Canto vs Collaboro

Hosting & Infrastructure

- Canto is SaaS-based and hosted on Amazon Web Services (AWS).

- Benefits from AWS’s globally recognised reliability, scalability, and high availability.

- databasics provides local Australian support, ensuring compliance with data sovereignty if needed.

- Hosted on Macquarie Cloud in Australia.

- Relies on a more traditional, private data centre model.

- Talks about offline/tape storage methods, which feel outdated.

- No global redundancy inherent in infrastructure.

File Upload & Storage

- Unlimited file size uploads with no requirement for physical media.

- Utilises AWS Cold Storage to reduce costs while maintaining near-immediate accessibility.

- Modern web-based or connector-based uploads for efficient workflows.

- Historically uses couriered hard drives for large file transfers.

- Employs tape/offline storage, which can slow down retrieval and feel antiquated in today’s cloud-first landscape.

Metadata & Tagging

- Leverages AI-based Visual Search to automate tagging and streamline discovery.

- Reduces reliance on manual processes; optional manual fields are available if needed.

- databasics assists with training on best practices for metadata setup.

- Manual/human-led tagging services (at an extra cost).

- Basic classification and search reliant on user input.

Compliance Certifications

- Hosted on AWS, inheriting AWS’s robust security standards (ISO, SOC, PCI, etc.) at the infrastructure layer.

- Canto has additional security measures for application-level controls.

- databasics ensures local compliance needs are met, including government and industry-specific regulations.

- Uses Macquarie Cloud’s ISO 27001-certified data centre, but no automatic inheritance of compliance at the application layer—would need its own audits/certifications.

- Transparency on application security controls not clearly established.

Feature Set & Innovation

- Frequent feature rollouts in a true SaaS model, including advanced collaboration, customisable portals, analytics.

- AI-powered tagging for faster searching and organisation.

- Continuous product enhancements and strong integration with tools like Adobe CC and Microsoft 365.

- Core DAM features only (manual upload, basic tagging, asset storage).

- Minimal or no AI-driven enhancements; slower to adopt modern tech.

Implementation & Support

- databasics provides on-the-ground Australian support: consultation, training, onboarding, and integration services.

- Quick deployment thanks to Canto’s cloud-based model.

- Reduced IT burden and consistent user experience via ongoing support and training.

- Primarily manual processes like shipping hard drives, manual tagging.

- Local presence in Australia but with an older approach, raising questions about agility and overhead.

Scalability & Future Readiness

- Built on AWS with elastic scalability for both storage and performance.

- Actively developing new features and AI-driven capabilities, ensuring future-ready architecture.

- databasics helps organisations adapt and optimise for growth and new market demands.

- Tied to a private data centre model, which can complicate scaling beyond certain capacities.

- Offline/tape storage not well-suited for fast-paced digital transformation.

What customers who moved to Canto say

Alison Peak, The a2 Milk Co

With Canto, we finally have a single source of truth for all our images and documents. Our team can locate the latest marketing collateral in seconds, which has dramatically increased both efficiency and brand consistency.

Daniela Jones, Destination Queenstown

Moving to Canto has been a success for more reasons than one for Destination Queenstown. Everyone can locate, use, and share assets quickly and easily due the Advanced Search functionality.

Matt Harnett, Victoria Department of Health

Canto has been instrumental in streamlining our asset approval workflows. We’ve cut down on email back-and-forth, and our stakeholders now have real-time visibility into every stage of the process. It’s a game changer for our in-house creative team.

Marketing Operations Manager in Retail sector

Before switching to Canto, we struggled with a DAM that lacked robust AI tagging and brand portal capabilities. After implementing Canto, our marketing team cut asset search time by 50% and improved brand consistency across multiple markets.

Modern DAM

Canto is a true SaaS platform that’s quick to deploy, packed with AI capabilities, and fully supported in Australia.

While Collaboro may still handle essential DAM features but it does not show advanced functionalities that many enterprises expect (e.g., robust AI tagging, advanced workflows, strong integration ecosystem).

Industry Leading AI Features

Canto's industry-leading AI features set it apart as a powerhouse in digital asset management. With AI Visual Search, users can locate assets by analysing visual elements within images and videos, such as objects, colours, and scenes, even in the absence of tags or metadata. This groundbreaking functionality eliminates reliance on manual tagging and accelerates asset retrieval. Additionally, AI tagging and Facial Recognition streamline asset management.

State-Of-The-Art Security

By combining advanced encryption, robust authentication, strict role-based permissions, Australian data residency, and globally recognised certifications, such as ISO 27001, GDPR, SOC 2, CCPA, Canto ensures that your digital assets are secure and compliant with the latest regulations no matter what region you're in.

Superior Brand Portal Capabilities

Canto supports unlimited portals, making it easier to share content securely with different user groups—internally and externally.

Canto’s brand portals are easily configurable, allowing users to quickly tailor layouts, themes, and access controls—ensuring the portal reflects your unique brand identity without cumbersome setup.

Seamlessly integrated

Canto offers a powerful suite of integrations designed to fit seamlessly into your existing tech stack. From pre-built connectors to custom APIs, Canto enables effortless collaboration with your favourite tools, including marketing platforms, collaboration software, project management, and content management systems.

Seamless transition

databasics specialises in ensuring that the migration from Collaboro to Canto is smooth and disruption-free. They offer tailored migration tools that are designed to handle the specific formats and configurations used by Collaboro, reducing the complexity and risk of data loss during the transfer process.

Enhanced functionality and usability

Canto not only covers all the fundamental capabilities of Collaboro but also introduces advanced features such as AI-powered tagging, sophisticated search filters, and an exceptionally user-friendly interface. This means that Collaboro customers can not only expect a continuity of service but also significant enhancements in how they manage and utilise their digital assets.

Advanced technology and innovation

Considered DAM innovator, Canto's commitment to leveraging cutting-edge technology sets them apart from most competitors.

Australia based support and expertise

databasics understand the Australian market and are positioned to offer real-time support and service, ensuring that businesses can transition without facing delays or downtime that might come with international support timelines.

Compliance and data security

Ensuring compliance with Australian data protection laws remains paramount. Canto takes adherence to local regulations very seriously, providing peace of mind to businesses about the security and privacy of their data during and after the transition.

Personalised hands-on onboarding and services

We listen. We deliver. databasics acknowledges the unique needs and requirements of each customer and tailors onboarding and services to those preferences. With over 30 years in DAM we are experts in the region.

About databasics

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The databasics staff are everything you want from a software provider and support team: friendly, polite, prompt and most of all patient.

Jean McAuslan, Shrine of Remembrance

At databasics, we understand the challenges you might face when looking to replace your DAM solution.

Customers seeking a reliable Digital Asset Management (DAM) solution will find a robust alternative in Canto along with databasics' customised migration support.

Local expertise and migration support provided by databasics

Leading global DAM solution with advanced security features, seamless integrations and scalability

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