A Spanish example of public data reuse: The case of OpenMercantil
Making company information easier to access, understand, and reuse
OpenMercantil is a Spanish initiative that demonstrates how public data can be reused to make mercantile and company information more accessible for a wide audience. By bringing together data from public sources into a single platform, it allows users to search, explore, and better understand company activities. This creates an access data ecosystem, supporting transparency, informed decision-making and public trust in the economy.
Through the OpenMercantil project website, users can access company pages, structured event timelines, and detailed source notes that explain where the data comes from. The platform also offers downloadable datasets and a well-documented application programming interface (API), making it easier for developers and analysts to integrate and reuse the information. More importantly, OpenMercantil is an independent information service and is not an official source such as the Boletin Oficial del Estado. Therefore, it does not replace certified legal documents and has its own unique contribution.
The use case highlights the value of open data by showing how public sector information can be transformed into practical tools that benefit multiple communities. By combining the tool’s usability features such as timeless and machine-readable formation with transparency about data sources, the platform supports innovation and fosters new services in areas like procurement, data journalism, and public interest analysis.
To explore how public data can be reused in practice, visit the OpenMercantil platform and browse its OpenAPI specification page. Discover how open data can unlock insights and empower your work.
For more news and events, follow us on X/Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn, or subscribe to our newsletter. You can also connect with other users through our collaboration channel.