In 2023, the artwork management software market was valued at USD 0.6 billion. By 2033, it's projected to reach USD 1.4 billion, with a growth rate of 8.8% from 2024 to 2033.

The artwork management software market is growing due to its rising adoption in the pharmaceutical and life science sectors, as well as its increasing use in the FMCG industry. 

Why should you use an artwork management system to manage artworks efficiently?

Managing artworks the right way is crucial for brands looking to improve their productivity and go to market faster. Artwork management software are specifically beneficial for industries with strict regulatory requirements where artwork accuracy and compliance are paramount.

Companies such as pharmaceutical, food and beverage, and cosmetics operate within regulations where each artwork packaging needs to meet strict regulatory standards. Simultaneously, FMCG brands deal with numerous packaging and labeling updates that involve multiple departments and stakeholders.

An artwork management system provides a streamlined solution that reduces approval time, ensures regulatory compliance, and automates project workflows — providing accountability and minimizing risks. 

Artwork management: Features that make a difference

Manage artworks effectively with the right artwork management solutions to boost approvals, reduce iterations, and increase traceability.

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These artwork management system features ensure that your packaging and labeling process is more streamlined for faster market entry.

• Regulatory compliance: Check for any missing warnings, misplaced allergens, or incorrect labeling with automated compliance checks, and avoid costly product recalls.

• Quality control: Make sure every step of your artwork management process is completed trigger-based workflows and monitor project progress using dashboard analytics.

• Artwork library: Store all your label artwork designs in one place to easily find any artwork you need.

• Project management: Create flexible workflows, track project timelines using Gantt charts, and stay in the loop with automated reminders.

• Version control: Manage artwork versions in one place with version control.

• Online proofing: Use markup tools to annotate artwork and provide clear feedback, making artwork review and approval more efficient. Online proofing tools like version comparison, print inspection, and QR code scanning help reduce human errors.

• Brand guidelines: Ensure global access to your brand guidelines and keep everyone in the loop of any brand updates to ensure brand consistency on every label artwork. 

Also read: The Essential Guide to AI-powered Label Compliance

Now let's dive into our best picks for artwork management tools, where we'll be showcasing our very own Artwork Flow first because, let's be honest, we're a tad biased (but for all the right reasons, we promise!). But fear not, we'll give you the lowdown on all these fantastic platforms listed below.

1. Artwork Flow
2. GLAMS
3. Esko
4. Filestage
5. GoVisually
6. Kallik
7. Teklynx
8. Loftware
9. Manage Artworks

Let’s look at the features and specialties that each artwork management software provides.

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1. Artwork Flow — artwork management and label compliance

Artwork Flow is an AI-powered artwork management tool that helps you organize all your packaging labels in one place, speed up artwork approval processes, and automate regulatory compliance. With a range of features to efficiently manage artworks, it helps boost productivity and keep everything in one place.

Key features

• Automated compliance for label regulations: Set your rulebooks for various compliance regulations, such as FDA, FSSAI, Bottle Bill, and others. Run automated checks to catch any label errors and ensure compliance.
• Manage labels with ease: Simplify label management with task-oriented checklists and workflow templates that ensure your final labels are accurate.
• Build flexible workflows: Stay on top of projects with autocomplete workflows, Gantt charts, and dashboard analytics.
• Accelerate approvals: Approval workflows to streamline your artwork review cycle. Leave feedback with annotations and eliminate human errors with a suit of online proofing tools.
• Stay brand compliant at all times: Ensure that all your label artwork aligns with your brand guidelines through a brand compliance score and quickly accessible guidelines.
• One home for all your artwork: Store artwork in one location with DAM and retrieve it faster using smart tags, version control, and other filters.

In addition to these powerful features, Artwork Flow’s sleek and user-friendly interface comes with support available around the clock. 

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2. Glams - labeling and artwork management

GLAMS, known as Global Labeling Artwork Management System is a software solution designed to streamline the process of managing and organizing artwork and labeling across various industries. It helps in simplifying complex tasks of creating, reviewing, and approving artwork. 

