Forward-thinking companies realize that the use of master data sets them apart from the competition. Master data management or MDM enables companies to reconcile disparate data sources, helping them avoid duplication of efforts and making company-wide data analysis possible.
Master data services provide companies with new ways to organize their efforts. This differentiation can make companies more competitive in a crowded landscape.
Advantages of Master Data Management
Experienced master data managers like Profisee are able to reconcile company databases and draw out the information they have in common. Data sets contain many different types of information that businesses will find useful when they are taken together. For example, data management firms can draw previously unrelated points together to form business insights.
How to Collect Master Data
This information can be collected from various internal company databases, including employee and human resources data, company transactions, customers, products, and sales leads. Pulling information together in a master database helps companies to avoid the problems associated with siloed data. For example, a sales lead may still receive solicitations even though they have already made their initial purchase or had extensive contact with the company.
Siloed data can also be a major problem when multiple departments run their own databases. When this information is taken together as a coherent whole, the company can make important connections that they would not otherwise have noticed.
Master Data as a Key Differentiator
Companies that have control of their master data have a significant competitive advantage over companies that are still struggling with multiple internal databases. With the information provided by master data, companies can take a global view of their activities. This means that companies may be able to out-compete their rivals in terms of agility.
Today’s Data-Driven Economy
In today’s business environment, companies are finding that their data is their greatest untapped resource. The data-driven economy has helped many new developments occur, namely cloud storage and artificial intelligence. Companies with well-organized master data are able to step into these new areas with better results.
Master data can show how a company is responding to challenges in the market. As a company’s customer list grows, their data is spread thinly, but master data helps bring everything back into perspective. Companies that have master data management in place are more likely to be able to keep track of their various activities.
The Blockchain and AI Revolution
Both blockchain and artificial intelligence can be used to help further master data management. AI systems can help to bring databases into an agreement with one another. These systems can work together with blockchain-based security precautions to make sure a company has a complete picture of its activities.
Personalization
Today, customers expect the companies they do business with to know their preferences and their history. Even though the customer may have a long history with the company, the initial contact may be impersonal. This can help to turn off repeat business. When master data enables a company to treat each customer as an individual, sales figures are likely to grow.
One important way that companies can personalize data is by tracking a customer’s multiple contacts. For example, a customer may have purchased a product and then required technical support. The outcome of that case should be included in the master data. This will enable the company to be sure that they are taking proper care of the customer the next time they are contacted.
Making Companies More Agile
Master data can help to make a company’s activities more agile. Instead of dealing with a vast number of internal databases, a company can make quicker decisions based on the master data.
Master data management also presents an advantage for companies that have gone through mergers and acquisitions. These companies often find that they cannot move as quickly as their competitors. Reconciling their databases may be a great deal of work. It is worthwhile when it comes to presenting a complete set of information about the new company’s activities.
Master Data Presents an Advantage
In today’s difficult economic times, it is even more important to remove the duplication of efforts that can occur when a company is not on top of its data. Master data management helps companies understand the different facets of their business and how everything is related.
Master data services set companies apart from their competition, showing that they are ready to meet the challenges of the data-driven economy.