Business glossary
A curated glossary of business terms with definitions, owners, synonyms and links to critical data elements, approved through a lightweight workflow.
CAT · Data Catalogue & Metadata
A catalogue people use, not just populate
We design and implement data catalogues that connect business meaning to technical reality — glossary, metadata model and lineage — and drive the adoption that turns them into everyday tools.
The challenge
Catalogue projects often deliver a well-populated tool that nobody opens. Value comes from curation, integration and adoption, not ingestion volume.
- Millions of harvested assets, but no agreed definitions for the terms people search for.
- Lineage stops at the warehouse boundary, so it cannot answer regulatory questions end to end.
- The metadata model was configured by default and does not reflect your domains or ownership.
- Analysts still ask colleagues where data lives because the catalogue is not trusted.
What we deliver
Data Catalogue & Metadata
Metadata model
An operating metamodel — asset types, relationships, attributes and domains — designed around your governance roles and reporting needs.
Technical lineage
Automated and stitched lineage from source systems through pipelines to reports, with business lineage views for non-technical users.
Data marketplace
A shopping experience for certified data products, with access requests, usage terms and quality indicators visible before use.
Harvesting and integration
Scanner configuration across databases, BI tools, ETL and cloud platforms, prioritised by value rather than coverage for its own sake.
Adoption programme
Search optimisation, embedded links in BI tools, training paths and usage analytics to grow active users month on month.
Outcomes you can measure
Outcomes you can measure
80%
lineage coverage for regulatory reports within the first two release cycles
3x
growth in monthly active catalogue users after an adoption programme
Minutes
rather than days to answer “where does this number come from?”
Related case study · Illustrative engagement
From shelfware to a catalogue analysts rely on
3.4x
growth in active catalogue users
A platform health check and adoption programme revived a stalled catalogue investment and connected it to investment data products.
Read the case studyFAQ
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between a business glossary and a data dictionary?
A business glossary defines concepts in business language and assigns ownership. A data dictionary describes physical columns and tables. A good catalogue links the two so people can move from meaning to location.
How much lineage do we need?
Enough to answer the questions that carry risk — typically end-to-end lineage for critical data elements feeding regulatory and financial reports. Full-estate lineage is rarely worth the cost at the outset.
Which data catalogue platform should we choose?
It depends on your estate, governance maturity and budget. We run vendor-neutral selections across Collibra, Alation, Microsoft Purview, Informatica, Databricks Unity Catalog and others.
How do you drive catalogue adoption?
By curating the top-searched terms first, embedding catalogue links where people already work, certifying trusted assets and tracking active usage as a programme KPI.
Can a catalogue support a data mesh or data products approach?
Yes. A marketplace layer exposing certified data products, with ownership, contracts and quality indicators, is one of the most effective ways to operationalise data mesh principles.
Related insights
Related insights
Why lineage is the fastest route to BCBS 239 evidence
Start with a material risk report and work backwards. Evidence-led lineage connects reported numbers to the controls, decisions and accountable owners behind them.
Choosing a data catalogue: a vendor-neutral checklist
Evaluate a catalogue against the work your teams need to complete, using your own metadata and difficult edge cases. A disciplined proof of value is more revealing than a feature comparison.
Discuss your priorities with a practitioner
A 45-minute working session, no sales deck. You will leave with at least three actionable recommendations.
Book a consultation Email us: info@crestqa.co