导读：在应用层面讲，主数据（ Master Data ）是在多系统集成应用的背景下，被多个信息系统（或功能模块）共用的基础性标准化的数据，常见的主数据包括：供应商、客户、物料、人员、部门、项目等。
先看示例，在没有对主数据进行管理的情况下是这样的：
比如在费用控制系统中向供应商海康威视公司支付货款，费控系统中该供应商的编码是PAYV000345，完成付款后，费控系统需要向ERP系统传递付款的会计凭证，但是，ERP系统中海康威视公司的编码是ERP00000123，如果费控系统直接把PAYV000345传给ERP系统，ERP系统是不能识别的，那么就需要建立一种对照表，把PAYV000345翻译为ERP00000123才可以。
在这种情况下，费控系统和ERP系统都需要有管理员维护各自系统的供应商数据（维护两次），同时还得维护两个系统之间供应商数据的对照关系，应用成本比较高，很不方便。这还仅仅是两个系统之间的情况，如果系统更多，这种使用方式就太复杂了。 数字化转型网（www.szhzxw.cn）
于是就有了如下的新办法：
在一种叫做主数据管理系统（MDM）的软件中，由该系统的管理员统一维护供应商数据（维护一次），并且统一编制唯一性的编码（如海康威视公司的主数据编码是10002608），然后MDM再把这个供应商主数据推送给费控系统和ERP系统，这样所有系统中的海康威视公司编码都是统一的10002608，系统之间不再需要做编码的翻译，直接使用即可，大大的简单化和标准化了供应商这类数据的应用。
现在可以引入主数据这个概念了，在应用层面讲，主数据（ Master Data ）是在多系统集成应用的背景下，被多个信息系统（或功能模块）共用的基础性标准化的数据，常见的主数据包括：供应商、客户、物料、人员、部门、项目等。
展开说明一下，首先，主数据，带个主字，英文是Master，字面就显示出这种数据的地位很高，非常的重要，为什么这么重要呢？因为如果这类数据没有管好，多个系统之间数据交换的成本就会非常大（需要各自维护，需要翻译，……），如果没有管好主数据，系统间交换的数据就会发生混乱并产生错误，严重影响系统的正常使用。 数字化转型网（www.szhzxw.cn）
为更好的管理主数据，主数据管理系统（Master Data Management，即MDM）这类软件就出现了。
对常规的终端用户而言，MDM的核心功能主要有三个方面：
保障主数据的规范性和唯一性。按规则和流程规范管理主数据，比如规定主数据名称要使用营业执照上的名称，社会统一信用代码、国别地区等必填，按名称、信用代码等条件校验避免重复录入，系统自动按规则统一产生唯一性编码，主数据要经流程审核后方能生效等。
主数据的集中管理。主数据全部在MDM中产生或者受控（其他系统产生的主数据要符合MDM的规则才能进入MDM），在MDM系统中可以由专岗集中管理所有主数据，保障来源唯一从而避免歧义。
主数据的自动分发。提供分发和订阅功能，能够通过配置把主数据自动分发给相关系统，让多个系统可以方便的使用到统一规范的主数据；也可以自动的接收外部系统产生的主数据，经MDM管理后再自动分发出去，而不用数据源系统自己向多个系统分发。
除去以上功能外，MDM其实还有很多相关的专业性功能，比如：元数据、接口适配、数据交互监控、界面和流程定义、数据清洗等。这些都是系统建设和运维人员的工作内容。
以下为扩展的进阶内容
（包括：MDM厂商介绍、SAP ERP系统中的主数据，以及相关内容）
因为MDM很重要并且很常用，相关的产品就比较多。
大型国际性厂商SAP、Oracle、IBM等都有自己的产品，如下图就是2018年Gartner公司发布的MDM魔力象限，对相关的MDM做了一种评价。
在国内，一些综合性的信息化厂商很多都有自己的MDM产品，比如金蝶、用友、浪潮、汉得、英诺森等；也有把主数据相关领域作为核心业务的MDM专业性厂商，比如三维天地等；还有一些某类专业领域的厂商，比如项目管理信息化专业厂商易贝恩等。
这些厂商的MDM产品各有千秋，但核心功能基本一样，所以MDM基本是通用的，可用于各类系统集成的信息化项目。总的来说，MDM产品的可配置性越强越好，尽量减少代码开发，减少每个MDM项目的个性化，这样的MDM相对更稳定、更通用，上线时间更短，更易运维和扩展。同时，因为主数据的数据量往往很大，那么MDM对数据的处理性能也很关键，要能满足大规模数据量的处理要求。此外，MDM系统中内置的标准编码也是一个很大的价值点，比如已内置某行业的物料分类编码表（可能数万条数据），那么在实施该行业的主数据项目时就会更有力。 数字化转型网（www.szhzxw.cn）
而关于MDM系统建设项目，需要格外说明一下，项目中系统建设本身只是一个部分，而且技术方面较为常规。更为重要的是对主数据分类、各种规则等内容的梳理和设计，这一点往往才是MDM项目最有挑战的地方，需要投入大量的财力、人力和时间，需引起高度重视。
刚才讲的是常规主数据的范畴（即系统与系统之间的），而比如SAP ERP系统内部，也有主数据的概念，首先这种主数据的重要特征也是被多个地方共用，只是这里突出的是在ERP系统内部被多个模块的共用（也可以通过MDM被外部共用）。
而类似于SAP ERP内部的主数据，除了唯一性、共用性等特性之外，这种主数据往往是承载了某类业务的关键内容，以主数据为工作对象，相关业务要通过对主数据的操作完成处理。典型的，会计科目就是财务总账模块的主数据，科目主数据除了常规的科目编码和名称外，还有很多个属性，比如是资产或是负债还是损益类科目，比如科目货币是什么，比如是否允许手工过账，等等。这些属性将决定会计科目在相关业务下过账的行为（比如体现对应收应付的不同要求）和记账结果（比如按本位币还是外币更新余额表）。
再比如SAP ERP中的物料主数据，因为物料将被采购、库存、生产、销售等多个模块共用，并且各个模块之间还有业务逻辑关系，所以物料主数据承载的操作内容很多，使得相关属性也多，在维护物料主数据时需要填写的内容就显得比较多了。 数字化转型网（www.szhzxw.cn）
说明：SAP ERP物料主数据在某物料类型下有15个页签，每个页签下又有若干个属性
如果在SAP ERP中直接录入物料主数据，如上，用户体验可能不是太理想，所以在一些信息化建设项目上，采用MDM系统来输入物料主数据，MDM系统通常可以提供更好的界面和操作体验，而且只关注需要填写的内容，从这个角度上看，MDM还起到了改善用户体验的作用（还减少了采购ERP系统授权的数量，MDM用户授权的价格通常比ERP的低很多很多）。
如下图，用户只需要填写界面中的内容，而不用在SAP ERP的多个页签中挑选需要填写的内容，一定程度上改善了物料输入的工作体验。
最后，主数据与信息技术的其他领域一样，都有极其丰富和极有深度的知识，如果希望了解更多主数据领域的技术和方案，市面有一些书籍，这里推荐《主数据驱动的数据治理：原理、技术与实践》一书，内容全面详实，很值得学习和研究。 数字化转型网（www.szhzxw.cn）
翻译：
What exactly is master data? This article takes you to understand!
At the application level, Master Data is the basic standardized data shared by multiple information systems (or functional modules) in the context of multi-system integration application. Common master data include: suppliers, customers, materials, personnel, departments, projects, etc.
