5 Professional Tips for Better Master Data Services
What Are Master Data Services?
Master Data Services or MDS, is a product developed by Microsoft that is built for the purpose of developing master data management solutions for processing. To this day, many businesses are looking for methods to maximize their bottom line, and having a sound master data management strategy in place can help expedite that process. Here are five professional tips for better MDS.
Employ Chief Data Officers
One of the best things any organization can do to help govern their data is to hire a chief data officer to oversee the process. In fact, a study done by Forrester Research showed that organizations who had a CDO were likely to reduce their risk of having their data compromised by over 70%. Having a sense of accountability over the data is important, and it is even more important to ensure that this data remains in the right hands.
With the proper accountability and the proper team overseeing the data’s security, the data can then be maximized as the organization’s greatest asset and will increase overall success.
Ensure That Data Is Connected
One hurdle that many organizations have to jump over when it comes to data governance is decentralized data. If data isn’t connected, it can become very difficult to manage, especially if there is to strategy to support it. Standardizing the data and ensuring it is connected will help the data achieve the goals given to it by the organization.
When it comes to dealing with decentralized data, this can result in huge gaps that can make the data difficult to utilize when the situation calls for it. This will also cause huge complications when it comes to providing explanations as to where and how the information was acquired. Linking the data with existing systems will alleviate some of these issues, and archive technologies will allow any organization to store what they need. This strategy allows provides flexibility for future growth.
Manage Metadata
Not only should data be properly managed, but the metadata needs to e managed properly as well. Metadata gives valuable information on where the data was acquired or created as well as its location.
Metadata management will also help with information classification and give the organization a platform by which they can prioritize what data is important and what data is insignificant to business functions. Organizations often do not know who owns valuable information and how important that is to the business. This wouldn’t be the case if the metadata is properly managed. Ensure that the metadata is managed just as effectively as the actual data itself.
Adopt Sound Policies
Company policies around the use of data and how it will be handled is essential for business functions. This needs to include cloud, virtual and physical environments as well. Ensure that information is classified and that proper controls regarding access are set.
Organizations can have penalties handed out to them if data is mishandled as well, so the business needs to implement this strategy sooner than later.
Have Data Deliverance Strategy
If there are CRM and ERP platforms involved in the business, then finding a way to deliver the data is of the essence. Delivering data encompasses putting important information into the right hands and into the right conduits.
Systems have to be in place in order to ensure that users can make proper business decisions based on insight given to the data. Customer data reports, for instance, could enhance products that already exists and can facilitate the development of new products.
Majenica
"Time spent with cats is never wasted." ~ Sigmund Freud
