Product

Master Data Management System

Synchronization and exchanging master data across multiple tenants and databases

Documentation Microsoft Marketplace

Master Company

Authoritative master data

One approved source for the entire group.

Receiver Companies

The same data in every branch

Europe, Asia, the Americas, Africa and Australia use the same approved data.

Master Company

Authoritative master data

One approved source for the entire group.

Receiver Companies

The same data in every branch

Europe, Asia, the Americas, Africa and Australia use the same approved data.

One master source

Selected data is maintained centrally.

Automatic distribution

Receivers get the same approved values.

Worldwide consistency

Branches across every region work with consistent data.

Effective master data management

Many multi-subsidiary companies face daily problems with data structure and communication between subsidiaries, as well as individual users.

By default, companies in Dynamics 365 Business Central manage their data on their own. This implies the data inconsistency if there is no application or extension is used for data synchronization. The data inconsistency has business drawbacks in many operational areas. The lack of standardized data management triggers problems with monitoring subsidiary performance as well as applying uniform pricing and distribution policies. Processes get more and more inefficient.

d365bcmaster-datacorporate-groups

Typical problems solved with Master Data Management System and benefits

01 Data consistency

Typical problems solved with Master Data Management System

Lack of unified database

- integrated across all company locations, that would facilitate the introduction of changes in the entire organization
Different inventory numbering systems

- hindering the comparison of stock levels between locations
Lack of unified data

Benefits of Master Data Management System:

Faster implementation of changes within the organization
Easier data comparison for headquarters
Faster deployment of new companies using predefined data

02 Centralized operations

Typical problems solved with Master Data Management System

Inability to enter central pricelists, design BOMs, etc.

- as well as facing difficulties in their distribution between subsidiaries
Difficulties in entering group contracts for vendors
The need to monitor data in each company separately

Benefits of Master Data Management System:

Centralized purchasing
Easier Shared Service Center management
Easier control over customer relationship management

03 Communication and integration

Typical problems solved with Master Data Management System

Additional communication difficulties within EDI

Benefits of Master Data Management System:

Easier communication between companies in the group
A good basis for integration with external systems

Master Company

Data center in Europe

Receiver Company 1

Receiver Company 2

Data center in Africa

Receiver Company 3

Data center in Asia

Receiver Company 4

Receiver Company 5

Data center in South America

Receiver Company 6

Data center in USA

Master Data Management System

Master Data Management System is an app for Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central designed for multinational organizations that use this system. Sooner or later, such organizations are confronted with challenges regarding data consistency in their companies. From the group’s perspective, it is recommended to standardize critical data categories (e.g. items) in all companies instead of permitting inconsistencies at a local level. This approach can be extended with new sets of features to meet growing demands of users and markets during the digital transformation.

Concept

The concept of Master Data Management System

Master data is maintained once in the Master Company, approved in a workflow and published (usually as a batch job) to the subsidiaries: items, G/L accounts, customers, vendors, dictionaries, dimensions, posting groups, user roles and permissions. Local companies in Denmark, the UK or Germany receive consistent data and work on it in their own Business Central.

Intelligent, context-aware assistance

Semantic Search allows users working in a Receiver company to efficiently search for existing records in the Master database. The feature presents relevant records from the selected table, enabling users to review available master data and initiate a remote subscription directly from the search results.

This helps reduce duplicate data creation and streamlines master data replication.

E-book

Download the Global Integration Apps e-book

Solutions for international corporate groups: introduction to functionality, benefits and resources for Master Data Management System, Advanced Intercompany and Intercompany Insights in one e-book.

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Capabilities

Master Data Management System Capabilities

As an extension of Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central, Master Data Management System allows users to configure sets of data within the Master Company (i.e. central company in a group) and replicate this data to the local companies (Receivers) that use Business Central in order to ensure data consistency within the corporate group.

Users are allowed to set up any number of Receivers, i.e. target companies, to which data is replicated. The structure of data replicated can be set up as data sets.

Users can use any number of created data sets and set them up to be replicated to a particular Receiver, by using the replication card. Replication can be either Full or Incremental. While processing Incremental replication, only data changed during the last replication will be exported.

The app is particularly useful when a company needs to create and maintain certain Dynamics 365 Business Central cards (e.g. items, BOMs, vendors) in one company - called "Master" company - and afterwards synchronize the data to all of the subsidiaries ("Receiver" companies).

The app uses web services as a data transport layer.

Corporate ERP (e.g. SAP)

An example of data synchronization using Master Data Management System in an organization where Dynamics 365 Business Central is used by subsidiaries in the group and another ERP system, e.g. SAP or Oracle, is used as a corporate system. SAP can be a source of data for the Master Company, but there are other scenarios. Master Data Management System can also be a source of data both for SAP and Dynamics 365 Business Central, or data can be sent directly from SAP to Receiver Companies while typical Dynamics 365 Business Central data is still maintained in the Master Company. Please note that integration with SAP is not part of the standard Master Data Management System functionality.

