Managing Automation - September 2007 - (Page 60)

[ INTEGRATION ] Transformation Integration TechWatch Industries pharmacies in order to properly assign sales commanagement system vendors, which include missions. But with an MDM hub, updates can most of the enterprise applications vendors as be syndicated across systems while other data well as SAS Institute, Teradata, and Microsoft, safeguards between enterprises stay in place. might offer scalable database management sysSOA technology has evolved to the point tems that can be adapted for data warehousing where it can help central MDM repositories and MDM. Pure-play vendors spotlight the admanage data across applications in real time. vantages of using a single point of data referAn SOA-based MDM environment enables ence combined with interoperability across organizations to treat all master reference data source applications. Data quality vendors are and all services within the corporate data mancompeting with extensive prepackaged data defiagement infrastructure as reusable functions nitions, domain models, and rules and policies, that can be leveraged across distributed applisometimes designed for specific industries. cations, says James Kobielus, principal analyst for data man- Lacking ubiquitous SOA, enterprises can’t achieve agement at Current Analysis. the MDM vision of a “a single version of the Within SOA, data management functions, such as data truth,” says James Kobielus, principal analyst for integration, data quality, and data management at Current Analysis. data warehousing, are implemented as Web ser vices. Lacking ubiquitous The specific MDM architecture that users SOA, enterprises can’t achieve the MDM vision should select depends on the systems they have of a “single version of the truth,” Kobielus says. in place, how much existing investment is necessary to leverage MDM, and what level of inMDM COMPONENTS teroperability is required, among other factors. Vendors largely concur that an MDM portfolio “Successful [MDM] implementations need consists of four primary components, some of client action and clear vision,” SAP’s Gupta says. which enterprises already have in place. First, “That means working out agreements on stanthere are the existing source applications, such dards and data attributes. Clients who invest in as CRM and SCM systems; second, the MDM that are more successful. MDM is more than platform itself with a data quality engine; third, a just technology; it’s strategic data services, data central repository or hub for data objects; and governance, and data stewardship. MDM is dyfourth, an integration backbone to manage the namic and it’s holistic.” ■ flow of data between the source applications and the hub. managingautomation.com No single vendor today delivers a complete package, but groups of companies are positionRELATED ARTICLES: A New Structure for Corporate Data ing themselves in ways that play to their www.managingautomation.com/CorporateData strengths, Kobielus says. Tips for Creating a Single Version of Truth SOA, enterprise application, middleware, and www.managingautomation.com/exclusive4 business intelligence (BI) vendors, such as SAP, Getting Product Information Under Control Oracle, IBM, Business Objects, and Hewlettwww.managingautomation.com/information Packard, are looking for ways to incorporate data Business Intelligence: Getting in Sync with quality software into their product lineups, as Real-Time Data seen in such moves as Business Objects’ recent www.managingautomation.com/BI acquisition of FirstLogic, Kobielus says. Elsewhere, pure-play MDM vendors, such as COMPANIES MENTIONED: Kalido, Siperian, Purisma, Inc., and Initiate SysHarte-Hanks Trillium Software tems, Inc., lack the data management middlewww.managingautomation.com/Trillium ware and source applications, but their systems Kalido play well with data management software from www.managingautomation.com/Kalido other vendors, he says. Data quality system deSAP velopers, such as Trillium, Pitney-Bowes’ Group www.managingautomation.com/SAP3 1 Software, and Informatica, which also tend to Informatica be platform-agnostic, round out a crowded field www.managingautomation.com/Informatica (see chart, this page). Siperian www.managingautomation.com/Siperian2 The vendor’s starting point often dictates the way it will differentiate itself, Kobielus says. Data maonline ma September 60 2007 http://managingautomation.com http://www.managingautomation.com/CorporateData http://www.managingautomation.com/exclusive4 http://www.managingautomation.com/information http://www.managingautomation.com/BI http://www.managingautomation.com/Trillium http://www.managingautomation.com/Kalido http://www.managingautomation.com/SAP3 http://www.managingautomation.com/Informatica http://www.managingautomation.com/Siperian2

Table of Contents Feed for the Digital Edition of Managing Automation - September 2007

Contents Take 1 Europe’s Automation Chiefs Upbeat on ’08 Business Prospects Vendor Coalition Pushes Human Element of SOA Wireless: Users Still Approaching with Caution One Year Later, IBM Shows Plan for MRO’s Maximo Study: More Work Needed to Lure Next-Gen Talent Executive Q&A Notes Cover Story: 2008 Companies to Watch Special Report: The 2007 Progressive Manufacturing High Achievers Progressive Manufacturer of the Year Business Model Mastery Innovation Mastery Customer Mastery Supply Network Mastery Data & Integration Mastery Education & Training Mastery Operational Excellence Mastery Leadership Mastery Transformation: Orchestrating the Multi-Tier Supply Network Integration: The Timeless Quest for Accurate Data Industries: Maintenance No Longer on Schedule Product Scan Advertiser Index Next

Managing Automation - September 2007

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