Technical background
Collection Essentials+ is designed to work right out of the box, without any onboarding process or implementation project. That simplicity on the surface is no coincidence: technically, the system is also set up to remain predictable and manageable. For those who want to know how it works, a detailed explanation follows below.
Data model
Collection Essentials+ uses a fixed data structure, based on the original basic registry for collection management. This has been extended with acquisition information and support for persistent identifiers (PIDs).
This aligns the model with current requirements around provenance, identification and data exchange, as defined within the Network Digital Heritage (NDE). Fields and data model are fixed: no configuration, no surprises.
Architecture
Collection Essentials+ is part of the Collection Manager platform. The system is fully web-based and uses a widely-adopted relational database. All functionality is directly accessible via the browser, without any additional installation or configuration.
The technical setup has been deliberately kept simple. This makes the system stable, easy to manage and predictable in behaviour.
Hosting
Collection Essentials+ is available as a hosted service and as an on-premise installation. For most organisations, the hosted option is the simplest choice: no own infrastructure, no management overhead.
Organisations with specific requirements around data storage, network access or local integrations, such as barcode printers, can run the system in a Docker container within their own environment.
Extensibility
Collection Essentials+ is a fixed core. Where needed, the system can be extended via the Collection Manager platform: with additional functionality, custom development or options such as AI-based visual search.
Extensions are layered on top of the core. The core itself remains unchanged, which guarantees the stability and predictability of the system.
Integration and data exchange
Collection Essentials+ is prepared for data exchange and connection to existing networks. The data structure aligns with common standards within the heritage domain:
- ICOM Object ID: The data model aligns with the principles of this international standard for object identification.
- Network Digital Heritage and Collection Netherlands: The model is suitable for connection to these national and international networks.
- IIIF: For image material, support is provided for the International Image Interoperability Framework.
- API connections: Connections with other systems are possible via standard APIs.
Simplicity without compromise
Collection Essentials+ has been deliberately kept simple to use. This does not come at the expense of technical capability: the system is robust, adaptable and ready for the future.
Without an account the demo is read-only. Would you like to enter and edit data yourself? Contact us for your own account.