From nuisance to success factor

Accurate entry of the many field values, e.g. in the material master, requires appropriate care and users were not always aware of the impact of careless errors or unauthorized "simplifications".

Data errors can lead to expensive follow-up costs in procurement, scheduling or production, without easily making a business case for professionalized master data management.

The digital transformation of business processes is brutally tightening the requirements for master data. If processes are to be automated and self-controlled, manual intervention to iron out data errors is out of the question.

Therefore, systems are needed that ensure correct and complete data right from the start and relieve the user of laborious detail work. This leaves all the more time for important decisions.

The Schweinfurt-based systems house Apicon supplies such a tool in the form of Apicon Data Master. Data Master is an SAP-certified cockpit that is fully integrated into SAP ERP. The intuitive user interface relieves users of daily master data maintenance.

A built-in data analysis generates diagrams and also provides important key figures for decision-makers. In this way, you can immediately recognize any need for action, and a drill-down leads directly to the displayed data objects for processing.

The processes of data creation and maintenance are also mapped. The integrated task management also controls these processes across departments without complex workflow.

The system automatically recognizes work tasks and assigns them to the appropriate processor or department. During interactive data maintenance, an intelligent editor with reduced masks, field checks, formulas and rules as well as many convenience functions simplifies the work.

Thus, field values can be determined automatically via an integrated rule system and several work steps can be combined in one mouse click. The editor can also be used to edit different, logically related data synchronously.

This technique is also used for complex mass changes. These can be carried out in an audit-proof manner and without being hindered by mass object locks.

The tool has a modular structure and offers comprehensive function chains, e.g. for material master, routing, bill of material, purchasing info record, conditions.

The data quality gained with reduced effort releases potential that is urgently needed for further digitization. In this way, the annoyance of master data becomes the fuel for new successes.