Let’s look at the example, where there is no master data management:
For example, in the cost control system, the supplier Hikvision pays for goods, and the supplier’s code in the cost control system is PAYV000345. After the payment is completed, the cost control system needs to transfer the payment accounting voucher to the ERP system, but the code of Hikvision in the ERP system is ERP00000123. If the fee control system directly transmits PAYV000345 to the ERP system, the ERP system cannot recognize it, then it is necessary to establish a comparison table and translate PAYV000345 into ERP00000123. 数字化转型网（www.szhzxw.cn）
In this case, both the cost control system and the ERP system need an administrator to maintain the supplier data of their respective systems (maintenance twice), and also to maintain the comparison relationship between the supplier data between the two systems, the application cost is relatively high and it is very inconvenient. This is only the case between two systems, if there are more systems, this way of using is too complicated.
So here’s a new approach:
In a software called master data management system (MDM), the administrator of the system maintains supplier data in a unified way (maintenance once), and prepares unique codes in a unified way (such as Hikvision’s master data code is 10002608), and then MDM pushes this supplier master data to the expense control system and ERP system. In this way, the Hikvision company code in all systems is unified 10002608, and there is no need to translate the code between the systems, which can be used directly, greatly simplifying and standardizing the application of such data from suppliers.
Now we can introduce the concept of Master Data. At the application level, master data is the basic standardized data shared by multiple information systems (or functional modules) under the background of multi-system integration application. Common master data include: suppliers, customers, materials, personnel, departments, projects, etc. 数字化转型网（www.szhzxw.cn）
Expand to explain, first of all, the Master data, with a main word, English is Master, the literal shows that the status of this data is very high, very important, why so important? Because if this kind of data is not properly managed, the cost of data exchange between multiple systems will be very high (need to maintain each other, need to translate,…). If the master data is not well managed, the data exchanged between systems will be confused and produce errors, seriously affecting the normal use of the system.
To better manage Master Data, software such as Master Data Management (MDM) has emerged.
For the average end user, MDM’s core functionality has three main aspects:
Ensure the standardization and uniqueness of master data. Master data should be managed according to rules and procedures, such as the name of the master data should be used in the business license, the social unified credit code, the country and region must be filled in, the name, credit code and other conditions are verified to avoid repeated entry, the system automatically generates a unique code according to the rules, and the master data can take effect only after the process review.
