Master Data Management (MDM)

Definition

The processes, governance, policies, and technology used to ensure that an organisation's critical shared data entities — such as customers, products, suppliers, and accounts — are accurate, consistent, and controlled across all systems and business units. MDM creates a single trusted source of master data, reducing duplication, resolving conflicts, and enabling reliable reporting and analytics. Effective MDM is foundational to data-driven decision-making and is a prerequisite for successful ERP integration, M&A data migration, and regulatory compliance.