Master Data Management in Practice: Achieving True Customer MDM

Positioning MDM Tools

There is no question regarding how important technology is to MDM. Without technology, it is simply impossible to achieve the desired levels of automation, scalability, usability, reliability, time-to-market, and so on. Furthermore, and repeated over and over throughout this book, is the fact MDM is about people, process, and technology. The proper combination of these three elements is what makes MDM successful. Complementary is the fact MDM is constantly fine-tuning these elements for maximum benefits.

Figure 3.1 represents people, process, and technology and MDM as a pair of gears. As one is adjusted, the other is impacted.

Figure 3.1 Reliance between MDM and People, Process, and Technology

As much as technology is clearly important, when companies start a Customer MDM program they are looking to solve a business need. It is a given business need that will drive what technology is required, and not the other way around. Obviously, in certain markets and industries, technology can be a strategic differentiator, and as such, it becomes a business priority in itself. In another example, a given company may become so ineffective due to an outdated technological solution that it has no option except to upgrade. But again, it is not about the technology per se. It is about solving for the inefficiencies inflicted into the business operations.

In Chapter 1, the ...