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In a recent article on searchdatamanagement.com it is suggested that “SAP’s lack of reference customers with live implementations could reflect a desire among some customers to wait until NetWeaver MDM grows more mature”. This leads to the question of whether SAP MDM is mature enough to support Data Management solutions across SAP’s customer base?

Whilst there are a wide variety of use cases for SAP MDM, I’d like to answer that question with a few examples drawn from our own client base.

Keeping data consistent across the system landscape

The first example I’d like to look at comes from the Public Sector, where we developed a ‘Customer Data Hub’ based on SAP MDM for a large County Council in the UK. The Council had multiple systems that could create or modify a customer record, and also needed a front end in order to manually create or edit customer records as well as search the existing customer records.

The Customer Data Hub has not only delivered the ability to create and maintain a single view of a customer across several systems, but has also supported a drive to improve the customer service experience while enabling the Council to adopt uniform processes. The hub also forms the strategic foundation for Council’s response to the UK Government’s ‘Tell Us Once’ initiative.

Managing the master data creation process

At a Global Manufacturing company we implemented an MDM solution that allowed the client to automate the introduction of a new product, from the inception of the idea to the creation of the master data in ERP. The solution allowed the various groups involved in creating new products to collaborate together, whilst automating the master data creation process by incorporating business logic into the solution that auto-populated common fields based on key data that was actively selected by the users.

Despite the complexity of the master data model and process required, our MDM solution allowed the client to adopt an integrated product introduction process that increased the quality of the master data and reduced the time taken to introduce new products.

Managing catalogue data for self-service procurement

My final example comes from a suite of MDM solutions that we have delivered for a Global Telecommunications company. We have implemented a Supplier Collaboration Platform which allows the clients suppliers to manage ‘catalogues’ (or ‘Price Books’) of materials that are available for procurement within the clients ERP/SRM system.

In this solution the clients suppliers are able to log onto the platform to view, create and modify their catalogues – once approved by the client the catalogue data is syndicated to their ERP system so that the catalogue items can be selected for procurement . This solution makes good use of the flexibility of MDM in terms of accessing and modifying the catalogue data to give the client a collaborative platform that delivers timely master data of a high standard.

Summary

Three industries, three data objects, three sets of requirements – three very different solutions each using SAP MDM in combination with SAP NetWeaver to deliver real business and strategic benefit for our clients. By looking at some of the MDM solutions that we have provided for our clients in this way it is clear that the maturity of SAP MDM and related NetWeaver platform can deliver solutions that drive efficiency and value creation. Especially with the right combination of business focus, technical expertise and innovative thinking.

For more information on any of the examples detailed in this blog please contact us.