Overview

Purpose

Master Data Management helps you move data from one leading company into other companies in a structured way, define clear rules for that transfer, and review differences in a targeted manner. The module is especially useful when several companies work with the same master data and changes should not be maintained separately in every company.

Typical use case

One company maintains certain master data centrally first. This data should then also be available in other companies. At the same time, not everything should be transferred without review. MDM helps you decide which data is transferred, which exceptions apply, and how you can review deviations later.

Where new users should start

If you use MDM for the first time, start with three simple questions:

1. From which company should the leading data come?
2. Into which other companies should the data be transferred?
3. Which data should deliberately not be transferred, or only under certain conditions?

Once these three questions are clear, the basic idea of MDM becomes much easier to understand. After that, the glossary, setup page, and master-data page provide the next structured steps.

Business value

• Reduces manual coordination because relations and rules are maintained centrally.
• Creates transparency about which data belongs together across source and target contexts.
• Supports controlled processing through dependencies, exclusions, and substitutions.
• Makes deviations visible early through consistency checks and review entries.

Focus

Relations between source and target companies

MDM works with a clear mapping between source and target contexts. This defines which tables, fields, and data relationships belong together from a business perspective and in which organizational frame they are checked or processed.

Rules instead of isolated manual maintenance

The solution combines relations with structure definitions, dependencies, exclusions, DSR filters, and substitutions. This allows teams to describe data behavior in a reusable way instead of maintaining individual exceptions again and again.

DSR for controlled record distribution

With DSR, meaning Selected Record Distribution, responsible users additionally steer which records should be distributed per relation and target company. DSR filters and the distribution matrix help make exclusion rules visible, review existing decisions, and refine them in daily operations.

Traceability through checks

Consistency checks help you see whether records or field values in the target context match the expected state. This gives business teams a dependable basis for corrections, follow-up work, and release decisions.

Entry through role center and profile

A suitable MDM profile uses a central MDM start area. Activities, relations, and follow-up actions are grouped there so that users can reach the main work areas without long navigation paths.

Relation as the central control object

The MDM relation is the business starting point for working with source and target companies. It combines data scope, company context, and core rules so that downstream checks and processing steps work from the same basis.

Structure, dependencies, and exclusions

The relation structure describes how fields and relationships are organized inside a relation. Dependencies control when information must be considered together, while exclusions deliberately define which contents are left out of processing or review.

Substitutions for derived target values

Substitutions define how target values are replaced or derived. This allows MDM to control business differences between source and target contexts without forcing users to make the same adjustment manually again and again.

Recommended sequence for new users

1. Read the overview first to understand the purpose, core objects, and business value of MDM.
2. Use the glossary next so that terms and roles are unambiguous.
3. Continue with Setup and Master data to learn how relations and rules are configured and maintained.
4. Use the process catalog, work aids, and FAQ for step-by-step workflows and recurring daily questions.

Result

• You understand the business purpose of MDM in the interaction between source and target companies.
• The main control principles, core objects, and work logic of the solution are classified before you move into detailed topics.
• Further MDM pages build on one shared terminology and navigation frame.