DesignPac (1800Flowers.com)

Inefficiencies Stemmed: Image Research Time Cut 30%

Industry: Retail & Distribution

Product Line: Digital Asset Management

Where they started…

Designing a package that will make someone’s day is the goal at DesignPac. As the brains behind 1800Baskets, DesignPac has turned a vibrant pool of happiness-producing designers into a business that continues to charm with each new customer it touches. The smile delivery business doesn’t just build up joy; it also builds up digital assets. 100,000 at last glance.

Managing these assets wasn’t always a rosy experience. Prior to implementing a digital asset management system, the team’s process for creating, storing and sharing files left many feeling like they were working for the assets, instead of the other way around. Often the team had to turn to senior staff to find files, creating inefficiencies for everyone. Even if someone knew where something was, the folder structures were disorganized and contained files that wanted for consistent naming conventions. The files also often lacked usage rights information, which left a huge question mark on whether the asset should be used in the first place.

Time and money were going down the drain, replaced instead by endless hours searching for artwork, redesigning lost files and repurchasing stock images that had disappeared into the mayhem. It was the thorn in everyone’s side.

What they did…

Unwilling to succumb to a flawed process any longer, DesignPac set their sights on finding a system that would:

• Organize their collection of images into multiple categories that included effective keywording
• Provide a user-friendly visual search experience
• Be an affordable, out-of-the-box solution that made the set-up process a painless one
• Save the organization both time and money
• Make their work lives easier!

The team turned to Portfolio Server. Only two people were needed to set everything up. The IT tech installed the software and created user accounts. The design team rep laid out catalogs, selected custom fields and outlined a folder structure. Within days everything was up and running, and the thorn was banished.

Where they landed…

Since deploying Portfolio Server, DesignPac has:

• Organized their entire image catalogue
• Seen significant time and money savings
• Increased their ability to leverage existing assets

As one member put it, “If I am doing a project that requires image research, it cuts the time by a third.”

Where they’re headed…

In the gift business, sharing is caring. The DesignPac team is currently working to share their image databases with their sister companies to maximize the value of the collection. They are also expanding the DAM system to their ecommerce divisions with a plan to upgrade to the latest version of Portfolio Server very soon. Maybe we’ll deliver it to their doorstep.