2023: Collaborative Work

Working with media becomes much more efficient when everything is in one place. That’s exactly what AdmiralCloud offers, with a focus on effective collaboration. A growing media pool and an increasing number of individuals wanting access don’t necessarily have to come with growing pains.

Through top-notch features, security, data protection, and the right tools for every step of your media-related tasks, we not only enable centralized media management but also promote smooth teamwork. This task is particularly challenging as our clients vary not only in terms of size, industry, and media but also follow different approaches in project management. Our generic approach is simple: media management tasks, teams, and tools must be efficiently integrated. Here’s what we’ve done for that:

Media collections.

With the Private- and GroupCollection, we have expanded our offering of project types. A PrivateCollection is, as the name suggests, private and is only seen by the person who created it. In the PrivateCollection, assets can be collected, displayed, and edited. The PrivateCollection can be easily converted into a GroupCollection with one click to share the media collection with teams. In combination with the features of annotations and ownership of media and projects, we provide a generic framework for project-oriented collaborations.

Migrate with AC Sync.

Reminder: AC Sync is our interface to your device or local networks. The app gives you the ability to upload and download content to AdmiralCloud using upload and download folders. The upload function has now been developed further. AC Sync now understands the structure: folders within folders or recognizes subfolders on your PC. The files of a subfolder are not simply uploaded. AC Sync takes over both the name of the subfolder and the folder path as a tag during upload. With the migration of entire folder structures, no information is lost.

To try out: Advanced features for smooth workflows.

We proudly present the latest features of AdmiralCloud, now available for you to try out on our 2nd live stage. The focus of these developments is on increasing clarity, navigation, and project-oriented collaboration. Highlights include the separation of assets and projects, project-specific filters, and the linking of DropSites with projects.

At a glance:

• Improved navigation: Separation of assets and projects in the menu for a clear overview.
• Project-oriented working: The new menu and advanced search and filter options support work on projects.
• Project types as meta-tags: Projects serve as meta-tags for media collections and indicate the state via the type (Private & GroupCollection or PressArea).
• Efficient filter options: New filters, such as “My Projects & My Assets,” allow quick access to relevant content.
• Direct upload to projects: Supports efficient, project-oriented work by directly adding content to projects.
• Linking DropSites with projects: Allows the direct integration of assets from external sources into projects. This way, you can publish assets from outside without detours.
• Improved channel management: Enables users to have a clear representation and easy editing options within channels.

What’s coming next:

In 2024, we are focusing on the publication options of AdmiralCloud. At this point, we don’t want to reveal too much and leave it at this announcement. You’ll learn more through our upcoming newsletters.

First of all, we would like to thank all our customers for the pleasant cooperation, your kindness and your trust. In this newsletter, we take the opportunity to look back at 2022 and share the vision 2023 with you. We have a lot planned for the coming year as well.

2022: UX/UI, Customization, Connectivity 

Probably the most concise development in 2022 is the release of our new design. With the new version, we achieved for more clarity for your navigation and more space for your assets. This includes the introduction of breadcrumbs and icons.

Customizable Metadata Management

Also, merging the metadata input fields and the preview of your assets was an important step to manage assets more user-friendly. Today you can move, collapse and expand the sections – and also configure your own set of metadata or metadata categories.

This brings us to the personalization features. (mind you, there are more design developments that we didn’t present here). The Metadata Setup Manager brings together several needs. For all media types, individual selections of metadata can be created. Via subtypes additional setups can be configured, so you can differ between management processes within a media type.

Direct Download

The Direct Download is executed via the overview. Without adjustments, the original is downloaded. FYI: The original does not contain the metadata entered in AdmiralCloud. To provide more security and a more efficient workflow, we created the possibility to configure the Direct Download for user groups. Also, license notices no longer escape the hurried downloaders via the new dialog box.

Duplicate Detection

The new behavior of our uploader tackles the problem of duplicate files. Duplicates spoil the search experience, consume storage, and cause errors in everyday work. There has always been an option to check your AdmiralCloud for duplicates via the advanced search. Our system does this by looking for duplicate files – like a fingerprint, only assets that are technically identical are considered. Now, this is done when uploading assets in the upload area.

Interconnected With Any Application

In addition to these great new features, enhancements and revisions to AdmiralCloud, we paid a lot of attention to the topic connectivity.

In May 2022 the extension of our Connect Client (Typo3 v9) for Typo3 v10-11 went live. With the Connect Client, users in CMS Typo3 can efficiently and steady use AdmiralCloud as a media database. Your media remains in your DAM and is only placed as a weblink in Typo3. The Connect Client not only makes your work more efficient and secure, you also save the performance of your website by shifting the traffic.

In cooperation with CI HUB we created the possibility to access the AdmiralCloud as a media database in all Adobe Creative Cloud, Microsoft Office 365, WordPress and other applications. With the CI HUB Connector, you get access to your media exactly where you want to use it – seamless, steady and fast.

Desktop Synchronizer

Last but not least. With AC Sync, we developed an app that syncs digital assets in AdmiralCloud with your devices – and the other way around. The programm comes with 3 functions. In the AdmiralCloud, you can open digital asset with one click in an editing programm of your choice. No down- and upload is needed. Also, the program allows you to define upload folders on your computer and download folders in AdmiralCloud for entire teams. This functionality is also available as an app on your cell phone.

Mobile App for Uploading

With AC Up we developed a native app, so you can initiate uploads in areas with limited WIFI. 

2023: Collaborative Project Management 

AdmiralCloud is a place that supports collaboration, shortens communication and, obviously, provides you with a wide variety of digital asset management features.

Nevertheless, we also know that there’s space for improvement. Working with multiple internal and external stakeholders, tight deadlines, high-critical priorities and specific requirements is nothing unusual, at least in phases – and we don’t have an answer in every case.

We want to change that in 2023. Efficient teamwork is very important for successful project. Who does what, where, how and when, with whom – and why at all? are therefore questions that must be clarified and talked about in every project – and although we like each other a lot, meetings on this topic tend to be nerve-wracking. On top of that, as we all know, projects include not only people, but also files, ideas and feedback.

We’re ending 2022 by redesigning the Public Areas into Projects.
This kicks off a series of implementations that will give us more insight into the states of media. In our business, Projects are collections, compilations, workspaces, group works, etc. whose state can change or evolve. From private, to team, in review (external and internal), to publication. Together with a specific concept on ownership, chat, feedback tools and notification services, we increase the collaboration capability in and outside of the AdmiralCloud in 2023.

We look forward to the year ahead and will keep you posted.  We wish you happy holidays and a happy new year.