Understanding Data Resources, Assets, and Elements: From Basics to Digital Transformation

1. What Is a Data Resource?

Data resources are collections of data that can bring value to an enterprise. They include internal data as well as external market research, user‑generated data, and more. When data reaches a certain scale, it can be processed and analyzed to generate valuable information and insights.

A piece of data with potential value that has not yet been processed is a data resource; once processed and capable of generating economic benefits, it becomes a data asset. The value of data is determined by demand and usage scenarios.

2. What Is a Data Asset?

A data asset is a data resource legally owned or controlled by a specific entity, measurable in monetary terms, and capable of delivering direct or indirect economic benefits.

According to the "Interim Provisions on Accounting Treatment of Enterprise Data Resources," data resources can be classified as intangible assets, inventory, or other asset categories under accounting standards, or as resources expected to generate economic benefits but not yet meeting asset recognition criteria.

The GB/T37550‑2019 "E‑commerce Data Asset Evaluation Index System" defines data assets as digital resources that continuously create value and can be valued, traded, and measured in currency, including structured, semi‑structured, and unstructured data.

The China Academy of Information and Communications Technology describes data assets as data resources owned or controlled by an enterprise that can bring future economic benefits, such as files, electronic data, etc.

3. What Is a Data Element?

Data has been recognized as a new production factor in major Chinese policy documents, ranking after land, labor, capital, and technology.

Data elements are electronic data that participate in production and business activities through computation, providing valuable insights comparable to traditional factors and serving as a core engine for digital‑economy development.

Because the value of data grows with quantity, sharing, diversity, and cross‑industry use, open sharing and standardized governance are essential to maximize its benefits.

4. What Is a Digital Asset?

A digital asset is data expressed in code and transmitted, stored, or traded over a network, typically based on blockchain technology, such as cryptocurrencies, tokens, or digital collectibles.

These assets have measurable value and can be exchanged, often reflecting the underlying value of the associated data assets.

5. What Is Data Management?

Data management involves the effective collection, planning, organization, storage, protection, maintenance, and utilization of data to turn it into useful information that supports business decisions and operations.

It ensures data availability, integrity, and security for daily operations.

6. What Is Data Governance?

Data governance is the process of managing and controlling data to ensure compliance, standardization, and value, aligning data with organizational strategy, regulations, and business goals.

It covers the entire data lifecycle—collection, storage, use, protection, archiving, and deletion—emphasizing both basic management and strategic alignment.

7. What Is Data Property Rights?

Data property rights refer to the bundle of ownership, usage, operation, and revenue rights over network data generated by data activities.

Although not yet defined in specific laws, recent policy documents propose a three‑right system—data resource holding rights, data processing usage rights, and data product operation rights—to establish a market‑oriented model for shared use and shared benefits of non‑public data.

8. What Is Data Asset Accounting Entry?

Data asset accounting (data asset entry on the balance sheet) records qualified data as an asset, reflecting its true value and contribution to the business.

Prior to the interim provisions, many data‑related expenditures were expense‑based, but now qualifying data assets can be reported under intangible assets or inventory, depending on ownership transfer.

Including data assets on the balance sheet raises awareness of data as a factor, promotes its trading, and drives higher compliance and convenience requirements in data markets.

9. How Can Data Assets Be Transformed into Digital Assets?

The transformation involves several steps:

Data collection and integration into unified storage such as a data warehouse or lake.

Data cleaning and processing to ensure quality and accuracy.

Data analysis and modeling using statistical, machine‑learning, or data‑mining techniques to extract insights.

Value creation by identifying new business opportunities, optimizing processes, or improving products and services.

Digitalization of the asset, combining the processed data with other digital assets (software, IP) to form a digital asset that can be owned and monetized.

Through these steps, data assets become digital assets, delivering greater commercial value and competitive advantage.