# What is data enrichment? Findem publishes a public search API over its indexed pages; the guide is at https://www.findem.ai/lazyweb/agent-access. Source: https://www.findem.ai/glossary/data-enrichment Source observed: 2026-11-11T21:16:26.451Z Last checked: 2026-11-13T04:07:31.51+00:00 Indexed: 2026-11-11T21:21:13.007+00:00 --- --- title: "What is data enrichment? Meaning for people data | Findem" description: "Data enrichment adds missing or updated details to records you already hold. See how it works with people data, what the law expects, and how teams use it." url: "https://www.findem.ai/glossary/data-enrichment" --- # What is data enrichment? ← Back to glossary AI and people intelligence Data enrichment is the process of adding missing, updated, or related details to records an organization already holds, usually by matching them against other sources. In talent work, it often means adding current roles, skills, and experience to candidate profiles in an applicant tracking system or CRM so the records stay useful. ## How data enrichment works Enrichment starts with a record you already have, such as a past applicant's profile, and adds information from another source. The UK Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) describes [data enrichment](https://ico.org.uk/for-organisations/direct-marketing-and-privacy-and-electronic-communications/organisations-using-marketing-services-of-data-brokers/) as adding data to the profile an organization already holds on people. It lists enrichment alongside related services such as data matching, for example adding phone numbers for people when only an address is held, and data cleansing. Most enrichment involves a few steps: - **Matching:** Confirming that the new data refers to the same person or company as the existing record. This is the job of [entity resolution](https://www.findem.ai/glossary/entity-resolution). - **Appending:** Adding fields the record is missing, such as a current title or new skills. - **Updating:** Replacing details that have changed since the record was created. - **Recording the source:** Keeping track of where each added detail came from and when, so it can be checked or corrected later. The EU AI Act treats enrichment as part of preparing data for AI. [Article 10](https://ai-act-service-desk.ec.europa.eu/en/ai-act/article-10) says the data governance practices for high-risk AI systems must cover "relevant data-preparation processing operations, such as annotation, labelling, cleaning, updating, enrichment and aggregation." ## Why data enrichment matters for talent teams A profile in an applicant tracking system reflects the day someone applied. People change jobs, learn new skills, and take on bigger roles, so an unrefreshed database gets less useful each year. Enrichment keeps those records searchable for today's roles, which is what makes [candidate rediscovery](https://www.findem.ai/glossary#term-candidate-rediscovery) possible. Enriching personal data also brings obligations. Under the EU's [General Data Protection Regulation](https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reg/2016/679/oj), Article 14 applies when personal data is not obtained from the person it describes. Among other things, the organization must tell the person "from which source the personal data originate, and if applicable, whether it came from publicly accessible sources," generally within one month, or at the first communication if the data is used to contact them. Article 5 also requires personal data to be accurate and, where necessary, kept up to date. This page is a general overview, not legal advice. When evaluating enrichment for candidate data, teams can ask: - **Match quality:** How the tool confirms that new data belongs to the right person. - **Sources:** Where added details come from, and whether each one can be traced. - **Freshness:** How often records are refreshed as careers change. - **System of record:** Whether enriched details flow back to the ATS so recruiters see one current record. ## How Findem approaches data enrichment Findem works alongside the applicant tracking systems teams already use. The [ATS remains the system of record](https://www.findem.ai/why-findem/integrations) while Findem keeps candidate data current, connected, and usable across workflows. Findem's integrations include Data Enrichment, which brings ATS data into each Findem profile, along with Candidate Refresh, Profile Deduplication, and Candidate Export, which sends notes, tags, and attachments back to the ATS. Underneath is the [3D People Graph](https://www.findem.ai/why-findem/3d-data), built from over 100,000 data sources. It combines ATS and CRM data with career histories, contributions, publications, patents, funding events, and company