SAP extends MDM capabilities of NetWeaver

BANGALORE: SAP AG announced a comprehensive update to SAP Master Data Management (SAP MDM), a component of the SAP NetWeaver technology platform. The new capabilities-which include a broad array of Web services, a new object modeling framework and extensive new data normalization and performance updates-make SAP MDM the first offering that can manage customer, product and vendor information in heterogeneous IT systems. The new master data management capabilities are available immediately. Global data synchronization capabilities will be available in December 2004.

First shipped in 2003, SAP Master Data Management harmonizes data across diverse applications and IT landscapes, solving integration problems generated by customer, product or vendor information stored across multiple systems.

The Promise of Master Data Management

"Organizations are overridden with duplicate, inconsistent and heterogeneous data, which has forced them to invest in multiple solutions to handle different types of master data to access critical information across their enterprises," said David Yockelson, senior vice president at META Group. "What organizations need is an integrated master data management solution for all data that can both decrease IT costs and turn the focus back to innovation and growth."

Businesses today are faced with the challenge of managing master data in multiple silos and applications across a heterogeneous environment. In order to leverage this data, companies must often resort to building their own applications or utilizing multiple vendor solutions for customer data integration, product information management, global spend analysis and data cleansing. SAP Master Data Management addresses these challenges by providing the ability to model any master data object using built-in services to normalize, reduce duplication of and syndicate master data.

New Master Data Management Capabilities

SAP NetWeaver now includes a highly flexible master data object modelling framework that allows users to create and define their own master data objects with their own business-specific attributes. The user-defined object model works alongside the already available pre-built object models and leverages the same standard services, such as data normalization and sophisticated distribution, available with the SAP NetWeaver platform. The concept of "user-defined objects" is offered exclusively by SAP.

SAP also delivers out-of-the-box capabilities for administering master data through Web services. With an overarching goal of architecting all of its applications to be enterprise services enabled via the Enterprise Services Architecture, SAP solutions allow companies to create new business processes that orchestrate a collection of Web services into composite applications.

In addition, new straight-through processing tackles the business challenge of loading millions of master data objects into a customer's information system from outside sources. The new highly optimized load process includes the flexibility to postpone the data normalization processes while making new incoming information available to other subscribing systems.

Global Data Synchronization for Consumer Products and Retail Companies

SAP also announced it will add new standards-based global data synchronization (GDS) capabilities to SAP MDM. Designed to meet the needs of consumer products and retail companies, the global data synchronization capabilities will allow consumer product manufacturers to synchronize product data in an industry-standard format with data pools for electronic collaboration with distribution and retail partners.

"Global data synchronization is the key foundation to enable a consumer-driven supply network and lower supply chain costs," said Eric Lub, Director Global Development Customer Chain, Whirlpool Corporation. "The global data synchronization capabilities of SAP Master Data Management will enable us to share product information with leading data pools like UCCnet and position ourselves as best in class to harmonize key-supply chain and go-to-market processes with our trade partners. We additionally hope to achieve significant

"SAP NetWeaver continues to deliver innovative technologies to help modern enterprises solve the most pressing business challenges they face today," said Peter Zencke, member of the executive board, SAP. "Companies are looking forward to the benefits of moving to an open, services-oriented architecture, and an effective and efficient master data management solution is a necessary foundation for that evolution."