The crucial role of data standards in the data economy
OSLO standards allow data to flow smoothly between information systems and warrant data exchange and data ecosystems. In a data-driven economy, using data standards
is crucial for success. With data standards, this data economy would function efficiently.
The benefits of using standards are:
- increased data quality
- more fluid data integration
- lower development costs
These standards are also important in data spaces organised by sector: energy, health, mobility, ... For each of these sectors, a fundamental requirement has turned out to be: finding a standardised language that makes it possible to exchange and interlink structured data. So all eyes are on Flanders to see how we approach the problem of how to enable plugins for data with OSLO...
An inspiration to Europe for more than ten years
The observation that standardisation is needed to exchange and interlink structured data led to the development of the first conceptual frameworks in Flanders in 2012. Today, we can no longer imagine a world without OSLO. It is the backbone of initiatives, such as shared mobility, hoppin points, diploma, ...
Ensuring the reusability of existing international standards (such as W3C, EU ISA Core Vocabularies, INSPIRE, ...) and increasing the involvement of a large number of diverse stakeholders, such as companies, public administrations and academia, are key to OSLO. At present, projects in more than 130 business domains have been completed, containing a total of more than 9,000 definitions.
Quick start guide for OSLO
OSLO standards make data easier to (re)use. Machine-readable concepts allow information systems to talk to each other and create consistency between information and data. A methodology for registering, developing, modifying or phasing out a data standard, based on international best practices, has been developed.
We operate as follows:
- Start from actual 'use cases' that have shown a need for data sharing.
- Set up co-creation working groups and ensure a level playing field between the various stakeholders and consensus about a conceptual framework.
- Support the process by using a framework defined in 'Process & Method', in which openness and transparency lead to high stakeholder participation.
- Achieve stable, high-quality, highly usable human- and machine-readable standards.
This methodology provides sufficient flexibility for controlled changes and maintenance of the conceptual frameworks and standards. All this ensures that OSLO data standards are easily deployable in an ever-changing environment.
Flanders' international ambition for your business
With the OSLO standards, Flanders is playing an international pioneering role in Europe. This technological innovation allows secure and efficient data cooperation and creates opportunities and possibilities for companies and organisations.
Much of OSLO's scope concerns technical and semantic interoperability, but it continues beyond there. Over the past year, we have supported more efforts to increase legal and organisational interoperability. This way of working makes OSLO a vital prerequisite for becoming more digital and making that digital transformation happen.
Do you want to be at the forefront of the data economy? Want to know more about OSLO and what it can do for your business? Discover the possibilities.
