ToolsOnAir, Object Matrix, Vidispine and Archiware have joined forces in a bid to speed up the shift towards more open workflows.

The four companies have founded the Open Workflow Network and said “larger, more entrenched manufacturers” had failed to listen to their customers as the industry shifts away from proprietary hardware.

“As new players like print organisations, in-house or niche TV channels emerge, solutions that are easy to use and quick to deploy are needed,” said ToolsOnAir VP of sales Gilbert Leb.

“The frantic pace means the traditional approach and technologies no longer work.”

The four companies said their products would “integrate seamlessly” to provide an end-to-end media asset management system.

CTO and co-founder of technology consultant Mediasmiths Steve Sharman said the move could “only be good news for the industry”.