Top digital asset management software for design & brand success

Looking for the best digital asset management software to centralize your packaging content and streamline collaboration? In this article, we explore top DAM solutions and how Cway® software stands out for packaging teams, brand owners, and designers alike.

Beyond File Storage: Why Packaging Requires a Specialized DAM

When it comes to managing packaging assets—like label designs, dielines, logos, and regulatory files—regular file storage systems just don’t cut it. Tools like Google Drive or Dropbox are great for everyday use, but packaging projects come with their own set of challenges. That’s where a specialized digital asset management (DAM) system comes in.

Packaging projects often involve multiple teams: designers, marketers, printers, compliance officers, and more. They all need access to the right version of the right file—fast. A specialized DAM helps organize and centralize assets so that everyone works from the same source of truth. No more digging through endless folders or sending files back and forth over email.

Another key benefit? Version control. Packaging files go through many revisions, and keeping track of the latest approved version is crucial. A packaging-focused DAM makes it easy to compare versions, track changes, and avoid costly mistakes—like printing the wrong label.

Specialized DAMs also support packaging-specific features such as 3D previews, print-ready file formats, and regulatory compliance checks. They don’t just store files—they streamline the whole packaging workflow.

In short, if you're managing packaging assets, don’t settle for basic storage. A specialized DAM isn’t just helpful—it’s essential for speed, accuracy, and peace of mind.

Critical Features Packaging Teams Should Demand

Let’s go beyond the marketing buzzwords and talk about what really matters when it comes to managing packaging assets. A specialized DAM should do more than store files—it should help your team avoid costly errors, streamline reviews, and stay in control of every version.

Version Accuracy Over Aesthetics

In packaging, visual polish is great—but accuracy is non-negotiable. A single missed update on a label, like an outdated ingredient or a missing warning, can lead to legal issues, product recalls, or harm to your brand’s reputation. That’s why version control isn't just a nice-to-have—it’s mission-critical.

Your DAM should:

• Lock files under review to prevent unauthorized changes during critical approval stages.

• Track who changed what, when, and why—ensuring full accountability across your team.

• Automatically archive final, approved versions, so there’s no confusion about which file is the “master” when it’s time to print or publish.

Cway® Solution:
Cway® takes version accuracy seriously. Its built-in audit trail captures every change—down to the smallest detail—so you can trace the full history of each file. Even better, side-by-side visual comparisons make it easy to spot differences between versions, ensuring nothing slips through the cracks.

In packaging, details are everything. Your DAM should help you catch them—before they become costly mistakes.

Integrated Approval Workflows

Your DAM should be more than a digital filing cabinet—it should actively support your decision-making process. In packaging projects, where multiple stakeholders need to review and approve assets, efficient workflows aren’t just helpful—they’re essential to keep things moving and avoid bottlenecks.

Ask yourself:

• Can stakeholders leave feedback directly in the file? Clear, in-context comments reduce miscommunication and speed up revisions.

• Are reminders and deadlines automated? Chasing approvals manually wastes time and risks missing key milestones.

• Can approvals follow custom rules? For example, compliance might need to sign off before the file goes to marketing or production. Flexibility is key.

Cway® Solution:
Cway® eliminates the chaos of endless email threads with route-specific approval chains. You can design workflows that reflect your team’s real process—whether it’s linear, parallel, or conditional. Stakeholders get notified automatically, can review files in one place, and only see them when it’s their turn to act.

This structured, intelligent flow means no one is skipped, no comment is missed, and no file gets approved without the right eyes on it.

With Cway®, decisions move forward—not in circles.

Packaging-Specific File Support

Not all digital assets are created equal—and packaging files are in a league of their own. They’re often large, layered, and highly technical. Unfortunately, many generic DAMs fall short when it comes to handling the file types and structures that packaging teams rely on every day.

Common challenges include:

• Print-specific formats like AI, EPS, or PDF/X, which many systems can’t preview or process properly.

• Multi-page documents with dielines, where the structure and print layout are just as important as the visual content.

