As an advertising agency project manager, you know that a successful digital production studio needs great talent and requires the right tools. But finding the right tool can be a challenge. With so many technologies, platforms, and workflows in play, it's easy to get bogged down in technical fragmentation, administrative mayhem, and the associated costs of running large teams. That's why its so important to create control in our digital studio by using universal productivity tools. You need more projects but less management.

Image credit: Sleeves are way too short but otherwise an ok image of a stressed PM or studio manager. Thanks Midjourney.

Ok time to explain what a universal digital delivery platform actually is

It’s a software tool, an app actually, built more than that it’s a change in the way we think and approach tech. Strictly speaking the app provides a single platform for delivering a wide range of digital assets online. The platform streamlines the process of digital content delivery by centralizing content management, automating content publishing workflows, and enabling the creation of a wide range of digital assets.

With a universal digital delivery platform, content creators can manage and deliver a variable scope of digital projects and manage content from a single platform, eliminating the need for multiple tools and interfaces. The platform allows them to create, upload, and edit content, and then distribute it to various destinations through a simple and intuitive interface. This makes it easier to manage digital assets and ensure that they are delivered to the right project at the right time.

The platform also offers automation capabilities, such as scheduling content delivery, managing workflows, and automating content formatting for different destinations. This reduces the administrative burden of content delivery and helps teams to focus on creating great content.

Here’s what a graphic of technology fragmentation looks like

Is ‘universality’ even a word?

Yes, we checked and it actually is: “the character or state of being universal; existence or prevalence everywhere”. And for the purpose of this discussion universal productivity tools can help us address these issues head-on. They provide a unified platform for all of our work, so we don't have to worry about dealing with multiple technologies and multiple technologists. Instead, we can focus on what really matters – creating great work that drives results for our clients.

At the heart of any good universal productivity tool is its ability to simplify workflows and allow for an agnostic approach to developer tools. The right platform will eliminate the need for a multitude of plug-ins, creating a more streamlined workflow that reduces developer friction and administrative mayhem. This is particularly important when it comes to project management, which can be a nightmare in a fragmented tech environment.

Moreover, a universal productivity tool will help to keep costs down. By reducing the number of tools and platforms in use, we can save money on licensing fees, maintenance costs, and training expenses. Plus, we can avoid the risk of errors and delays that often occur when attempting to integrate multiple systems.

But that's not all. A universal productivity tool can also improve collaboration and communication. By providing a single platform for all team members to work on, we can ensure that everyone is on the same page. The right tool will also offer features like real-time updates, task assignment, and file sharing to facilitate seamless collaboration.

How will we ever get there?

So, what should we look for in a universal productivity tool? First and foremost, it should be flexible and adaptable. We need a tool that can support multiple technologies and workflows, so we don't have to constantly switch between different tools. It should also be easy to use, with an intuitive interface that minimizes the learning curve.

Another key consideration is the ability to scale. We need a tool that can grow with our agency, as our needs change and evolve over time. The right tool will have the capacity to support our entire team, no matter how large or small.

Finally, we need a tool that is secure and reliable. Our clients trust us with their data, and we need to ensure that it is protected at all times. The right tool will offer robust security features, including encryption, multi-factor authentication, and regular backups.

Work smarter to create control of our studios

As advertising agency executives, we need to create control in our digital studio by using universal productivity tools. The right tool will simplify workflows, reduce administrative mayhem, and keep costs down. It will also improve collaboration and communication, and provide a platform that is flexible, scalable, and secure. So, embrace the power of universal productivity tools and take your digital production studio into a future that you create, one that you can control.