At the Western Balkans and Eastern Neighbourhood Forum on Digital Governance organized by Regional School for Public Administration (ReSPA), which took place on 17–18 March, a practical example from Serbia, presented by Andreja Gluščević, Coordinator for Data Standardization and Open Data at the Office for IT and eGovernment, emphasized how collected data can be transformed into structured, machine-readable open data. The presentation highlighted the transition from traditional reporting requirements towards transparent and reusable datasets, showing how regulatory frameworks can serve as a foundation for modern data ecosystems.
A key part of the initiative focused on collaboration with retail chains, where data standardization played a central role. Through coordinated efforts, previously fragmented and inconsistent price data, often shared in different formats and structures, was harmonized into a unified dataset. This enabled improved comparability, data quality, and consistency, laying the groundwork for further analysis and public use.
The development of a robust data pipeline marked another important step, connecting retailers, the national Open Data Portal, and analytical tools (Power BI). This process transformed raw retail data into accessible visualizations and insights, allowing users to explore price trends, compare products, and better understand market dynamics. This led to the identification of a future strategic solution: the introduction of unique product identifiers, as well as the development of a National Product Registry as well as Retail Location Registry, which will further strengthen data interoperability and usability across different sources.
The presentation also emphasized that data standardization and cross-sector collaboration are key drivers of transparency, analytics, and public awareness. The initiative demonstrated how structured data can generate value for institutions, businesses, and the wider public, offering a scalable model for other countries aiming to enhance digital governance.