BrandDirector is an integrated marketing operations management application suite that provides features and benefits in several areas. You can use BrandDirector to transform the way your organisation does:

Project management
Process automation
Digital asset management
High-level programme management

Project management

Project and workflow management features are an important part of the functionality of BrandDirector™.

• Flexible workflow processes
  Collaborative processes can be built with customisable groups and roles to establish clear lines of accountability and secure access. Responsibilities can also be delegated.
• Automatic email notifications
  All users involved with a task receive an automatic notification when associated tasks are started or completed. The email contains embedded links that take users directly to the task in hand, which helps ensure a rapid turnaround.
• Critical path management
  The critical path management (CPM) module automatically determines the critical path when you set up a workflow. If necessary, you can amend the critical path as the project progresses.
• Status tracking
  The web interface uses colour-coded indicators to highlight the status of project tasks. This helps you to identify blockages quickly, determine what is causing them, and track down the person responsible.
• Audit trail
  On a task-by-task basis, the system keeps track of all users involved, as well as when the task was due and when it was actually completed.
• Custom reporting
  You can generate reports that are tailored specifically for your requirements. These can provide powerful tools for performance management, resource planning, and tracking of key performance indicators (KPIs).

These features lead directly to the following business benefits:

• Fewer bottlenecks
  Because project managers have a full and transparent view of project status, they have a clearer overview and can eliminate duplication of effort.
• Faster approvals
  The often onerous task of requesting and collecting approvals is greatly speeded up because the system processes them automatically.
• Improved general efficiency
  The system generally enables better planning and improved resource balancing, which leads to fewer process problems.

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Process automation

BrandDirector™ makes it easy to automate business processes using the following project management features:

• Easy project setup
  Simple project setup wizards enable users to set up projects and load process data quickly and accurately.
• Error prevention
  The system automatically checks input for errors and provides intuitive drop-down selection menus wherever possible.
• Visual representation of workflow processes
  The system uses workflow templates, which consist of tasks that can be arranged in a visual representation. This representation illustrates their dependencies and critical paths, drawing attention to areas that can benefit from improved efficiency.
• Versatile approval system
  The highly sophisticated approval module can handle the idiosyncrasies associated with complex projects and complex organizations.
• Advanced workflow functions
  The workflow engine provides maximum flexibility to match everyday challenges. For example, it allows users to override tasks, bypass redundant deliverables, modify resource allocation and suppliers, and change duration and schedules.
• Easy task navigation using email notifications
  The system sends automatic email notifications that contain clickable links to the page or form that the recipients need to use to perform their tasks.

To simplify process administration still further, BrandDirector™ ships with predefined components to meet common requirements.

• Predefined workflow templates
  The system ships with a set of predefined workflow templates to simplify the setup process. These include templates for new product development and for the creation of promotional material and in-store point-of-sale material.
• Standard process forms
  The predefined workflow templates are packaged with standard forms that simplify key tasks. For example, these include file submission, approval, payment submission and progress check forms.
• Specialised modules
  The system supports plug-in modules for niche markets. For example, the Packaging module maintains a list of catalogue and off-catalogue packaging. Additional modules can be tailored for a specific enterprise and integrated into the product installation.

These features result in the following benefits:

• Increased performance
  The powerful reporting features promote continual improvement of internal processes. The system can link with important financial information and track it.
• Improved quality
  Greater consistency – across projects, tasks and processes – results in improved output quality.
• Increased speed to market
  The system’s features help to identify areas for continuous improvement, which leads to compressed timelines and improved efficiency.

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Digital asset management

BrandDirector™ stores your organisation's digital assets – such as media, artwork and product information – in a central digital asset library. The contents of this library are available to users from all over the organisation, depending on their access permissions.

The digital asset management (DAM) component of BrandDirector™ has the following key features:

• Rapid library searches
  The system provides a choice of simple or advanced search capability, which allows users to locate and retrieve required items rapidly. Items can also be tagged to help organization and searchability.
• Security
  Using roles and responsibilities, you can set the security model up to be as granular as necessary. You can also give suppliers a limited degree of access to the library.
• Version control
  Sophisticated version control ensures that the correct version of each item is used. You can pre-set dates for archival and deletion of each item in the library.
• Error prevention
  The system documents specifications for each item in a clear and concise manner, which facilitates the verification of details such as conformity with image licenses.
• Asset control
  Because you license the system, ownership and protection of trademarked assets remains firmly in the hands of the owner rather than an agency. This also frees you from being tied to any particular agency or supplier in the long term.
• Auditing
  The system tracks asset usage, which provides an audit trail that allows you to identify issues and opportunities.
• Real-time updates
  After items are edited, rapid real-time updates ensure up-to-the-minute accuracy across the entire digital asset library.
• Directory integration
  The system can be integrated with Windows Active Directory or Lightweight Directory Access Protocol (LDAP), allowing users to log in to the library using their network login details.
• Auto image conversion
  Images can be reformatted and their quality and resolution amended on the fly using automated image conversion. In the long term, this results in reduced agency costs.
• FTP uploads
  Uploads to the digital asset library can use File Transfer Protocol (FTP), enabling large files to be transmitted as quickly as possible.

The central management of the digital media library provides several immediate benefits, including the following:

• Consistency of material
  Having only one definitive central source for each item ensures consistency across all branches, channels and materials. If necessary, sub-libraries can be created for particular business units or areas of work.
• Rapid dissemination
  The use of one centralised system to upload and download items reduces courier and mail distribution, which can be reduced even further by allowing restricted access for third parties such as agencies. The result is savings in time and cost.
• Easy re-use and repurposing of media
  Existing media is easily accessible and can be re-used by teams throughout the organisation, which can reduce photography-related costs and save time by preventing unnecessary duplication of shoots and reproduction.
• Common storage for a wide range of work streams
  The digital media library provides a common storage location for all kinds of data, such as:
  
  • In-store activity plans
  • Photography
  • Design templates
  • Design guidelines
  • Artwork
  • Cutter guides
  • Store and shelf layouts
  • Display templates
  • Window dressing material
  • Product images
  • Product specifications
  • Packaging material
  • Packaging templates and specifications
  • Pricing matrices
  • Legal and promotional guidelines

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High-level programme management

BrandDirector™ provides several tools that facilitate the high-level management of projects and groups of projects.

• Range-level submissions
  Projects are grouped into ranges. Tasks can be performed one at a time for individual projects, or a set of projects can be progressed together.
• High-level reporting
  Specially tailored reports can be set up for programme managers. For example, managers can use reporting to identify the points at which the most reworking occurs. They could then determine which users are involved and calculate the resource and cost loads over a period of time.
• KPI monitoring
  Key performance indicators (KPIs) for each task can be fed into advanced reports to show how long different groups take to complete their work.
• KPI thresholds
  Threshold KPI values can be set up for each project or group of projects, which helps to quickly identify blockages or failing projects. This enables programme managers to stage-gate across multiple projects and to manage departmental budgets more effectively.
• Supplier evaluation
  Supplier performance can be reviewed over time by comparing estimated times against the actual time taken to complete tasks.

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