Software Spotlight: Mediabox-PA

With Mediabox-PA, the entire product approval process, from completion of the approval form through concept and pre-production stages and beyond, is all in one centralized, online location. The application allows individuals to review artwork online and attach online comments with each artwork file, and manage the workflow order of projects and submissions between users. Users also use the system to log in, review comments, and submit new or next stage product designs.

FEATURES: 

• Communication- Automatic email notifications of project updates and multi-thread messaging
• Reporting- Real-time reporting across properties, Licensees, stages, categories and stages
• Creative Tools- Online previewing, commenting, zoom and markup of artwork (including post-its and drop pins)
• Security- Control of user access rights by property, project, Licensee, category, role and date range
• Configuration- Customizable approval form templates and private label splash page branding

About MyMediabox

Utilizing Real-Time Reporting for Product Approvals

When shopping for your product approvals software, make sure not to overlook a systems reporting features. MyMediabox's approval system, Mediabox-PA, offers a variety of reports that will help you manage your product approvals process.

Image courtesy of shutterstock.com

MyMediabox software applications include real-time reporting to help you monitor and increase productivity, all in one convenient location. With pertinent information in Mediabox-PA linked to each project (product type, licensee, licensee company, agent, SKUs, talent, project status, etc.) you can easily create reports to monitor projects from concept to completion.

Key Reports Include:

• Daily Site Activity Report- Monitor the volume of projects entered in the system (i.e. Number of new projects, approved projects, declined projects, closed submissions, opened submissions and more)

• Production Samples Due- View projects with samples due and received

• Completed SKUs Report- Generate reports to show which projects have been completed

For more information on MyMediabox real-time reporting capabilities, visit mymediabox.com or email marketing@mymediabox.com.

Interested in scheduling a demo? Click here.

What you need to run MyMediabox Applications

"Hosted or installed?"

That is a question that many prospective customers ask, so we decided to provide a short summary of what you will need to run MyMediabox.

MyMediabox applications are 100 percent hosted online and are available anywhere you have a computer.

With 99.95 percent guaranteed up time, MyMediabox applications and your assets are available 24/7/365 to you and your customers worldwide- whenever you need them.

What you need to run MyMediabox applications:

1. A computer: (PC or MAC)

2. An internet connection: DSL/Cable Modem, Broadband/T-1+, or better

3. A web browser: Internet Explorer, Firefox and Safari

MyMediabox offers hosted solutions for digital asset management (Mediabox-DAM), product approvals/creative workflows (Mediabox-PA) and deal memo management (Mediabox-DM). For more information visit us at www.mymediabox.com or email us at marketing@mymediabox.com.

Interested in scheduling a demo? Click here.

Looking for the right licensees?

Not sure how to find the right licensees for your brand? With the growing number of licensees, this is not always an easy decision. Here are a few tips to picking the right licensees:

• Present your brand in a professional manner
• Make sure your pitch is clear
• Run background (i.e. credit/reputation) checks on all potential licensees
• Gauge their commitment to your brand

MyMediabox works with over 80 leading Licencors and Agents offering hosted solutions for style guide delivery (Mediabox-DAM), product approvals (Mediabox-PA) and deal memo managment (Mediabox-DM). Interested in seeing how Sanrio, WWE, SeaWorld and others utilize MyMediabox applications to streamline the licensing process? Click here to schedule a demo.

Anatomy of a SaaS Vendor: Mapping Future Software Functionality and Technology

The story of the life cycle of software and technology today is a familiar one, to the point of being a cliché.  New technologies are constantly emerging that enable companies to improve performance and productivity, and the shelf life of older technologies (hardware and software) keeps getting shorter and shorter (24-36 months on average). This short lifespan is a key reason SaaS has become such a huge business driver, since it’s more cost-effective for most businesses to “rent” the solutions and hardware from a SaaS vendor and only consume what they need – without having to get on the “technology treadmill” themselves and bear the burden of rapidly depreciating technology.

This same logic used for software and hardware can be applied to the actual product road map.  All cloud-based business computing, and in particular, digital asset management and product approval applications should be dynamic systems.  The licensing business is ever-evolving, expanding and becoming more complex, so it stands to reason that the applications you choose should be robust enough to continually grow a few steps ahead of the industry and your particular needs.  

The only way that the perpetual improvement happens is if the vendor you select can demonstrate not only deep licensing industry knowledge (what makes the market run and where it’s going), but also an ability to stay two steps ahead of the technological curve. This translates into forward-thinking products and road maps, and simply probing for these qualities will help you sort out industry leaders from imitative followers.  

