A digital asset by definition is something that has intrinsic value because it can be sold or used to sell something else. A corporation like Adidas for example is known for selling sportswear and so all product-related photos, text and information are of value to the company. But not only do the photos and text as such have a value but also the capability to quickly find them when they are needed saves time and thus creates added value.

Crucially, a good Digital Asset Management system – as opposed
to a simple image- archive- does not only manage your files (images, texts, layouts, etc.). In order to really be efficient the system must be capable of managing and archiving all relevant information, the metadata, with the asset. Metadata can be information about image size, creation date, copyright information etc. It is precisely this capability that transforms your digital file into an asset as the search for those data saves time and money.