The datafication process in China’s elder care service policies: the perspective of data value chain

Purpose As technology increasingly influences the care of older adults, the Chinese government has recognized the importance of transforming raw data into analyzable formats to inform decision-making, a process known as datafication. The study aims to conduct a comprehensive analysis of the policy evolution and map the entire data value chain of the elder care industry, providing theoretical and governance implications for global discourse. Design/methodology/approach Adopting a qualitative content analysis approach, the study systematically examined 103 national-level policy documents issued between 2011 and 2024, retrieved from the PKU Law Database and the National Database of Government Regulations, following a structured review process that included screening, term extraction, coding, and thematic analysis. The analysis is guided by a framework that evaluates the policy structure, the data value chain, and policy evolution stages. Findings The study reveals a growing emphasis on datafication, particularly in data governance. The policies have evolved through three stages: data infrastructure construction, data application exploration, and data resource integration, ultimately aiming to build a data-driven aging society. However, from a “data gaze” perspective, the focus on data governance may inadvertently stifle innovation and exacerbate inequalities. Besides, critical needs remain in inclusive data collection, investment in data talent and evaluation mechanisms, and the development of a collaborative data ecosystem to enhance transparency and accountability. Originality/value The study introduces the concepts of the data value chain and data gaze into policy analysis, offering insights for policymakers and scholars, and guides the formulation of more effective policies and contributes to the global discourse on public sector datafication.