The Problem
Many manufacturing companies today, have many applications and systems (ERP, CRM) where data is shared across organizational departments can easily become duplicated and most importantly out of sync or outdated. When this occurs, integration of these systems has no value, answering even basic questions such as “What are my site-specific items?”, “what product(s) have the best margins?”, in some cases “Which are my products are configurable?”, and critical questions about any type of metric or KPI. A technological solution without corresponding changes to business process are likely to fail to produce satisfactory results.
One such business process Configure Price Quote (CPQ) solution requires high quality item / product data in their system to accurately configure their complex products and services and deliver a personalized quote to the customer.
About the Solution
Getting answers to above questions and allow business to gain insights, flow of accurate master data with downstream systems such as CPQ, ERP, CRM are essential critical success factors for seamless business process integration. iSteer’s Item data management solution powered by TIBCO EBX allowed business to connect ERP and CPQ, CRM, Analytical systems through a centralized, well governed “Item MDM solution”.
Solution Features
✓ On-demand PLM, Items, Part Type extraction workflow from ERP system ✓ Part Type data standardization based on enumerated values on Colour, Grill Type, Materials
✓ Perspective driven data search & selection criteria for business users ✓ Composite Part Type views allowing business team to choose right data over 200+ part types, a unique implementation hierarchy-based navigation ✓ Item Synchronization between this MDM, Baan ERP and Infor CPQ based on the RESTful API end points & JDBC connectivity
✓ The application allows the users to transfer multiple items to cloud & on-prem systems
✓ Error reports for providing interface error details
✓ Data Security based on user roles
Benefits:
Single source of truth
Consistent, high quality item / product information in a single place in the MDM , making downstream data dissemination easier and build trust worthiness of the item master data in the enterprise. This solution is record of all the key information about particular item of inventory. It includes all the part types , colour , grill type ,glass, material.
Data Governance and Security
With IT & Business teams involvement data assets are qualified and quantified to enable the business to maximize the value, A systematic policy based approach by data governance council enhances information collection, security, use , retention and deletion.
Reduced time to market
For complex customer configurations its essential that quality data to be organized centrally yet provide “site” specific types, allowing quick configuration, price and quoting process
Innovative Company Image
Ability to access latest master data, timely and accurately will result in great customer satisfaction and open avenues for cross and upselling.
Reduced IT Costs
Having a single container of master data , MDM solution eliminates the need of maintaining multiple copies of master data & associated maintenance activities.