Centralized management of master data. All master data is generated or controlled in MDM (master data generated by other systems must comply with MDM rules before entering MDM). In the MDM system, all master data can be centrally managed by dedicated personnel to ensure that the source is unique and avoid ambiguity. 数字化转型网（www.szhzxw.cn）
Automatic distribution of master data. Provide distribution and subscription functions, can be configured to automatically distribute master data to related systems, so that multiple systems can easily use the unified standard master data; You can also automatically receive master data generated by external systems and automatically distribute it after MDM management, rather than distributing it to multiple systems by the data source system.
In addition to the above functions, MDM actually has many related professional functions, such as: metadata, interface adaptation, data interaction monitoring, interface and process definition, data cleaning, and so on. These are the work content of system construction and operation and maintenance personnel.
The following is the advanced content of the extension
(Including: MDM vendor introduction, master data in SAP ERP system, and related content)
Because MDM is so important and so commonly used, there are many related products.
Large international vendors such as SAP, Oracle, IBM, etc., have their own products. The following figure is the MDM Magic quadrant released by Gartner in 2018, which makes an evaluation of relevant MDM.
In China, many comprehensive information manufacturers have their own MDM products, such as Kingdee, UF, Inspur, Hande, Innocent, etc. There are also MDM professional vendors that focus on master data-related areas as their core business, such as 3D world; There are also some manufacturers in certain professional fields, such as Ebain, a professional manufacturer of project management information technology. 数字化转型网（www.szhzxw.cn）
The MDM products of these manufacturers are different, but the core functions are basically the same, so MDM is basically universal and can be used for various information projects of system integration. In general, the more configurable the MDM product, the better, minimizing code development, minimizing personalization of each MDM project, resulting in a more stable, versatile MDM, shorter uptime, easier to operate, and easier to scale. At the same time, because the data volume of primary data is often large, MDM is also critical to data processing performance to meet the processing requirements of large-scale data volumes. In addition, the standard coding built into the MDM system is also a great value point, such as the built-in material classification code table for an industry (possibly tens of thousands of data), so it will be more powerful when implementing the master data project of the industry.
As for the MDM system construction project, it should be noted that the system construction itself is only a part of the project, and the technical aspects are relatively routine. More important is the sorting and design of master data classification, various rules and other content, which is often the most challenging place for MDM projects, requiring a lot of financial, human and time investment, which needs to be highly valued. 数字化转型网（www.szhzxw.cn）
Just talked about the scope of conventional master data (that is, between systems), and for example, inside the SAP ERP system, there is also the concept of master data, first of all, the important characteristics of this master data is also shared by multiple places, but the highlight here is the sharing of multiple modules within the ERP system (can also be shared externally through MDM).
Similar to the SAP ERP internal master data, in addition to the uniqueness, sharing and other characteristics, such master data is often the key content of a type of business, master data as the working object, the relevant business through the operation of the master data to complete the processing. Typically, the accounting account is the master data of the financial ledger module. In addition to the conventional account code and name, the master data of the account has many attributes, such as assets or liabilities or profit and loss accounts, such as what the account currency is, such as whether manual Posting is allowed, and so on. These attributes will determine the behavior of the accounts posted under the relevant business (for example, reflecting different requirements for receivables and payables) and the results of the bookkeeping (for example, updating the balance sheet in standard currency or foreign currency). 数字化转型网（www.szhzxw.cn）
Another example is the material master data in SAP ERP, because the material will be shared by multiple modules such as procurement, inventory, production and sales, and there is a business logic relationship between each module, so the material master data carries a lot of operation content, so that there are more related attributes, and the content needs to be filled in when maintaining the material master data.
Note: SAP ERP material master data has 15 tabs under a material type, and each TAB has several properties
If the material master data is directly input in SAP ERP, as mentioned above, the user experience may not be ideal, so in some information construction projects, the MDM system is used to input the material master data. The MDM system can usually provide a better interface and operation experience, and only focus on the content that needs to be filled in. MDM also improves the user experience (and reduces the number of ERP system licenses purchased, which are often much, much cheaper than ERP licenses).
As shown in the figure below, users only need to fill in the content of the interface, instead of selecting the content to fill in multiple pages of SAP ERP, which improves the work experience of material input to a certain extent. 数字化转型网（www.szhzxw.cn）
Finally, master data, like other fields of information technology, has extremely rich and deep knowledge. If you want to know more about master data technologies and solutions, there are some books on the market. Here I recommend the book “Master Data-Driven Data Governance: Principles, Techniques and Practices”, which is comprehensive and detailed and worth studying and researching.
本文由数字化转型网（www.szhzxw.cn）转载而成，来源于猫说信息化，作者苗峰；编辑/翻译：数字化转型网宁檬树。
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