MDM (Master Data Management) creates a single, trusted source of truth so that every system and team works from accurate, consistent, non‑duplicated information. Ensures consistent, accurate, governed master data for core business entities: products, suppliers, customers, locations, item masters.
Primary Function: Cleans, standardizes, deduplicates, and governs foundational data. Provides a single source of truth for identifiers and attributes used across systems.
Data Types: Non‑transactional: Product master, supplier master, customer master, pricing master, location master.
Strengths:
- Eliminates duplicates (“Is this the same SKU?”)
- Enforces rules (“All SKUs must have category + brand + cost”)
- Aligns operational systems (ERP, WMS, CRM, e‑commerce)
Typical Users: IT, supply chain, merchandising, finance, governance teams.
Analogy: The “dictionary” of the enterprise—defines each entity clearly and consistently.
See Also: Data Warehouse, Data Lake
« Back to Glossary Index
