Short answer
State of DAM Selection is the DAMSelection annual survey of DAM buyers in the Netherlands, DACH, the UK and the US, combined with anonymised Shortlist Engine data. The first edition targets 300 respondents and publishes in Q2 2027 with sample size, margin of error and charts under CC BY 4.0. No results exist yet.
What the survey measures
State of DAM Selection measures how organisations choose a DAM and how the choice turns out after launch.
| Topic | What the survey asks |
|---|---|
| Selection duration | Months from first requirement to signed contract |
| Selection team | Roles involved and who held the final decision |
| Shortlist size | Vendors invited to demos and vendors in the final round |
| Demo practice | Scripted scenarios on own assets or generic vendor demos |
| Decision criteria | Ranking of the 12 DAMSelection criteria by weight in the final decision |
| Pricing archetype | Per seat, per storage tier or platform tier, and first-year cost band |
| Integration priorities | PIM, CMS, e-commerce, creative tools and identity |
| Post-launch outcome | Satisfaction, adoption and whether the buyer would choose the same vendor again |
The questions map to the seven DAMSelection checkpoints, so each finding links to a step in the DAM selection route.
Who can take part
State of DAM Selection is open to people who took part in a DAM selection within the previous 24 months.
- Regions: the Netherlands, DACH (Germany, Austria, Switzerland), the UK and the US.
- Roles: decision owners, DAM managers, IT and enterprise architects, procurement and legal, brand and creative leads.
- Organisation sizes: small business, mid-market and enterprise, using the size bands of the DAM Pricing Index.
Vendor employees, implementation partners and consultants cannot respond. The survey asks one person per selection, to avoid counting one project twice.
Method
State of DAM Selection combines an online buyer survey with anonymised data from the DAM Shortlist Engine.
- Publish the questionnaire on this page before fieldwork opens.
- Run the online survey with a target of 300 completed responses across the four regions.
- Weight responses by company size so no size band dominates the totals.
- Add aggregated Shortlist Engine data: which requirements buyers select and which segments their results fall in. The data holds no personal information.
- Publish every chart with its sample size, its question wording and its margin of error.
The survey asks about outcomes, so it relies on buyers' own reports. Each chart labels its findings as survey results.
Sample size and margin of error
State of DAM Selection reports a margin of error with every percentage, and subgroups below 50 respondents are not charted.
Worked example: with 300 respondents, a result of 50% carries a margin of error of plus or minus 5.7 percentage points at 95% confidence. A regional subgroup of 75 respondents carries plus or minus 11.3 points for the same result.
| Sample | Margin of error at 95% confidence, result of 50% |
|---|---|
| 300 respondents | Plus or minus 5.7 points |
| 150 respondents | Plus or minus 8.0 points |
| 75 respondents | Plus or minus 11.3 points |
A margin that wide means regional differences under 10 points carry little weight. The report says so wherever it compares regions.
Timeline
State of DAM Selection publishes its first edition in Q2 2027, and this page lists each stage as it opens.
| Stage | What happens |
|---|---|
| Questionnaire | Published on this page for comment before fieldwork |
| Fieldwork | Survey link opens on this page |
| Analysis | Weighting, margins of error and Shortlist Engine aggregation |
| Publication | Q2 2027, with charts and the anonymised summary data |
Licence and how to cite
State of DAM Selection charts and summary data publish under CC BY 4.0, with credit to DAMSelection.com.
Reuse allows copying, sharing and adapting, including commercial use, with credit, a link to the licence and a note of changes. Worked example of a citation: DAMSelection.com (2027). State of DAM Selection 2027. https://damselection.com/research/state-of-dam-selection/. Licence: CC BY 4.0. Individual responses never publish.
How the survey stays independent
State of DAM Selection follows the same neutrality policy as every DAMSelection page.
No vendor funds, sponsors or reviews the survey. Vendor names appear in results only where respondents name them, and only above the minimum subgroup size. The methodology page explains how survey results are labelled next to facts and assessments. The survey sits within DAM research and data.
Frequently asked
When will State of DAM Selection publish?
State of DAM Selection publishes its first edition in Q2 2027. The questionnaire appears on the survey page before fieldwork opens, so buyers and researchers can see every question in advance. Charts publish with sample size and margin of error under CC BY 4.0.
Who can take part in the DAM buyer survey?
People who took part in a DAM selection within the previous 24 months can respond, in the Netherlands, DACH, the UK or the US. Decision owners, DAM managers, IT, procurement and brand roles all qualify. Vendor employees, implementation partners and consultants cannot respond.
How is my survey data used?
Survey responses are analysed in aggregate and never published individually. Charts show only groups of 50 respondents or more, and the survey stores no data that identifies a person in the published files. Shortlist Engine data enters the analysis only as anonymised totals.
Can I reuse the State of DAM Selection charts?
The State of DAM Selection charts and summary data are free to reuse under CC BY 4.0, including in commercial reports. Credit "DAMSelection.com", link to the survey page and to the licence, and state any changes such as recalculated subgroups.
How does the survey relate to the DAM Shortlist Engine?
The DAM Shortlist Engine supplies anonymised totals: which requirements buyers select and which segments their shortlists fall in. The survey adds what buyers decided and how the choice worked out. Together they compare stated priorities with real selection behaviour.