Update to Widen Digital Asset Management System Makes the Software a Stronger Collaboration and Strategy Tool

MADISON, WI--(Marketwire - Feb 21, 2013) - Widen Enterprises has announced that all of its digital asset management (DAM) customers have been upgraded to version 6.3 of Media Collective, the Madison, Wisconsin-based company's cloud-based DAM software. Included in the release are updates to search and a number of new user feedback features.

"Users of our system have great things to say about how easy to use it is. They genuinely enjoy the time they spend in Media Collective," said Widen Project Manager Josey Siegenthaler. "Thanks to the things we've brought into the DAM experience with this update, Widen users will be able to use the platform to communicate, gather valuable intelligence and inform their broader digital strategies."

Features and functions that are new in Media Collective version 6.3 include:

Enhanced Batch Editing - Anyone with permission to edit assets will have the ability to add, replace or clear metadata for a group of selected assets.

Comments - Users with permission can now make comments on individual assets and share comments with selected recipients. Users to whom comments are directed receive notification in the form of system alerts or emails (depending on user preferences).

Asset Ratings - The new Ratings feature will allow authorized users to rate individual assets on a five-star scale. Once rated, the asset's thumbnail will reflect the asset average rating in real time. Those real-time ratings also serve as the basis for a new search filter for all users.

Redesigned Search Results - The search results interface has been redesigned for improved functionality and navigation. Changes include increased visibility for the Download and Asset Details buttons, along with new notification icons.

Enhanced Alerts and Email Notifications - Users will be able to configure their preferences to receive system notifications via in-system alerts or email.

Enhanced Collections Functionality - The Collections feature has been enhanced with new and redesigned features available to select users. Among the enhancements: easier access to Global Collection searches, a new Collection Details page and a redesigned Global Collection thumbnail.

"Many of these latest enhancements are great examples of how we can effectively bring user experiences people are familiar with -- from social platforms, blogging, and other spheres consumers are comfortable in -- and put them to use in a system built to make business processes more efficient. This makes the learning curve more manageable for newer users and alleviates some of the training and user adoption burden felt by DAM administrators," said Widen Marketing Manager Jake Athey.

In addition, Widen has launched a brand new knowledge base through which users will have access to chats and email forms for reaching Widen support staff; video tutorials; white papers; and up-to-date articles, including materials for general users and administrators.

Version 6.3 of the Widen Media Collective is live for all Widen customers.

About Widen Enterprises, Inc.

Based in Madison, Wisconsin, Widen has honed its more than 60 years of experience in premedia services and color management specifically for assisting customers with building brand equity and supporting consistent brand representation across print and Web communications. Through its inventive suite of Web-based digital asset management applications, Widen software services provide marketing networks with real-time, Web-based access to clients' digital asset libraries, subsequently eliminating manual search and file preparation time, costs related to replacing images and videos that cannot be located, and added costs for hardware, software and upgrades. For more information, visit: http://www.widen.com.