The idea of considering content production as a supply chain to keep increasing complexity and costs manageable goes back over a decade. The pioneering concept of vjoon’s Unified Publishing Process (UPP) from 2012 already pursued this consideration. Since then, we continuously developed and adapted it to the markets needs. Today, content supply chain management is a successful standard for effectively bringing together people, tools, and workflows to

• imagine
• create
• manage
• provide
• improve

all your amazing content.

In order to understand how this can bring your content operations to excellence and keep them manageable even with the predicted amounts of data, it is worth taking a look at the typical challenges in managing content. Despite the differences in all the customer projects, there are always similar issues.

We have summarized a number of typical topics here – and also added the answers as provided by Content Supply Chain Management:

How to create content fast and at high volume?

• Use modern and familiar tools to create content at scale.
• Streamline workflows and automation.
• Enable quick access to all versions of your content through a central content-hub.

How to break down silos and improve collaboration between people and systems?

• Use smart integrated systems that connect teams, workflows, and content.
• Follow a clear and transparent production strategy that guides you step by step.
• Avoid storing content in different systems, but establish a central content hub as your single source of truth.

How to manage the fast growing amount of versions, renditions and important information for each asset?

• Most importantly, you need a modern and powerful DAM platform to manage the growing amount of content.
• At the same time, this platform should be able to manage huge numbers of versions and automatically provide different renditions.
• In addition, you need intelligent metadata management to enrich your content with additional information so that it becomes an important part of your value chain.

How to provide tailored content for a wide range of channels and stakeholders?

• First, you need professional standard tools, such as Adobe Creative Cloud, to create creative content with maximum freedom. Preferably, these tools are already deeply integrated with a workflow system and DAM.
• Second, automate as many routine manual tasks as possible, such as managing versions, but also creating accurate renditions should be automated.
• And third, output channels and platforms should also be delivered automatically. This is usually done by connecting third-party systems – either directly available out-of-the-box or as an custom development.

How to keep costs lean in the face of increasing content production?

• Focus on modern, but field-proven technologies and production concepts.
• Use state-of-the-art technologies and standard solutions instead of launching your own cost-intensive projects.
• Keep your entire processes lean and highly automated.
• Have your workflows and IT reviewed by experienced partners.