DAM on Desktop
Try CI HUB Drive to keep your assets and ideas moving.
July 29, 2025
Working from a co‑working space? Or stuck on a train, hoping for a network? CI HUB Drive mounts your asset library directly into MAC Finder and Windows Explorer, turning cloud files into local folders you can browse like any other file. By reflecting your permissions and changes instantly, it enables reliable, uninterrupted offline DAM access. You can easily open, edit, and sync your brand assets, ensuring your creative flow remains uninterrupted.
In this post, we will explain the following:
CI HUB Drive at a Glance
Getting Started: Installation & Setup
What Makes CI HUB Drive Stand Out
How Teams Use CI HUB Drive Every Day
The Bottom line
CI HUB Drive at a Glance
CI HUB Drive is a desktop connector that mounts all your asset systems into local folders. It links DAMs, PIMs, MAMs, and cloud storage directly into File Explorer. You navigate a single folder structure instead of switching between multiple portals. Each file shows permissions, metadata, and version history, so you can see what you require. Your desktop updates the source instantly whenever you upload, rename, or edit something. The built-in search feature utilizes file names, tags, and metadata, so no additional setup is required.
“Most companies don’t get the most from their DAMs because employees find it difficult or inconvenient to log in and access what they need. But with CI HUB Drive, DAM assets and data are available right on their desktop. By integrating CI HUB Drive into the most commonly used tools, MacOS Finder and Windows Explorer, there is zero training needed. This will significantly improve the adoption rate and company-wide use of DAM assets and data, making them a go-to hub for content, rather than simply an asset repository.”
Andreas Michalski, CI HUB Founder and CEO.
Getting Started: Installation & Setup
Follow the full install walkthrough here: How to Install CI HUB Drive
CI HUB Drive is currently available for macOS. A Windows version is coming soon—stay tuned!
Download the Installer
Visit the CI HUB Drive page and download the CI HUB Drive Installer. Choose the macOS package.
Run the Setup Wizard
Open the installer and follow each on‑screen prompt. Agree to the license, select your preferred install location, and click Install.
Grant Necessary Permissions
Open System Settings > Privacy & Security, scroll to “Full Disk Access,” click on the toggle switch icon on CI HUB Drive so it can read and write local folders.
Launch and Sign In
After installation, open CI HUB Drive from your Applications folder. Click Register if you don’t have a CI HUB ID or Login if you already do. Make sure to use the same credentials you use for your DAM portal.
What Makes CI HUB Drive Stand Out
Explore the key features that turn CI HUB Drive into a powerful, user-friendly desktop solution for managing digital assets. From offline access to smart search and file status indicators, these capabilities simplify creative workflows and bring structure to daily tasks.
Offline Availability: With CI HUB Drive, you can easily make entire folders available offline by downloading the files within those folders. If needed, you can also switch back to the online-only option by removing the downloaded files.
Move Files From One DAM to Another: You can easily transfer assets from one DAM system to another by dragging the desired files to the new location.
Smart Search Function: To search a file on your CI HUB Drive, you can simply create a folder with the search term as the name of the new folder. This will trigger the search within your connected system. The new folder will fill with all the assets, including the name of that folder, simplifying the search like never before. This smart search feature is particularly helpful for frequently used searches.
Duplicate Files: You can create a duplicate asset by dragging the desired asset. This feature is useful for editing a separate file while preserving the original.
File Status: DAM Drive includes a unique file status approval system. Approved files are marked with a green dot, while rejected items are indicated by a red dot. Additionally, certain files are restricted from being edited by everyone without approval; these files are marked with a lock icon to signify their read-only status.
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How Teams Use DAM Drive Every Day
CI HUB DAM Drive works like a daily tool that simplifies how teams access, manage, and share digital assets across different roles and locations. Here’s how it fits into everyday creative and marketing workflows:
- Replacing Download-Upload Loops
Designers no longer have to download assets from one system, store them locally, then upload final versions elsewhere. With CI HUB Drive, files from DAMs, PIMs, MAMs, and cloud drives appear as local folders, so you can drag, drop, rename, and save in place. This direct desktop access to your DAM means less friction and faster turnaround times. - Making Collaboration Easier for Remote Teams
When team members work from different locations, having assets synced in one place avoids versioning issues and broken workflows. CI HUB Drive ensures everyone sees the same approved files, with role-based access in place. - Speeding Up Creative Ops Workflows
For Creative Ops managing multiple stakeholders, CI HUB Drive reduces the friction of asset handoffs. Need to update a product image or swap a video clip in a layout? You can do it right from your desktop without logging into multiple platforms or checking permissions manually. - Using Desktop Search to Find the Right File
No need to switch between portals to track down the right image or logo. CI HUB Drive lets you use Finder (including metadata filters) to quickly locate what you need, whether it’s by project name, tag, or file type. - Enabling Secure Access Without Re-training
Legal and compliance teams benefit from secure, permission-based access without needing to learn a new system. CI HUB Drive works exactly like your file explorer.
The Bottom line
CI HUB Drive simplifies the way teams interact with DAM and cloud systems by turning remote assets into familiar local folders. With native macOS integration and built-in permission syncing, users gain secure, intuitive access without needing to open a browser. Real-time syncing ensures assets stay current, and the experience feels seamless across creative workflows. Whether you're remote, hybrid, or in-office, CI HUB Drive brings your assets closer to where work happens.
Try CI HUB Drive for Mac today - and work without disruption.
