SAP Master Data Management (SAP MDM)

The Management of Basic Data component (SAP Master Data Management, SAP MDM) allows to provide unity and integrity of basic data within all information landscape of the company. Interacting with the existing information systems distributed on numerous structural divisions, the Management of Basic Data component uses already made investments into data, important for business, at the same time, considerably reducing costs for maintaining these data. Besides, coordination of data in all systems of the company allows to accelerate accomplishment of business processes.

Applicable implementations of strategic objectives of the company

The Management of Basic Data component is a basis for formation of the complete and approved information environment of the enterprise. It provides the means providing consolidation of data, change tracking in them and distribution of the same up-to-date basic data by all diverse corporate applications. This component allows to optimize decision making process, to transform the hidden costs to profit and to considerably reduce costs for support of IT structure of the company.

The Management of Basic Data component helps:

• it is effective to manage customer relations thanks to increase in degree of transparency of the diverse systems;
• it is easy to distribute basic data between systems using the automated models of the publication and a subscription;
• reduce number of the main records of objects which are kept on a global scale, by an exception of duplicates of records;
• analyze and make reports on the expenses connected with objects, suppliers or other basic data;
• sign more profitable agreements with suppliers thanks to high quality of data in state-of-the-art reviews;
• reduce costs on all logistics chain by ensuring exact data exchange between producers of products, distributors and retail sellers

Opportunities and functions

The Management of Basic Data component helps to integrate business processes throughout all expanded chain of creation of added value. The number of opportunities and functions of this component includes the following:

• Consolidation of information. The Management of Basic Data component consolidates subjects of basic data from the different systems. On the basis of identification of the general signs of objects communications of subjects of basic data in the different systems are defined. Using specially configured procedures of comparisons the component allows to identify subjects of basic data and to delete duplicates. After consolidation it transfers information from the different systems to a business information warehouse where it can be used for the analysis and a reporting preparation at the level of all enterprise.

• Harmonization of basic data. The Management of Basic Data component provides maintaining basic data, change tracking and distribution of up-to-date data by all systems for the purpose of ensuring their coordination. Using global attributes, at distribution of data it is possible to provide all systems of the same basic data. Further these distributed data objects in direct systems can be expanded with values of additional attributes.

• Centralized operation by basic data. The Management of Basic Data component supports maintaining on the central server of basic data of a complete definition of objects, including their dependences and interrelations. The ability to manage provides with the statuses on each step of distribution of data controllability, transparency and traceability of process of distribution of basic data.

Advantages

The Management of Basic Data component represents the tool which helps is profitable to manage collaborative and flexible business which cornerstone close interrelations with business partners are. Use of the Management of Basic Data component offers the following advantages:

• The expanded reporting at the intergroup level. Using the Management of Basic Data component it is possible to increase quality of the reporting and analysis at the intergroup level. For example, in the solution "Vendor relationship management" (SAP SRM) using the consolidated matched data generated in the Management of Basic Data component it is possible to trace expenses on suppliers at the global level, to consolidate data on divisions of suppliers and also to analyze data on deliverable parts or materials.

• The optimized information exchange between the companies. The Management of Basic Data component is a basis of effective and exact information exchange between the enterprises. For example, the companies making mass sales items can timely communicate about products with retailers, exclude "expensive" inaccuracy of data, improve indicators of sale and optimize transactions in a logistics chain.

• Effective management of the main records of objects. The Management of Basic Data component allows to keep exact data on reserves of materials and to exclude spaces in information on all logistics chain. You can maintain high quality of data, exclude their redundancy and avoid failures and difficulties at accomplishment of joint processes of procurements, production and sale.

• Centralized operation by data of clients. There is an opportunity to receive a uniform foreshortening of clients even if in different repositories of information for identification of clients different names or numbers are used. The uniform foreshortening of clients simplifies process of acceptance of management decisions in all fields of activity of the company. For example, sales departments, marketing and customer service can make optimal solutions on pricing, the measures stimulating sale and service maintenance as the Management of Basic Data component provides a uniform and complete picture of all customer relations.