Master data, also called reference data, defines subjects such as products, customers, suppliers and brands. When effectively managed, it provides a consistent context against which business performance can be measured. Gartner describes master data in various master domains including:
Customer Information Management (CIM) or Customer Data Integration (CDI) Finance Information Management (FIM) Product Information Management (PIM) Supplier Information Management (SIM) On the market you will find generalist tools as well as tools that take a specialist approach for one of the sub-categories. The goal of master data management tools is to allow business to create 'one version of the truth' or a 'golden copy' of the data being managed. This reduces duplication and redundancy and can enable communication across disparate systems and across the enterprise.
This category is for software related to the master data space. Consultants and System Integrators should submit to the
Consultants subcategory.
Category for articles directly related to master data management, reference data management, or processes that allow companies to create a 'golden copy' of their data.
Customer Information Management (CIM) or Customer Data Integration (CDI) focused tools.
Gartner defines customer data integration (CDI) as "the combination of the technology, processes and services needed to create and maintain an accurate, timely and complete view of the customer across multiple channels, business lines and, enterprises, where there are multiple sources of customer data in multiple application systems and databases".
This category is for software in the customer-focused MDM / CDI space. Consultants and System Integrators should not submit here.
Finance Information Management (FIM) focused tools. These are tools that allow companies to create and manage reference data around financial instruments including related areas like Counterparty.
This category is for software related to the Finance MDM space. Consultants and System Integrators should not submit here.
Product Information Management (PIM) or Product Content Management (PCM) focused tools. These are tools that allow companies to create and manage product or item masters.
This category is for software related to the PIM space. Consultants and System Integrators should not submit here.
Supplier Information Management (SIM) or Enterprise Spend Management (ESM) focused tools. Also known as Spend Data Management (SDM).