Getting started with SAP NetWeaver MDM

The Beginners Guide for MDM

Master Data Management - some common information

The following chapters provide common information about MDM in general. There is no link to a specific MDM software or solution.

Surely SAP is not the only source of truth for MDM. The following links provide general thoughts and insights about MDM.

MDM Scenarios

There are three major generic scenarios for handling master data: Master Data Consolidation, Master Data Harmonization and Central Master Data Maintenance.

Master Data Consolidation

The main target is to consolidate master data for companywide analysis and reporting. Master Data Consolidation (MDC) defines the required processes for cleansing various types of master data in an interactive manner in particular within a heterogeneous environment. After consolidation, it stores the information from different systems in a centralized repository. Related rich content can be included to augment the data store. Consolidated data is required to leverage the results, e.g. to perform enterprise-wide analytics like global spend analyses. The common process consists of the steps:

  • load master data - including its related reference data - into MDM
  • enrich and cleanse master data in MDM
  • distribute related key and/or grouping information to BI for analytics

MDC does not include the re-distribution of master data records into their original source systems.

Master Data Harmonization

The main target is to send consolidated master data back to its source systems. Master Data Harmonization (MDH) enables consistent data maintenance and distribution to ensure permanent harmonization of master data. Using global attributes, you can ensure that all systems receive the same master data during distribution - and enrich the distributed data objects with additional attribute values in the target systems. Distribution can be controlled, visible, and traceable, with active status management at each distribution step. MDH defines the required processes for cleansing and distribution of various types of master data in an interactive manner in particular within a heterogeneous environment. It includes leveraging the results to perform enterprise-wide analytics like global spend analyses. The common process consists of the steps:

  • load master data - including its related reference data - into MDM
  • enrich and cleanse master data in MDM
  • re-distribute master data back to the original source systems
  • distribute related key and/or grouping information to BI for analytics

MDH means that you can only update already existing master data records in their original source systems. You can neither create new master data records in any source system based on the consolidated data nor create new records centrally in MDM.

Central Master Data Maintenance?

Central Master Data Maintenance (cMDM) supports companywide quality standards by ensuring that central control of master data begins as soon as the data is created. Centrally created master data can subsequently be distributed to client systems as required using interactive distribution. cMDM defines the required processes for the central creation of various types of master data in an interactive manner in MDM and the distribution of the data into a heterogeneous environment. It includes leveraging the results to perform enterprise-wide analytics like  global spend analysis. The common process consists of the steps:

  • create master data centrally in MDM
  • distribute master data to remote systems to create new or update existing records in the systems
  • distribute related key and/or grouping information to BI for analytics

cMDM requires usually the execution of the MDH scenario at least once to initialize the central MDM system with the already existing master data of the current environment.

SAP NetWeaver Master Data Management - what is in it?

SAP NetWeaver MDM helps you to consolidate, store, and enhance master data by improving data governance, data quality, change management, and alignment with business goals.

SAP offers a comprehensive portfolio of services to help you through all phases of your master data management (MDM) life cycle. The portfolio delivers consulting services from a corps of experienced SAP experts, a full curriculum of MDM training courses, and a field-tested roster of tools, methods, and best practices to ensure secure, efficient, and cost-effective deployments. We blend services at a level of engagement that makes sense for your organization. You benefit from targeted services and a foundation of knowledge to support all aspects and phases of your SAP NetWeaver MDM project.

SAP NetWeaver MDM services...

... deliver real value to your organization, including:

  • Effective MDM projects - Our comprehensive portfolio of services helps you through all phases of your MDM life cycle. You have the capabilities you need to plan, build, and run your MDM solution.
  • Efficient MDM deployments - Proven tools, methods, and best practices ensure secure, efficient, and cost-effective deployments.
    Enhanced knowledge and skills - Our full curriculum of training courses enhances your understanding of MDM. Qualified instructors cover all technical and practical issues. You can take courses at training centers around the world or take advantage of onsite training for flexible scheduling and substantial cost and time savings. E-learning options offer remote access to SAP training systems.
  • Optimized MDM performance - SAP provides maintenance offerings and service-level agreements to meet your business needs. Delivered by a global team of experienced specialists, SAP support delivers the advice, action, and knowledge transfer you need to maintain and continuously improve your MDM solution.

SAP NetWeaver MDM Software...

... is an enabling foundation for enterprise services and business process management - providing a single version of the truth for customer, product, employee, supplier, or user-defined data objects.

Working across heterogeneous systems at disparate locations, SAP NetWeaver MDM ensures cross-system data consistency through interactive distribution. It integrates business processes across the extended value chain, delivering features and functions to enable:

  • Support of the scenarios Consolidation, Harmonization and Central Maintenace as defined above.
  • Administration of master data - Manage master data without custom code. A powerful interface supports administrative tasks such as data exception handling and assignment of role-based access to business processes and information. Data managers use the interface to configure data source merging, business rules, and distribution details to downstream applications.
  • Management of internal content - Collect and centralize all your content - including parametric information and rich content such as images, paragraphs of text, PDF documents, and organizational intelligence about content - in an enterprisewide repository.
  • Catalog search - Deploy intuitive interfaces that help you locate items internally, publish Web catalogs on e-commerce storefronts and in supplier enablement programs, and integrate easy-to-search catalogs into e-procurement solutions - all from a centralized repository, and all at speeds surpassing normal SQL-based queries.
  • Print catalog customization - Disseminate product information directly from a centralized catalog repository to popular desktop publishing programs, and automatically generate fully formatted and populated page layouts.
  • Multichannel syndication of product catalog content - Publish restructured and reformatted extracts or incremental updates of your product catalog content - and distribute them to trading partners in several delimited text and XML formats - on an unscheduled or regular basis.
  • Business process support - Enable communication in a heterogeneous environment, and insert master data into other systems. Details are part of the Master Data Integration pages in SDN.
  • Business analytics and reporting - Leverage synchronized data for reliable analysis and accurate reporting.

How-to continue?

Find even more information on the main Getting Started with SAP NetWeaver MDM SDN page. A good place to drill down deeper into the world of MDM are the MDM eLearnings on SDN. Finally you can go on browsing the SAP Master Data Management Wiki, check the FAQ about SAP NetWeaver MDM and Links sections and/or have a look at the different Wiki space categories to improve your MDM knowledge.

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