When an SAP implementation is in progress, the constant question is “what about the reports?”. This is an understandable question since the process of collecting data has limited value unless the data can provide value-based information to the company in the form of reporting.

However, the SAP implementation team does not always complete the design for reports until after installation and initial implementation steps are completed. This order of events can have many reasons. The one main reason is that the Master Data must be organized and meet quality expectations for the reports to be able to meet those same standards.

Master Data is the core data that is essential to all businesses, regardless of size or industry. Recognizing how important master data is to operations, many businesses are moving towards Master Data Management (MDM) and Master Data Governance (MDG) models to ensure their master data is persistently healthy. These models include content consolidation, master data harmonization, policies, standards, tools, and more.  Examples of the more commonly governed master data include customers, materials, and vendors.

Today, large and mid-scale companies that are operating on the base of diversified IT landscapes are often suffering from master data that is inconsistently stored in multiple, disconnected systems or databases. According to SAP “SAP NetWeaver Master Data Management (MDM) enables companies to consolidate and harmonize their master data within heterogeneous IT landscapes. It consistently delivers vastly reduced data maintenance costs, ensures cross-system data consistency, accelerates the execution of business processes, and greatly improves decision-making.”

With the Master Data consolidated and harmonized, cross-system data consistency can be ensured. At this point, Reports will have quality Master Data as input to creating quality Reporting.

SAPinsight holds Breakfast Huddles for SAP Super Users to discuss issues such as Master Data and Reporting. These Breakfast Huddles are being held and are being planned in different cities throughout the United States. For example, the Dallas Breakfast Huddle in May of 2014, hosted by Maxim Integrated, provided a venue for SAP Super Users to openly discuss and share:

• What Master Data they support,
• What Master Data tools they use,
• What challenges they face,
• How they handle Master Data Governance.

SAPinsight opened up a lively discussion on what reporting tools and methods the attending Super Users used (or did not use) in April at the Dallas Breakfast Huddle, hosted by Hitachi High Technologies America. This discussion generated real-life stories of successes and challenges that SAP Super Users experienced.

Breakfast Huddles are coming to Houston in June, with Sysco Foods hosting this first one. Watch for communications. Sign-up to SAPinsight, subscribe to this Blog, or friend us from your favorite popular social media channel to stay updated. SAPinsight arranges these Breakfast Huddles around the country. If you are interested in hosting an event in your city, contact us. Huddles are exclusive events for SAP Super Users, SAP Super User Leaders, and those support resources within their companies.