Without metadata, a great deal of information may exist, but it cannot truly be retrieved.
Metadata and access
Metadata, access and enrichment are what make digitisation truly usable
Many organisations rightly invest in digitisation, but then notice that information is still hard to find. In most cases, the problem is not the scan itself, but the lack of structure, metadata and access. 2dA helps build that layer into the trajectory from the very beginning.
Structure and metadataOCR and enrichmentFindable use
What metadata solves
Make relationships visible
Metadata makes clear what something is, where it belongs, how it relates to other records and how it can be found later.
Enrichment
OCR and recognition with a clear purpose
OCR, handwriting recognition and other forms of enrichment only become valuable when they help people search faster, analyse better and open up information more effectively.
The search questions of staff, researchers and users determine what the access layer needs to look like.
This layer is also decisive for retrieval, semantic search and AI-ready data.
In practice
The scan is only the beginning of a usable digital collection
2dA develops metadata and access not in isolation, but in direct relation to management, research, services or public use.
Why this matters
Findability usually fails not on image quality, but on structure
Without good description, consistent fields and logical context, you quickly end up with a digital environment in which a lot exists, but little comes back in a truly usable way.
What 2dA adds here
- naming, fields and file structure
- logical ordering and access
- OCR and enrichment where they truly help
- better alignment with systems and search environments
- preparation for AI and semantic applications
Why this layer is often underestimated
Metadata sometimes looks like an extra layer added afterwards, but in reality it is the link between digitising and actually using information.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions about metadata and access
Is metadata only for administrators?
No. Good metadata also helps end users find what they need faster and more precisely.
When does OCR really add value?
When users later want to search, filter or analyse content faster instead of only browsing through scans.
Connections
Related routes
Do you want to make digital collections easier to find and use?
2dA helps you organise metadata, OCR, enrichment and access in a way that makes digitisation truly work in practice.
Why this works
Metadata turns isolated scans into a workable information source
By connecting structure, OCR and enrichment directly to real usage questions, 2dA helps organisations make digital collections much stronger in content and usability.