• Color profiles, trim marks, and high-resolution layers, which are critical for print accuracy but easily lost in translation without proper support.

Cway® packaging asset management solution:
Cway® is built with packaging in mind. It fully supports industry-standard formats—including Adobe Illustrator, EPS, and press-ready PDFs—and preserves all the essential production data. You can preview artwork without downloading, view dielines, and inspect layers and metadata directly in the system.

Need to share a high-res proof with a supplier? Cway® makes it seamless. No file conversion, no quality loss, no confusion.

With Cway®, your packaging files are treated like the precision tools they are—handled with care, displayed with clarity, and ready for production.

Key Pitfalls to Avoid When Evaluating a DAM

Choosing a DAM for packaging isn't just about checking boxes or being impressed by a flashy homepage full of big-brand logos. What really matters is whether the system can meet the specific, high-stakes needs of packaging teams.

Here are some red flags to watch for:

Treating packaging like just another marketing asset

A label file isn't a social media banner. Packaging assets come with regulatory requirements, technical specifications, and production dependencies. If a DAM handles packaging files the same way it handles stock images or ads, that's a sign it’s not built for your workflow.

A cluttered, over-engineered interface

Some DAMs try to do everything—and end up doing nothing well. If the system is bloated with features your team won’t use, onboarding becomes harder and adoption suffers. Look for a clean, intuitive interface tailored to packaging use cases, not just generic media management.

Limited scalability for product complexity

Can the DAM handle thousands of SKUs, each with multiple language versions, sizes, and regulatory variants? If not, you’ll outgrow it fast. Packaging teams need a solution that can scale with product growth and adapt to evolving compliance needs.

Cway® is built to handle real packaging complexity, not just store files. From technical artwork to multilingual variants, it scales with your portfolio—and keeps things simple for your team.

Collaboration Isn’t a Bonus. It’s Core.

In packaging, collaboration isn’t a “nice-to-have”—it’s the heartbeat of every successful project. From creative agencies to compliance teams, from print vendors to regional marketing leads, packaging projects often involve a complex web of contributors. A DAM system must make this collaboration seamless, secure, and scalable.

A good packaging DAM should:

• Enable real-time input from external stakeholders like printers, legal teams, and translation vendors. These collaborators need to review and comment directly on files—without endless email threads or file-sharing hassles.

• Offer secure guest access so you can include external partners without giving them full access to your system or risking data leaks.

• Be fully cloud-based, because today’s packaging teams are global. Whether someone’s in Stockholm or Singapore, they should be able to access and contribute in real time.

Cway® digital asset management solution:
Cway® is designed for secure, global collaboration. You can assign role-based access so each collaborator sees only the files and functions relevant to them. Your printer doesn’t need to see internal feedback loops. Legal doesn’t need to dig through design drafts. Everyone gets what they need—and nothing more.

With Cway®, collaboration is streamlined, not chaotic. It connects the dots between internal teams and external partners, no matter where they are in the world.

Your DAM Should Work Like Your Team Does

The best digital asset management system isn’t the one packed with the most bells and whistles—it’s the one that fits your workflow like a glove. For packaging teams, that means prioritizing precision, accountability, and collaboration over flashy add-ons or generic marketing tools.

A truly effective DAM for packaging must deliver on the essentials:

• Robust version control to prevent errors and ensure everyone works on the latest, approved file.

• Regulatory readiness to support compliance-heavy industries where accuracy and traceability are mission-critical.

• True workflow automation that guides files through reviews, approvals, and handoffs—without relying on manual follow-ups.

• Support for specialized formats, like layered AI files, dielines, and press-ready PDFs, that generic systems simply can’t handle well.

Cway® isn’t a one-size-fits-all DAM. It’s purpose-built for packaging workflows, combining structure with flexibility. Whether you're managing thousands of SKUs, juggling multiple language versions, or coordinating across time zones, Cway® keeps your team aligned, your files in check, and your processes moving forward.

In short: Cway® works like your team does—because it was designed with packaging professionals in mind.