Speaker: Andrew Austin, Head of Digitisation, Genus
Technology is transforming archives from passive repositories into active data engines. Instead of valuing collections only for cultural or scholarly reasons, we can now treat them as rich data sources that support new products, services and revenue streams—without selling originals or compromising ethics.
The process has three stages: digitise, extract, monetise. First, high‑resolution imaging, 3D scanning and AV digitisation create master files for analysis, preservation and commercial reuse. Second, tools like Handwritten Text Recognition, OCR, natural language processing and computer vision convert unstructured content—letters, ledgers, photos, film, objects—into searchable, linked datasets of people, places, events and themes, all tied back to the originals.
Structured data enables paid services: premium search and analytics platforms, bespoke research, media and 3D model licensing, institutional subscriptions, commercial APIs, on‑demand prints and personalised merchandise. AI accelerates description; archivists set priorities, ensure quality, manage rights and design offerings. In this model, archives become sustainable, dynamic resources and archivists become strategic gate keepers of information and value.
Andrew Austin
Andrew Austin
