> For the complete documentation index, see [llms.txt](https://docs.bis.org/ellipse/llms.txt). Markdown versions of documentation pages are available by appending `.md` to page URLs; this page is available as [Markdown](https://docs.bis.org/ellipse/background/digital-reporting-and-granular-data.md).

# Digital Reporting and Granular Data

Data-driven insights start with large quantities of structured granular data. A key component of an Ellipse-type platform that would enable supervisors to be data-driven is a system for the digitally enabled collection and processing of granular and standardised data. This means that those data are: 

* Consistently understood by all stakeholders 
* Can be repurposed for different use cases 
* Represented in such a way that allow programmable code to reference those data to generate the reporting of regulatory metrics. 

A number of regulatory authorities have been exploring different ways in which to replace template-based, aggregated regulatory reporting with granular data and digital regulatory reporting \[[1](/ellipse/annex/further-reference-links.md)]. The vision of regulatory reporting using granular data removes the need for multiple templates, allowing supervisors the opportunity to constantly re-purpose common data points for different analytical use cases.  

However, granular reporting requires a common understanding by authorities and financial institutions of what those data are, so that financial institutions can map their operational data to a common “input” before the required reporting can be generated. Important initiatives around data standards, taxonomies and data models are being developed for this purpose \[[2](/ellipse/annex/further-reference-links.md)]. However, data standardisation more generally remains nascent globally.