Metadata management tools are software solutions that help organizations manage information about their data assets, software applications, infrastructure, business capabilities, and processes. They enable organizations to effectively oversee digital assets, ensure data integrity and consistency, and make them accessible and discoverable for business consumers.

Metadata appears on documents, files, and other digital information assets whenever they are created, modified, or deleted. It can be manually curated or automatically generated.

In addition, metadata enables data-driven insights and makes it easier to search, navigate, and understand a variety of information. This helps organizations derive maximum business value from their digital assets.

Various metadata-related technologies and services are available, but it is important to choose the right tool for your organization. Here are some considerations:

Use case-based tools: The best metadata management solutions include a range of features to suit different use cases. These features include automated harvesting options, augmented analytics, collaborative metadata, and data profiling.

Focus on regulatory concerns: Companies that operate in the financial or healthcare industries are constantly coming into contact with sensitive data and must comply with a variety of regulations. To ensure their data consistently meets regulatory requirements, these organizations should choose a solution that emphasizes governance and automation.

Enterprises should also carefully review the strengths and weaknesses of different vendors’ solutions. Some are more focused on regulatory concerns while others specialize in data cataloging or impact analysis. Some vendors have better semantic search and business glossaries in place or integrate machine learning and automation.