Tunnisteutus

Tunnisteutus is the Finnish term for the process of assigning identifiers or labels to items, people, or data sets in order to manage, track, and retrieve them efficiently. The concept is rooted in information science and is widely applied across many sectors, including libraries, logistics, computing, and public administration. In libraries, for example, tunnisteutus manifests through the use of International Standard Book Numbers (ISBNs), which uniquely identify books and their editions, simplifying cataloguing and interlibrary loan processes. In computing, the practice appears in systems that generate unique user identifiers or asset tags, ensuring that each entity can be distinctly referenced even if other attributes change.

In a public‑administration context, tunnisteutus is critical for services that require precise identification of individuals, such as assigning personal identity codes (for example, the Finnish personal identity code) that unambiguously denote persons for medical, tax, and social security purposes. This level of identification removes ambiguities that can arise from name duplication or changes. In supply chain logistics, the application of tunnisteutus allows items to be scanned, tracked through warehouses, and traced to end customers by means of barcodes or QR codes.

The benefits of tunnisteutus include increased data integrity, streamlined operations, reduced administrative costs, and enhanced security. At the same time, it can raise privacy concerns, especially when personal identifiers are involved, and requires robust governance frameworks to ensure that identifiers are used appropriately. Modern standards such as ISO 27729 (persistent identifiers including DOI) and the European Data Protection Regulation dictate best practices for creating, distributing, and safeguarding identifiers. Overall, tunnisteutus plays a foundational role in contemporary information management, enabling accurate identification and efficient handling of objects, documents, and individuals across various domains.