This is why, once you have confirmed that a potential SaaS (Software as a Service) vendor is financially and operationally sound, it's also imperative to look at that company's “big picture” development plans before making your final selection.

You'll want to critically evaluate the company's road map for future development.  Most software companies have their major software releases planned 6-12 months in advance at upgrades as well as new modules or applications that add value to their core applications.  

It’s also becoming more and more common with SaaS that software releases are done frequently, sometimes as often as quarterly or monthly, as new features are completed.  The vendor should be able to give you a high-level overview of how its applications will be evolving in the next twelve months, a drill down of what to expect in each month, and an explanation of how any new features add value to the ones they already have.  

The SaaS company that best suits your business should be one whose development plan makes it easy for you to find answers to all of these questions:

• How does this vendor plan to stay current with cutting-edge technology?

• Is the release schedule for updates frequent and consistent, indicating that new functionality is keeping up with market demand?

• Are clients involved and listened to in road map planning?

• Will upgrades be included in the fees you’ll be paying, or is that an additional cost to you?

Surprise costs, intended upgrades, and the process that the vendor will use to keep you up-to-date and prepared to lead the ever-changing market all provide vital information for choosing your SaaS cloud computing vendor.



MyMediabox is a leading provider of SaaS hosted applications for digital asset management and style guide delivery (Mediabox-DAM), product approvals and other creative workflows (Mediabox-PA) and deal memo management (Mediabox-DM).  For more information visit us at www.mymediabox.com.

MyMediabox is a leading provider of SaaS hosted applications for digital asset management and style guide delivery (Mediabox-DAM), product approvals and other creative workflows (Mediabox-PA) and deal memo management (Mediabox-DM).  For more information visit us at www.mymediabox.com

- See more at: http://mymediabox-online.blogspot.com/#sthash.W0OzIvlD.dpuf

Anatomy of a SaaS Vendor: Identifying the Key Components and Choosing the Right Partner

Many companies have stepped into the new technological world of cloud-based applications, and this powerful tool is no longer relegated to the IT department.  More than 50% of all users are turning to this type of computing for brand management and other business priorities, and their numbers are growing rapidly – in fact, Business Wire reported in June 2013 that 75% of surveyed businesses use a cloud platform of some kind, and the usage increased dramatically in 2013, up from 67% in 2012.

When you're considering cloud-based software for your own company's product approvals and digital asset management needs, it's an exciting, paradigm-shifting process: you're changing the way your business does business for the better. Selecting the right product and vendor, though, can mean the difference between a successful transition and greater productivity -- or a daily exercise in frustration.

Over the next 10 weeks, we'll be digging deeper into the question of evaluating the most popular type of cloud computing programs, SaaS (Software as a Service), based on their reliability and fit to your business.  We'll explore a variety of best practices for identifying and leveraging the best-in-class vendors and applications, that, well-executed, can positively improve business performance.  Applying these tactics can help to avoid the significant financial, operational, technical, and legal risks which you might confront if you pick the wrong vendor.

A great deal of the initial information-gathering that makes your transition smoother is just a matter of asking tough questions of potential vendors early on.  Some of those are questions like these:

• Does the vendor have the financial strength to weather downturns or other unforeseen risks, or are they one lost customer away from being unable to pay their bills?
• Where are their offices located and can you visit them?
• Are their developers in-house or outsourced, domestic or in a high-risk country?
• How does this vendor address information security?  Do they have an Information Security Officer or other evidence to show you that security is a priority?
• Is the vendor a leader in the space?  Will they disclose their client list or other data to prove their market position?
• If things don't work out for any reason, what happens to your valuable data and assets?

How to find answers to those questions?  Let us help.  This blog series, “Anatomy of a SaaS Vendor,” is intended to offer experience, analysis, and advice on the thorough evaluation of cloud computing licensors in multiple categories.  Having found your own answers to each question, you and your team can come to the best possible decision for your business.

MyMediabox is a leading provider of SaaS hosted applications for digital asset management and style guide delivery (Mediabox-DAM), product approvals and other creative workflows (Mediabox-PA) and deal memo management (Mediabox-DM).  For more information visit us at www.mymediabox.com

Licensors for Charity!

Image courtesy of licensemag.com

There is a new app from Digital Giving called the “T-Shirt Booth,” set to launch at the end of September, that offers customized character t-shirts to help raise money for different charities. How it works: fans choose a character, upload their picture and add a personal message – all which will appear on a children’s t-shirt along with the logo of the associated charity.  

Many licensors are participating with this new fund-raising app. Some of MyMediabox partners have characters among the cast, including Babar, Lazy Town and The Very Hungry Caterpillar.

