Think Data First, Platform Second – Why Data Fuels MDM

Don’t Master Data With Bad Data

As the volume of data coming into organizations - from both internal and external sources - continues to grow and makes its way across departmental systems in many different formats, there is a critical need to create a single, holistic view of the key data entities in common use across the enterprise. Master Data Management (MDM) aims to accomplish this goal. Not surprisingly, MDM has become a significant priority for global enterprises, with the market expected to triple from $9.4B to $26.8B by 2020 according to analysts.

But while everyone is investing serious cash into the tools to manage the data, few are putting any thought into the data itself. This is akin to purchasing a luxury sports and fueling it with water. Sure it looks great, but it won't get you very far.

That means concentrating on the quality of the data before going shopping for the sexiest MDM platform. In essence, you must master data before you can manage it.
 

The underlying concept of MDM is surprisingly simple: get everyone "on the same page" looking at the same data and ensure it is accurate. Yet, master data and its management continue to be a universal challenge across many industries. Organizations of all shapes and sizes share similar problems related to master data and can all reap benefits from solving them. That means concentrating on the quality of the data before going shopping for the sexiest MDM platform. In essence, you must master data before you can manage it. Ensuring the quality, structure, and integrability is your responsibility; your MDM platform won't do that for you. It's like purchasing a top-of-the-line oven and expecting it to produce a delectable meal. You are responsible for what goes into it.

 

Master Data Defined

Master Data is the foundational information on customers, vendors and prospect that must be shared across all internal systems, applications, and processes in order for your commercial data, transactional reporting, and business activity to be optimized and accurate. Because individual businesses and departments have a need to plan, execute, monitor and analyze these common entities, multiple versions of the same data can reside in separate departmental systems. This results in disparate data, which is difficult to integrate across functions and quite costly to manage in terms of resources and IT development. Cross-channel initiatives, buying and planning, merger and acquisition activity, and content management all create new data silos. Major strategic endeavors, part of any business intelligence strategy, can be hampered or derailed if fundamental master data is not in place. In reality, master data is the only way to connect multiple systems and processes both internally and externally.

Master data is the most important data you have. It's about the products you make and services you provide, the customers you sell to and the the vendors you buy from. It is the basis of your business and commercial relationship. A primary focus area should be your ability to define your foundational master data elements, (entities, hierarchies and types) and then the data that is needed (both to be mastered and to be accessible) to meet your business objective. If you focus on this before worrying about the solution, you'll be on the right course for driving success with MDM. Always remember, think data first and platform second.