Catalogs have long been an established enterprise go-to for data management. The value of an organized inventory of useful data is plain to recognise. But manually operating such a catalog is becoming impracticable. Gartner has posited the augmented data catalog as the solution.
What is an Augmented Data Catalog?
The augmented data catalog differs from its traditional counterpart through its use of machine-learning to automate tedious tasks involved in maintaining an inventory of data assets. The augmented data catalog utilizes native connectors to scan large amounts of data that exists within an organization to compile usable data. Having this process automated alleviates the need for data scientists or other data consumers to discover the data, evaluate whether the data is suitable to be inventoried and then store it in the data catalog. In doing so, modern data catalogs eliminate the possibility of human error and collect data that is accurate, and in a fashion that can keep up with today’s data demands. The augmented data catalog also analyzes the data to identify patterns and descriptors necessary in classifying the data, allowing the data to be intelligently organized for easier access.
How do Augmented Data Catalogs Increase Value for Businesses?
By leveraging machine learning in modern data catalogs, businesses can realise a myriad of benefits that allow their employees to better utilize their time. First, all enterprise applications have been unified in one catalog, reducing the time that would be wasted in identifying the appropriate data and searching for data silos that contain relevant information. Furthermore, augmented data catalogs by Gartner feature search capabilities, allowing data to be browsed and filtered to find appropriate data. Finally, the data that is found would be accurate, thus freeing data stewards, data analysts and other users to focus their efforts on using the data for its intended purpose as opposed to evaluating the fitness of the data.
However, modern data catalogs work best in conjunction with other metadata management tools to provide a holistic metadata framework. Gartner’s recommendation to data driven businesses is to ensure that they invest in a data catalog that can ‘synergistically grow from the catalog capability to add other important metadata capabilities as required’. Therefore, it is imperative that data and analytics leaders invest in an augmented data catalog by Gartner that is effective and scalable to their enterprise, like the Alex Platform.
Alex’s data catalog itself, is leading in its ability to analyze and harvest metadata due to having the world’s largest number of connectors. Whilst it is composed of high level sophistication and automation, searching for the right data within the catalog is as easy and intuitive. However, the Alex platform is designed to be a complete solution for businesses. There are a multitude of different metadata management tools Alex has available that are intended to work in tandem with the data catalog to provide effective data governance, whilst maximizing value. For example, the Intelligent Business Glossary allows for data to be contextualised, enriching the information provided. Alex’s Automated Data Lineage provides users with a full breadth of any piece of data’s history and its associated relationships with other data can be easily understood.
Adapt to Today’s Data Demands with Alex
The Alex platform’s data catalog utilises machine learning to constantly curate data and organize it in a manner that is intuitive and easy to access. Its efficiency and scalability relieves the burden of manually cataloging and reviewing data, enabling greater productivity that can contend with today’s big data. To find out first hand about how Alex can increase business value for you, please request a demo below.