What the report covers

• An assessment of the current state of data standards in key sectors including finance, energy, property and retail.
• An evaluation of how suitable these existing standards are for enabling Smart Data initiatives.
• The development of nine design principles to guide future standard-creation: addressing why a standard should be created, who should be involved, how it should be created, and what a fit-for-purpose standard should contain.

Why this matters

Smart Data is a government priority, and - as revealed by our recent consumer research report - something that the British public are really excited for. Smart Data initiatives rely on consistency, clarity and collaboration across sectors, and this report provides a roadmap for how to achieve that. By laying out both where we are now and how to move forward, the research aims to support governments, industry and service-providers in unlocking the full potential of data.

Key take-aways

• The current landscape of data standards is mixed: some sectors are relatively mature, others less so.
• There is a clear need for a shared vision, governance mechanisms and stakeholder engagement when developing data standards for Smart Data.
• The nine design principles offer a practical lens and checklist for anyone setting up or evolving a standard: from definition through to maintenance.
• Smart Data schemes, to succeed, should not only focus on technical interoperability but also on usability, governance, stakeholder roles and ongoing stewardship.

Download the report

You can access the full report here: Research into Data Standards for Smart Data (PDF, 91 pages) GOV.UK

Get in touch

If you’d like to discuss how your organisation can apply the findings, explore partnership opportunities or join our upcoming events, please contact katie.burns@thepsc.co.uk.