Key features

• Artwork lifecycle management: GLAMS helps to efficiently manage artworks end-to-end, from creation and editing to version control and archival, ensuring accuracy and compliance with regulatory standards.
• Collaboration and approval workflow: It enables seamless collaboration among stakeholders, allowing multiple teams and individuals to review artwork, comment, and approve, reducing bottlenecks and expediting the artwork approval process.
• Regulatory compliance: It ensures that your creatives adhere to industry-specific regulations and guidelines minimizing the risk of non-compliance.
• Centralized asset repository: It offers a centralized repository for artwork assets, including images, logos, and brand guidelines, facilitating easy access, version control, and reuse of approved assets.
• Reporting and analytics: It generates comprehensive reports and analytics on artwork status, approval timelines, and compliance metrics, enabling data-driven insights for process optimization and continuous improvement.

‍With GLAMS, you can streamline artwork and labeling management, reducing errors, and improving collaboration across their operations.

3. Esko - design platform for artwork packaging

Esko web center is an artwork management software that digitizes the artwork management process from start to finish and improves packaging workflow for faster and smoother artwork approval.

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Key features

• Track feedback easily: Multiple teams can work together, share feedback and comments on the artwork, and review it simultaneously on the platform.
• Work efficiently: Manage and reuse the content used in packaging labels without manually copying it to save time.
• Define roles and responsibilities: Assign tasks, upload information, and clarify deliverables for each project so members have clarity on the goal.
• Maintain regulatory compliance: Standardize information in the packages and use automated quality control tools like spell check to stay ahead of compliance.
• Make packaging pre-press easily: Automate mundane pre-press workflow tasks and execute more tasks easily.

If you have a limited budget and want artwork management software without the bells and whistles, Esko might not be suitable for your business.

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4. Filestage - artwork review and approval platform

Filestage is another artwork management solution that simplifies the process of managing and organizing artworks for different industries. It offers comprehensive features that maintain efficiency and accuracy throughout the entire lifecycle of an artwork. 

Key features

• Review and proofing: With its proofing features, you can comment, annotate, and review files in a streamlined manner.
• Flexible review workflows: Automate the artwork review and approval process, setting up reviewers and deadlines to ensure a structured process to manage artworks.
• Version control: Allows users to track any changes and revisions done on an artwork and keep all file versions in one place.
• Asset management: Manage digital assets such as images, logos, and brand guidelines, ensuring consistent usage and easy retrieval during artwork creation.

Filestage empowers organizations to streamline artwork review and manage their label artwork process leading to enhanced brand consistency.

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5. GoVisually - creative workflow and artwork management

GoVisually is a cutting-edge creative workflow and artwork management system that significantly reduces approval time and streamlines artwork management for businesses. With its advanced features and intuitive interface, GoVisually simplifies the entire lifecycle of design and artwork processes, from creation to feedback and artwork approvals.

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Key features

• Artwork management: Centralize and manage artworks from one place to ensure version control and easy retrieval, facilitating seamless collaboration.
• Workflow automation: Automate repetitive tasks and approval workflows, reducing manual effort, minimizing errors, and expediting time-to-market.
• Review and approval: Streamline artwork reviews with markup tools, annotations, file attachments on comments, and easy revision tracking.
• Design collaboration: Facilitate seamless collaboration with external clients and internal team members, enabling efficient communication, file sharing, and project tracking for timely delivery.
• Integrations: Tools like Slack make it easy to keep everyone in the loop, streamlining creative processes for the entire team.

With GoVisually, businesses can optimize their digital asset management, achieving faster turnaround times, cost savings, and enhanced brand integrity.

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6. Kallik - label and artwork management

Kallik is a cloud-based artwork and label management software that aims to provide a platform that can manage the entire lifecycle of designing and approval of label artwork specifically for regulated industries.

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Key features

• Collaborate easily: Get multiple stakeholders from various teams to collaborate on the artwork easily and reduce speed-to-market time with real-time collaboration tools.
• Stay ahead of compliance: Generate updated artworks and check label compliance automatically.
• Eliminate inconsistency: Ensure visibility across the entire supply chain.

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While the platform allows collaboration and partnership, some features are a bit complicated for new users. Understanding their working takes substantial time and hands-on training internally in the organization.  Their manufacturing print module also needs to develop its operational aspects to perform better.

