This is a guest blog written by our valued partners at Filestage.
An inefficient creative review process could be costing your agency as much as a day a week.
At Filestage, we work with hundreds of agencies, and we see the same story play out time and again. Brilliant creative teams are held back by messy review workflows that can’t keep up with production demands.
Our Creative Collaboration report found that agencies spend an average of eight days getting a single asset approved. And 71% say waiting for feedback is their number one cause of delays.
That’s why more agencies are looking for better ways to collaborate with clients and stakeholders. With the right online proofing software, your agency can put an end to chaotic reviews.
Some of our agency customers even report saving a full day each week on approvals after switching to our online proofing software.
What we see agencies struggling with every day
The creative review process at many agencies is pure chaos. We hear it every day. Feedback flies in from all angles, project managers are juggling multiple versions of the same asset, and keeping track of it all has become a full-time job.
Here are some of the biggest challenges agencies are currently facing:
- Scattered feedback – Comments are scattered across email, PDFs, Slack, and spreadsheets, making it impossible to keep track.
- Version chaos – Multiple stakeholders weigh in on different files, and no one’s sure which version is final or whose feedback takes priority.
- Time wasted – Account managers spend hours following up on approvals, instead of focusing on strategy and results.
- Slow turnaround times – Feedback delays push back project deadlines and cause stress for everyone involved.
- Costly mistakes – Typos, outdated logos, or compliance errors slip through, leading to rework and awkward client conversations.
- Team burnout – Teams end up on a never-ending hamster wheel, always reacting instead of creating.
“Most of the agencies we speak to are struggling with chaotic review processes. They have feedback flying in from all directions – emails, Slack, PowerPoint decks, even WhatsApp – and managing the process feels like a full-time job. It’s costing them hours every week.” – Sascha Neuss, Head of Sales at Filestage
Unfortunately, these challenges have become the norm. And they’re exactly why more agencies are rethinking how they manage creative reviews.
We believe online proofing changes the game
We built Filestage to give agencies a structured platform to manage creative feedback. With online proofing software (also known as a client feedback tool), every comment sits on the right version of the file, deadlines are visible, and nothing gets lost in your email inbox.
For agencies, this means:
- Faster approvals – our customers report up to 30% faster review cycles
- Fewer reworks – standardized review steps reduce the chances of errors slipping through the cracks
- Full transparency – project managers have project-level visibility of the review status of every asset (one customer tracks 500+ approvals a week in Filestage)
And clients love it too! They get a simple, intuitive way to leave feedback and sign off.
“We help brands and agencies remove the chaos from complex review workflows so they can be confident the right people have signed off on every asset.” – Maël Frize, CEO at Filestage
Get the free guide
If these challenges sound familiar, you’re not alone. More and more agencies are making the switch to online proofing. So, we’ve distilled everything we’ve learned into one comprehensive resource.
Our guide to online proofing software will help you:
- Decide if online proofing is the right fit for your agency
- Compare tools and find the best match for your workflow
- Build a business case and get internal buy-in
- Check off essential features for your team’s needs