MyMediabox offers applications for digital asset management (Mediabox-DAM), product approvals (Mediabox-PA) and deal memo management (Mediabox-DM). To find out more about how companies benefit from MyMediabox applications visit www.mymediabox.com or email us at marketing@mymediabox.com. 

Click here to schedule an online demo.

King Features and Joyrich team up to launch Betty Boop fashion line

Betty Boop, one of the most popular and successful licensed characters in the history of the entertainment industry, will be featured in a new fashion line. The King Features Syndicate has more than 185 licensees in the United States alone; double that internationally.

Image courtesy of licensemag.com

Joyrich created the Betty Boop line, modernizing the popular icon while giving a retro edge to it. The collection includes T-shirts, denim, hoodies, cardigans, bottoms and accessories such as tote bags, a snapback and a knit scarf.

King Features utilizes MyMediabox hosted applications (Mediabox-DAM, and Mediabox-PA) to streamline their licensing processes with licensees globally. Interested in learning more about MyMediabox and how our clients benefit from their MyMediabox applications? Visit www.mymediabox.com or email marketing@mymediabox.com for more information.

Click here to schedule a demo.

Security: Common Cloud Storage Concerns

Image Courtesy of CloudTweaks.com

A main concern when transferring your data to the cloud is security. You question not only if your data is secure from unauthorized parties, but also if your data is "physically" secure in the cloud.

MyMediabox offers hosted solutions for product approvals (Mediabox-PA), digital asset management (Mediabox-DAM) and deal memo management (Mediabox-DM). With all of our applications in the cloud, it is a number one priority for us to make sure our clients data is secure.

Here are a few MyMediabox security features:

• Fully redundant IT infrastructure with state-of-the-art physical access security and 24/7 on site support staff
• Assets secured in three separate MyMediabox-owned storage systems for redundancy
• Two data center hosts with 500 mile separation for business continuity in the event of a regional disaster
• 100 Megabit dedicated internet connection backed by multiple fiber optic carriers at both data centers
• Data protection by disk-to-disk-to-tape technology, as well as, disk-to-disk backups and assets worldwide

For more information visit www.mymediabox.com or email marketing@mymediabox.com.

Click here to schedule a demo. 

Marvel Teams up with Forever 21 for Apparel Line

Image courtesy of Licensemag.com

Forever 21 and Marvel Entertainment have partnered up to create a new line of apparel and accessories that will feature popular Super Heroes including The Hulk, Spider-Man, Thor, Iron Man and more. The line will consist of about 20 items and will be available this fall.

The Marvel Entertainment Brand presence shows no sign of slowing down – this year at the Licensing Expo, Marvel’s The Avengers was awarded Best Film, Television, Celebrity, or Entertainment Program of the Year.

MyMediabox hosted applications make collaboration between Licensees, Licensors, Agents and many other internal and external parties more efficient and cost effective.

Email marketing@mymediabox.com to learn how our hosted applications streamline the product approval (Mediabox-PA) and style guide delivery (Mediabox-DAM) process, or click here to schedule an online demo.

Questions to ask when choosing a Product Approval/Digital Asset Management Software Provider

When choosing a provider of PA and DAM applications, there are many questions you should ask in order to find the right one for you and your company. Here are a few of the top questions:

• Are your solutions Cloud Solutions?
• Are your data centers secure?
• Do you have an IDS (Intrusion Detection System) or IPS (Intrusion Prevention System)?
• What security do you offer for inside users?
• Do you have an Information Security Program?
• Are the Digital Assets I load backed up?
• Do you have anti-virus in the environment?
• Who are you co-location data center providers and where, specifically, are they located?
• Do you lease your hardware/software?

Email us at marketing@mymediabox.com to learn our answers to these questions in your search for Product Approval and Digital Asset management provider.

Visit www.mymediabox.com for more information or click here to schedule a demo.

MyMediabox Exhibits at the Licensing International Expo

Representatives from MyMediabox will be taking meetings and performing demonstrations at its booth (#A141), as well as visiting licensor stands from Tuesday, June 18^th through Thursday, June 20^th at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center in Las Vegas, NV.

Over 50 of the 400 companies exhibiting at Licensing International Expo are current MyMediabox customers, including: American Greetings, The Cherokee Group, DreamWorks Animation, SONY Consumer Marketing, The Licensing Company (TLC), Capcom and many more.

With Mediabox-PA, the entire creative approvals process, from completion of the online approval form, to concept designs though final production sample submissions, online previewing and integrated commenting, automated email notices, role-based approvals workflows, business rules and archiving, is in one easy-to-find online location.

