Atomic Cartoons faced significant challenges with their previous knowledge management system. As an artist-driven animation studio producing content for numerous international platforms they needed a solution that could support their team of over 1,000 creatives working in multiple locations. The goal? Secure and centralize documentation, streamline content creation, and boost collaboration.

As an artist-driven animation studio producing content for numerous international platforms Atomic Cartoons needed a solution that could support their team of over 1,000 creatives working in multiple locations. The goal? Secure and centralize documentation, streamline content creation, and boost collaboration.

In July 2022, Atomic Cartoons found what they were looking for in Slite. Here's a look at how Slite's knowledge management platform has become an integral part of the company's creative process.

The Challenge: Outgrowing an open-source Wiki

Before implementing Slite, Atomic Cartoons relied on an open-source wiki for documentation. However, this solution had significant limitations, as Rachit Singh, Head of Technology for 2D at Atomic Cartoons, explains:

"Our old wiki was just not motivating people to create or use content effectively. Uploading images was a pain, there were no great formatting options, and it was very hard to motivate people to actually use it."

People wanted something as easy to use as Google Docs

While easy access was a key aspect of the team's needs, it also required a tool that would help its members streamline access to information while maintaining robust security standards through Single Sign-On (SSO). With a large team of creatives, and multiple projects running in parallel at any time, it was of utmost importance to Atomic Cartoons to boost collaboration without compromising on security.

After evaluating several knowledge management products, including Notion and Confluence, the choice was Slite. Singh elaborates on their decision-making process:

"We wanted to make sure that whatever software we end up getting makes sense cost-wise for us as well, especially because we're going from an open-source to a paid software."

That's why Slite's product, which includes secure document sharing, collaborative features, and advanced permissions-management, turned out to be exactly what the team was looking for.

The implementation: A thoughtful, gradual approach

Rather than simply migrating existing content, Atomic Cartoons took a more intentional approach to implementing Slite. Rachit describes their strategy:

"We didn't want to just copy-paste our old content. We saw this as an opportunity to rethink how we structure and share knowledge. We spent some time creating templates for our shows, to make sure that people don't have to create documentation again and again."

The results: Centralized knowledge and improved collaboration

After two-plus years with Slite, Atomic Cartoons has seen significant improvements in knowledge sharing and collaboration:

1. Faster Onboarding: "Now, we just send them a Slite link, and if they have any questions, they can come back to us. It saves time, and when we meet them, they've already gone through the documentation," Rachit noted.
2. Improved Cross-Team Collaboration: With project-specific channels and company-wide documentation easily accessible, teams can collaborate more effectively across departments and time zones.
3. Centralized Meeting Notes: "Some of our shows keep all their meeting notes in Slite," Rachit explained. "It helps in just keeping that information in one place. Before, there would be an extra email with meeting notes, and then somebody would reply to that email. Now, because the meeting notes are in one place, you can go and have comments there."
4. Enhanced External Collaboration: Slite has simplified documentation sharing with off-site artists and studios. Rachit elaborated:

"It was really great that we were able to actually make a section for them on Slite and just share that. This way, people internally have access and the external teams are able to see that same documentation."

Key features driving success

Atomic Cartoons has found several Slite features particularly beneficial:

• Customizable Templates, ensuring consistency across projects and departments.
• Flexible Permissions, allowing for secure sharing of information within and across teams.
• Easy-to-Use Interface, encouraging content creation and consumption.
• Visual Customization: As a creative, it's no surprise that Rachit particularly appreciates the visual aspects:

"I like the icons. I like that you can add icons on the actual page. It just makes it look like it's not just a blank page."

The Slite difference

As Rachit continues to refine how Atomic Cartoons uses Slite, he's always on the lookout for ways to get the most out of Slite's features, such as by iterating on their templates.

"We're actually on our second iteration of our templates now. We're always looking for ways to make it easier for our team to find and use the information they need."

Today, Slite has become more than just a knowledge base. As Rachit puts it:

By providing an intuitive, visually appealing platform for knowledge sharing, Slite has helped Atomic Cartoons streamline their workflows, improve collaboration, and ultimately focus more on what they do best – bringing imaginative worlds to life through animation.

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