Andmetöös

Andmetöös is the term used for activities involved in working with data, including the collection, storage, organization, processing, analysis and presentation of data. It spans both technical tasks—such as database design, data cleansing, ETL processes, and data mining—and managerial tasks, including data governance, data quality management, and ensuring data privacy and security. In modern contexts, andmetöö is closely linked to data science and business intelligence and supports data‑driven decision making across sectors.

Key components of andmetöö include collecting and integrating data from multiple sources, preparing and cleaning data, storing it in databases or data repositories, transforming and modeling data, performing statistical analysis and machine learning, and creating visualizations and reports for stakeholders. Tools commonly used are relational databases and SQL, spreadsheet software, programming languages like Python or R, and visualization platforms such as Tableau or Power BI. Data pipelines and cloud services enable scalable, automated processing.

Applications of andmetöö span business, government, science and education. Roles in the field include data analyst, data engineer, data scientist, data steward, and privacy or compliance specialist. Effective data work requires attention to data quality, interoperability, and privacy, including compliance with legal frameworks such as the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and Estonia’s approach to data governance. Ethical considerations include transparency, avoidance of bias, and responsible data use.

Education and training in andmetöö are common in information technology and informatics curricula, ranging from foundational data handling to advanced analytics, and increasingly integrated with digital literacy and cybersecurity topics.