What is a Data Source?
A data source is the information your chatbot is allowed to use when answering questions. It is the chatbot’s “library” — the place it goes to find accurate, trusted content.
A data source can be:
- A knowledge base
- A website or collection of webpages
- A policy library
- A database of council services
- A list of events
- A document repository (PDFs, forms, guidelines)
- An internal system or API
- Any structured collection of information the chatbot can safely rely on
The better organised and cleaner your data sources are, the better your chatbot performs.
Why Data Sources Matter?
They determine what the chatbot knows
A chatbot is only as accurate as the information you give it.
- Good data = reliable chatbot.
- Bad data = wrong answers.
They keep information separate and safe
Different types of information belong in separate data sources e.g.:
- Policies live in a policy database
- Council service information lives in a service database
- Events live in an events database
This stops the bot from mixing information or giving unsafe advice.
They make governance possible
When data sources are organised, you can easily:
- Update information
- Fix errors
- Track versions
- Review accuracy