With Mediabox-DAM licensors and agents can organize, manage and deliver high-resolution artwork assets to licensees around the world. Mediabox-DAM provides users with the ability to switch between light box and list views of assets, zoom into images to view details, transform and resize images while downloading, customize proof sheet reports and user and asset activity reports, create private collections of assets for projects, build customized, branded and interactive webpages within the system, and more.

For more information on streamlining your product approvals and style guide delivery or to schedule a demo, visit MyMediabox online at www.mymediabox.com or email marketing@mymediabox.com.

BBC Show Attracts New Licensees

Image Courtesy of www.licensemag.com

MyMediabox client, BBC Worldwide, has attracted several new licensees with the popularity of its
CBeebies series "Something Special." Among the new partners are Egmont Publishing, Kinnerton and Inspiration Works. Current licensee, Golden Bear, will also extend its product offering centered around the show.

Look for "Something Special" products expected to launch this year: five titles, two novelty books, two activity titles, advent calendars, miniature figures, an electronic learning tablet, 3D backpacks, puzzles and more!

Interested in learning how clients like BBC Worldwide utilize MyMediabox hosted applications to streamline their product approvals process? Click here to schedule a demo.

For more information visit www.mymediabox.com or email marketing@mymediabox.com.

Attending Licensing Expo? Visit the MyMediabox booth (#A141).

Gap Enters Licensing Deal with The World of Beatrix Potter

According to License!Global, well known apparel brand, GAP, has entered into a licensing agreement with Beatrix Potter. This partnership will result in the addition of a limited-edition collection to the BabyGap line. The new collection will feature children's clothes imprinted with characters from the beloved Peter Rabbit books (see below). 


Gap Peter Rabbit Onesie
Image Courtesy of Licensemag.com

Gap Peter Rabbit Dress
Image Courtesy of Licensemag.com

        














Other Fashion Brands/Retailers in Licensing:

• Jessica Simpson
• Macy's
• Banana Republic
• Kohl's
• Target & Neiman Marcus
• Adidas

Interested in learning how other apparel brands like JD Sports and The Cherokee Group utilize MyMediabox hosted applications to streamline their product approvals (Mediabox-PA) and style guide delivery (Mediabox-DAM) processes? Click here to schedule a demo.

For more information about MyMediabox visit www.mymediabox.com or email marketing@mymediabox.com.                                                                                                   

                                                     

Consumer Products Licensors, Licensees and Agents Use MyMediabox

Licensors, Licensees and Agents all around the world are choosing MyMediabox for their digital asset management and product approvals workflow. Want the facts? Check out the numbers below.

10 Years delivering hosted solutions globally. MyMediabox understands your
       needs.

70+ Leading Licensors and Agents with active MyMediabox sites. We have
       earned the stamp of approval.

100+ MyMediabox websites operating and fully supported by our team. We can
         support you, too.

115 Countries with active MyMediabox users. We are experienced supporting a
         diverse user population.

7,000+ Companies worldwide using MyMediabox to interact with their
                Licensors/Agents. Our systems are widely adopted.

33,000+ Registered users already trained on MyMediabox systems.

MyMediabox is the industry standard.

Visit www.mymediabox.com to learn more about how MyMediabox can help your business save time and money.

Ready to schedule a demo? Click here.

Sanrio Turns to Licensing to Increase Profits

MyMediabox client, Sanrio, discusses their new growth stragety for Hello Kitty--Licensing! Check out the video below to see different products that have come about from Sanrio brand licensing.



Interested in learning how Sanrio uses Mediabox-DAM (digital asset management) and Mediabox-PA (product approvals) systems to streamline the licensing process? Click here to schedule a demo.

Software Licensors, Licensees and Agents Use for Digital Asset Management and Product Approvals

Licensors, Licensees and Agents all around the world are choosing MyMediabox for their digital asset management and product approvals workflow. Want the facts? Check out the numbers below.

10 Years delivering hosted solutions globally. MyMediabox understands your
       needs.

76 Leading Licensors and Agents with active MyMediabox sites. We have
       earned the stamp of approval.

107 MyMediabox websites operating and fully supported by our team. We can
         support you, too.

115 Countries with active MyMediabox users. We are experienced supporting a
         diverse user population.

7,000+ Companies worldwide using MyMediabox to interact with their
                Licensors/Agents. Our systems are widely adopted.

35,000+ Registered users already trained on MyMediabox systems.

MyMediabox is the industry standard.

Visit www.mymediabox.com to learn more about how MyMediabox can help your business save time and money.

Ready to schedule a demo? Click here.