Integration

Part of Global Integration Apps

MDMS is often implemented together with Advanced Intercompany, which exchanges documents between companies once master data is standardised across the group.

Advanced Intercompany

Managing and tracking intercompany transactions in real-time

Advanced Intercompany is an app designed for international companies that manage intercompany trade between different subsidiaries within the group. With its functionality extensions, the app adds new capabilities to the standard Dynamics 365 Business Central.

Learn more

Intercompany Insights

Insight into inventory availability and customer balance overviews across companies within the group

Intercompany Insights is a solution that adds new views in Dynamics 365 Business Central where you can display data maintained in other companies within the group, such as inventory availability or customer balances data.

Learn more

Comparison

Master Data Management System by IT.integro vs Master Data Sync by Microsoft

See how Master Data Management System compares with Microsoft's standard master data synchronization approach for Business Central.

Check the comparison

Master Data Management System vs Master Data Sync comparison

Data Sets

The data set contains information about the structure of data to be replicated. The user can set up which fields should be included in a data set. In the replication process, data sets are linked to a selected Receiver and the scope of data to be replicated is set up.

Build the set: add a table or a field inside a node, or next to it.

Sample process

Sample process: extending the assortment in a local company

When implementing Master Data Management System, companies usually indicate items as one of the first areas to be synchronized. It is difficult to explain why a group that offers exactly the same items in its all subsidiaries does not use at least a uniform item numbering. The lack of such unification/standardization brings about unnecessary complications e.g. in communication within the group.

When Master Data Management System is implemented, it may however transpire that only a part of the items are offered by all the subsidiaries. Therefore, in the case of distribution companies, Master Data Management System is set up for local companies to show only the items they need.

If a company wants to extend its assortment, the first step is to check if the item to be offered and does not exist in the local company yet, have already been created in the Master Company. If it exists, you need just to add the local company to the subscribers (receivers) of the item, and wait until the data is synchronized automatically (depending on the organization such a synchronization is set up with intervals ranging from several minutes to a day. Alternatively, you can run the Run Incremental function that triggers the synchronization.

Synchronize

If the item is not available in the Master Company, it should first be created in such a company with all the data to be synchronized for the item, including the No., Description, Base Unit of Measure fields etc.). Then, all receivers of the item have to be defined and set in the Master Data Management System module. After the first synchronization, the item will be displayed in a local company. The local company will be allowed to fill in all empty fields on the item card i.e. the fields that the group considers locally managed e.g. an item vendor, posting dimension and planning parameters.

Error message

Please note that at the level of a local company, it will still not be possible to modify fields that are managed in the master company/headquarters. The example above shows the error message that is displayed when the user attempts to change a value in a field that is managed globally. The message notifies the user that modifications are not allowed at the local level.

Versions and licensing

Objects, versions and licensing

Master Data Management System is certified for Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central. Its price is based on the number of Full users in the main Business Central license, with subscription and perpetual models available.

Certified app

Installation does not require additional development objects. In Business Central, the app is delivered as an extension.

App version support

Latest three releases

Global Integration Apps support the three latest Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central releases, in line with Microsoft's lifecycle policy.

Master Data Management System
Advanced Intercompany
Intercompany Insights

Implementation

The deployment of the module usually takes only a few days and does not require time-consuming initial training for the implementer. However, data preparation tasks before the deployment may be more time-consuming. Before Master Data Management System is implemented, the company where Master Data Management System is implemented has to undergo the process involving the following steps:

01
Global / Local data
Define the scope of data managed locally (e.g. only items and price lists).
02
Data cleansing
Standardize data and perform data cleansing for all global data in every company to be involved in synchronization. This usually means that data numbering has to be set up with consideration.
03
New process
Define the change/modification process for global data (e.g. appoint a person/persons at the headquarters to make decision on the changes to be entered).
04
Master Data Management System Implementation
Only after these preparations can Master Data Management System be implemented as a tool that will ensure that data consistency is maintained at the global data level.

Pricing

Price list

Subscription

online on-premises

Per User 6€ / month

Unlimited 600€ / month

Perpetual license

on-premises

Per User 140€ +EP

Unlimited 14 000€ +EP

The application is priced per Full User under the Dynamics 365 Business Central Essential and Premium license
In the case of the Perpetual License, the prices should be increased by an annual fee or the Enhancement Plan (EP)
Unlimited - pricing is independent of the number of Business Central users. Available for 100 users and above
The license fee is calculated for each Dynamics 365 Business Central tenant separately
The above prices do not include VAT

Customers

Presently, 400+ corporate groups use Global Integration Apps. Each of them uses Master Data Management System to synchronize data between a dozen or several dozen companies.

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