Hey there, it's Ryan Sheffer. Today we're delving into an oft-overlooked, but absolutely crucial topic that is fundamental to business growth - Data Storage. As obscure as it might sound, getting your data storage right is like finding the secret key to an unopened treasure chest of opportunities.
The Vital Role of Data Storage
Let's talk about how businesses store, access and distribute creative assets, crucial data and brand guidelines. I had a riveting discussion with Ryan Sheffer on the brand spaceship about the role of data storage in brand management and how Mile 80,Ryan's company, uses it to maximize client benefit.
Think about it.You've got a plethora of creative assets, brand guidelines, marketing collateral - the whole shebang - scattered across multiple platforms and people. But if you cannot efficiently store, search, retrieve and share these assets, the potential of these resources remains untapped. So, how does one manage this?
The Dropbox Advantage
Here's an insight from our strategy here at Mile 80. We use Dropbox, storing an incredible 60terabytes of data. Dropbox, in addition to providing local storage, also ensures these files are stored across multiple systems and computers that need to interact with the data. With Dropbox, even clients without the platform canaccess the shared files and folders. It offers an additional advantage -organizing files and storing them indefinitely.
Many businesses overlook the marginal cost of storing client files, which can easily be baked into project costs. By offering this service, companies can provide tremendous value to clients who might not have an efficient data storage solution themselves. And it pays off in the long run - grateful clients and seamless access to past project data for future use.
Ensuring Accessibility
Data storage isn't just about creating a digital vault and filling it with assets. It's about ensuring that the assets are accessible to the right people at the right time.So how do you ensure your team can access the data? The answer lies in the efficient structuring of folders and selective syncing of files. By making specific folders available offline, your team members can access the data they need without clogging their systems with unnecessary files. It's crucial to maintain an optimal level of local storage to prevent your system from slowing down or crashing.
Overcoming Resistance
So if Dropbox offers so many advantages, why isn't it the norm among agencies and their clients? One of the primary reasons is the inertia towards change. Many people with a history in production are used to working from an office, dealing with physical servers and expensive infrastructure.
Also, there's a certain level of apprehension towards cloud-based storage solutions. Some companies are overly concerned about security and prefer to store their files on local servers. Moreover, companies that have invested heavily in server infrastructure find it hard to justify these costs when the world is moving towards remote and cloud storage. These reasons, however, mostly boil down to resistance to change and adherence to old practices.
The Bottom Line
The discussion boils down to this - Data storage isn't just about storing files in a digital locker.It's about organizing, accessing and sharing these files to derive maximum value. It's the wind beneath the wings of content upcycling.
If your brand can ace data organization and storage, you've hit the jackpot. This may sound simple, but the ripple effects are immense. After all, if your team doesn't even know where the brand guidelines are, how can they align their efforts with the brand's vision?
With efficient data storage and accessibility, you're not just organizing files - you're unlocking a world of untapped potential and opportunities. And as the world continues to evolve, the brands that can harness the power of efficient data storage will bethe ones who stay ahead of the game.
Data storage is the wind beneath the wings of content upcycling. Embrace it and watch your brand take flight.
