Preventing the studio team from giving up on life by storming in, deleting their spreadsheets, flipping a table, and automating everything
Summary
The development of a studio automation system for the client's in-house studio has resulted in significant improvements in capacity, efficiency, and productivity. The project tackled operational problems such as low-skill data entry work, missing critical shoot information, manual creation of shot lists, and manual handling of files. By implementing the automation system, the team achieved streamlined workflows, reduced errors, improved integration between sites, and consistent metadata that facilitated better DAM integrations.
Problem
The client's in-house studio faced several operational problems that limited its ability to increase capacity and scale production. Highly skilled roles were burdened with low-skill data entry work, critical shoot information was frequently missing from briefs, and manual processes were time-consuming and prone to errors. These challenges resulted in inefficiencies, rework, and difficulties in integrating with other systems.
Operational Problems:
- Highly skilled roles responsible for low-skill data entry work
- Missing critical shoot information in briefs
- Manual creation of shot lists and repetitive data entry
- Manual handling of raw files and file transfers
- Inconsistent metadata and slow load times in DAM
- Manual publishing of assets to channels, leading to asset duplication
Solution
To address these operational problems, a comprehensive solution was developed. The project requirements included defining the problem, assessing risks, and providing solution options. The chosen solution involved developing a new studio automation system that automated various processes and integrated with existing tools. The project outcomes included improved capacity, scalability, and efficiency.
The solution encompassed the following deliverables:
- DAM integrations and NAS synchronization
- Admin documentation and enrichment schema
- Data ingestion plan and new hardware implementation
- New platform, support channels, and taxonomy development
- Usage policies, usage reports, user groups, and user permissions
Results
The implementation of the new studio automation system resulted in significant improvements in operational efficiency and productivity. The capacity increased by 57%, allowing the team to support an 86% increase in workload. Efficiency improved by 118%, reducing errors and rework. The project's success was marked by the seamless integration of the automation system into the studio's daily operations, exceeding expectations and setting a new standard for operational efficiency. The results empowered the client to execute their function successfully and adapt to market trends with agility.