Since the millennium, the Royal College of Surgeons of England (RCS England) has undertaken a range of digitisation projects to make Heritage Library and Archives collections accessible online. However, a new organisational strategy in 2021, driven by the aim to become a digital‑first organisation and improve access to College information and knowledge services, combined with a new public engagement programme, led to a shift towards prioritising digitisation for enhanced engagement with members, staff, and wider public audiences.

This presentation will explore how The Postal Museum developed its capacity to preserve and make born digital records accessible. As one of the UK's most significant business archives, holding records designated as being of outstanding national importance, The Postal Museum faced unique challenges in capturing, preserving, and making accessible the digital records of Royal Mail Group plc and Post Office Ltd. 

Cultural heritage organisations have spent decades building rich, standardised metadata, but are their collections truly discoverable? As AI transforms how users search and interact with digital collections, heritage professionals face a critical question: how do we bridge traditional metadata practices with AI-powered discovery while maintaining the scholarly rigour and contextual depth our collections demand?

Lessons from Evolving the V&A's Digital Asset Management Strategy