milestones, and profiles are verified across sources and refreshed over time. Enriching ATS, CRM, referral, alumni, and internal network data with the graph also shows which candidates are closest to an organization through [Relationship Signals](https://www.findem.ai/why-findem/relationship-signals). Findem's AI does not reject candidates or make hiring decisions, and people review results before they influence hiring decisions. Read more in [Responsible AI at Findem](https://www.findem.ai/why-findem/responsible-ai). ## Further reading - [How integrations turn your ATS into an engine for strategic hiring](https://www.findem.ai/blog/ats-integrations-strategic-hiring) - [How to integrate AI sourcing tools with your ATS](https://www.findem.ai/blog/integrate-ai-sourcing-tools-ats) - [How to conduct candidate rediscovery with Greenhouse ATS](https://www.findem.ai/blog/candidate-rediscovery-greenhouse-ats) ## Related terms - [Entity resolution](https://www.findem.ai/glossary/entity-resolution) - [Candidate rediscovery](https://www.findem.ai/glossary#term-candidate-rediscovery) - [Applicant tracking system](https://www.findem.ai/glossary/applicant-tracking-system) - [Data provenance](https://www.findem.ai/glossary/data-provenance) - [Person data sources](https://www.findem.ai/glossary#term-person-data-sources) ## Sources - [Organisations using marketing services of data brokers: what you need to know](https://ico.org.uk/for-organisations/direct-marketing-and-privacy-and-electronic-communications/organisations-using-marketing-services-of-data-brokers/) UK Information Commissioner's Office - [General Data Protection Regulation (EU) 2016/679, Articles 5 and 14](https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reg/2016/679/oj) EUR-Lex, Official Journal of the European Union - [EU AI Act, Article 10: Data and data governance](https://ai-act-service-desk.ec.europa.eu/en/ai-act/article-10) European Commission AI Act Service Desk - [Findem integrations](https://www.findem.ai/why-findem/integrations) - [3D People Graph](https://www.findem.ai/why-findem/3d-data) - [How integrations turn your ATS into an engine for strategic hiring](https://www.findem.ai/blog/ats-integrations-strategic-hiring) Built to work with your existing systems. Connect Findem's platform to your ATS, email, and SSO tools to streamline hiring, automate outreach, and secure access within your existing tech stack. [See integrations](https://www.findem.ai/why-findem/integrations) [Request a demo](https://www.findem.ai/request-demo) ## Frequently asked questions. **What is the difference between data enrichment and data cleansing?** Data cleansing fixes or removes errors, duplicates, and outdated details in records you hold. Data enrichment adds new or updated details from other sources. The two often run together, and the EU AI Act lists cleaning, updating, and enrichment as separate data-preparation steps. **What is candidate data enrichment?** It is enrichment applied to candidate records, usually in an applicant tracking system or CRM. A past applicant's profile is matched to current information, such as a new title, skills, or experience, so recruiters can find and assess that person for today's open roles. **What is contact enrichment?** Contact enrichment adds contact details, such as an email address or phone number, to an existing record. The UK ICO describes a related service, data matching, as providing phone numbers for people when an organization holds only their address. Data protection rules apply to contact data like any other personal data. **Is data enrichment allowed under GDPR?** GDPR rules on personal data apply to enrichment. When data is not collected from the person it describes, Article 14 requires telling them, among other things, which source it came from, generally within one month. Article 5 requires personal data to be accurate. Employers should confirm their approach with counsel. **How does Findem enrich candidate data?** Findem connects to the ATS, which stays the system of record, and brings ATS data into each Findem profile. The 3D People Graph adds career, company, and relationship context from over 100,000 data sources, and Candidate Refresh keeps profiles current across Findem and the ATS as careers change. --- [Read this page’s summary](https://www.findem.ai/lazyweb/api/public/v1/page-tldr?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.findem.ai%2Fglossary%2Fdata-enrichment&trace=t_9544b0955d7a) ## Ask a follow-up about this page Need a more specific answer? Ask the exact question you have. It returns a fresh, cited answer from Findem’s knowledge base. No account or API key required. Open this URL with your own question, URL-encoded. Include your question in q. 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