Definition
A company data inventory is a list of the record types a business holds, with the system each lives in, the years covered, approximate volume, owner and any restrictions. It is the first document a data buyer needs and can be built without sharing a single file.
Why it matters when licensing company data
Value depends on years of history, volume and how records link together (a ticket tied to the commit that fixed it is worth more than either alone). An inventory makes those facts visible and shows early where personal information or customer-owned files will need work.
Build one with the free company record map, or get a rough range from the six-question estimate.
Source
Gebru et al., Datasheets for Datasets (arXiv:1803.09010). Definition reviewed November 7, 2026 by Origin Data Partners.