrument to your groups, we encourage you to get in contact with our crew for a free demo. We’re obtainable to reply questions, discuss customizations, and supply a customized quote.