Proliferation of heterogeneous systems creates a pressing need for data sharing and data consistency. When many different systems collect data about master entities – customers, products, suppliers, employees, accounts, etc. – you can be certain that you’ll find inconsistencies, conflicts, and confusion. At best, conflict and confusion leads to waste and inefficiency in business process. More severe consequences include damaged credibility and reputation when errors and inconsistencies are visible to customers, suppliers, and employees. Today’s complex business and information systems must synchronize master data. That is the role and purpose of Master Data Management (MDM) systems.

MDM is not a casual endeavor. It is a complex data management challenge that requires a formal and well-managed program. The unique challenges of an MDM program are often not apparent even to seasoned data management professionals. The complexities of managing identities and resolving conflicts among disparate data sources make MDM an ambitious undertaking that must address business, architectural, people, process, project, and technology dimensions to succeed.