Case Study: The National Archives achieves a 24/7 self-service e-commerce image library with Asset Bank

We Created a New Ecommerce Image Management System

The National Archives, the UK government's official archive holding millions of documents and images spanning 1,000 years, needed to modernise its image library, which had been handled mainly by email and phone. To compete with other image libraries and better manage a complex pricing model (fees vary by intended use), it required an online, self-service e-commerce platform that could handle large volumes and detailed usage options.

Bright Interactive implemented the Asset Bank platform to deliver a flexible, scalable and cost‑effective image library with a step‑by‑step checkout for reproduction fees, extremely fast search across millions of records, cloud storage, watermarking, rich metadata extraction, accessibility compliance and bulk upload. The new site makes over 36,000 images available for immediate download, supports 24/7 commercial transactions and online delivery, reduces storage costs and positions The National Archives to transform its image library operations.

The National Archives

Mary Gledhill

Commercial Director