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7. Teklynx - label design and artworks software

Teklynx helps small and large businesses manage the entire label management process centrally, from designing to printing. Here are some useful features of the software.

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Key features

• Integrate with important software: Connect with Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) and other business systems to enhance performance.
• Simplify the printing process: Access and control all the plants and printers from a central location or the headquarters and also connect them to the supplier.
• Manage assets easily: Use label archive to refer back to older versions and reprint labels easily.
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The only downside of using Teklynx is that it doesn’t have exclusive features that help a business stay compliant with regulations.

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8. Loftware - labeling and artwork management

Loftware is a powerful cloud-based artwork management software that helps mid-sized and small businesses streamline the entire artwork management process and stay compliant.

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Key features 

• Communicate effectively: Improve collaboration, increase visibility, and improve efficiency with an organized approval process.
• Take control of workflows: Streamline projects and ensure external and internal stakeholders can add feedback in a single place.
• Reduce revisions: Shorten time to market by instantly showing reviewers the correct label artwork version.‍

While Loftware is among the first of its kind, the migration of artworks from the old system to the new one can create an issue sometimes. Another downside can be that some of the barcode parameters are not accessible or explained.

9. Manage Artworks - packaging and artworks software

Manage Artworks is another artwork management tool that simplifies the process of managing and organizing artworks for different industries. It offers comprehensive features that maintain efficiency and accuracy throughout the artwork lifecycle.

Key features

• Artwork repository: With its centralized repository, easily store and organize all artwork files enabling easy access for all stakeholders.
• Workflow automation: Automated workflows ensure the review and approval of label artwork is done seamlessly.
• Collaboration and annotations: Facilitate collaboration among teams by providing tools for feedback comments and annotations.
• Asset management: Manage digital assets such as images, logos, and more, ensuring consistent usage and easy retrieval of artwork files.

Manage Artworks empowers brands to manage their artwork process in a streamlined way to strengthen brand consistency.

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Picking the right artwork management tool

If you are in the creative industry handling labeling and packaging designs, it is important to manage artworks the right way. This means, having an artwork management system that streamlines your artwork lifecycle right from design to the final print, all the while staying compliant. 

Errors in packaging and labels can cause heavy fines, costly product recalls, and judiciary actions against a brand. An artwork management system not only makes managing designs and approvals easier but also helps avoid such errors. With Artwork Flow, LesserEvil was able to cut down revisions by 50%. Another retail conglomerate saw 3x approvals with 100% project visibility and personalized workflows.

By bringing your entire team together in one place, speeding up artwork reviews, and centralizing label management, Artwork Flow ensures quicker approvals, fewer revisions, and heightened productivity. So, get a demo today to experience the benefits of an artwork management system firsthand.

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Frequently asked questions

What is artwork management software?

Artwork management software is a cloud-based platform designed to streamline the design, approval, and storage of artwork and packaging designs. It helps businesses efficiently manage and track artwork files through a centralized system, ensuring compliance with regulatory standards and reducing artwork errors. Features of an artwork management system often include version control, online proofing tools, flexible workflows, annotations, and a centralized DAM library, making it easier to maintain consistent and high-quality artwork throughout the production process.

Which software is best for artwork?

The best software for artwork depends on your specific needs. If you are in search of a software with comprehensive artwork management features, here are our top 5 picks:

1. Artwork Flow – Offers comprehensive artwork management and efficient workflow solutions.
2. Glams – Provides tools for managing and optimizing artwork designs.
3. Esko – Known for its robust features in packaging design.
4. Filestage – Focuses on collaborative review and approval workflows for artwork.
5. GoVisually – Simplifies the review and feedback process with an easy-to-use platform.

What is artwork operations?

Artwork operations refer to the entire process of artwork management. It involves everything from creating and managing designs to overseeing their development through to final approval. This includes tasks like designing graphics, handling revisions, coordinating approvals, ensuring compliance with regulations, and managing file versions. Effective artwork operations streamline these activities to ensure that designs are accurate, timely, and aligned with brand standards and regulatory requirements.

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