Master Data Management
Definition
Master data management organizes the consistent administration of central business objects such as customers and products.
Governance, processes, and technology for the consistent management of central business objects such as customers, products, or suppliers.
Simply explained
How to reconcile multiple address books with agreed rules and assign responsibilities for corrections.
Why it matters in practice
Uniform customer, product, and supplier data facilitate reconciliation between systems and reduce conflicting assignments in operational processes.
Example from business
Customer records from CRM, ERP, and shop are merged according to rules and managed responsibly.
Limits and pitfalls
- Viewing the Golden Record as automatically error-free truth or omitting domain responsibility.
Origin & history
MDM evolved from data integration and enterprise information management.
Use in mid-sized companies
- Possible application: Domain experts define central business objects, reconciliation rules, and responsibilities. Merges from CRM and ERP are checked for misassignments and corrections are traceably managed.
Frequently asked questions
What does Master Data Management mean?
Governance, processes, and technology for the consistent management of central business objects such as customers, products, or suppliers.
Which mistakes should be avoided?
Viewing the Golden Record as automatically error-free truth or omitting domain responsibility.
Sources
- www.dama.org
- Ergänzender Primärbeleg · Ergänzender Primärbeleg
- Ergänzender Primärbeleg · Ergänzender Primärbeleg
Source checked on 10.10.2026. Editorial application examples are hypothetical; no evidence of real customer results. Supplementary references checked on 12.10.2026.
Editorially reviewed on: