SnapLogic, Orchestra Bring Cloud-Based MDM, Governance to Cloud Integration 
SnapLogic is teaming up with MDM experts at Orchestra Networks to bring master data management to cloud integration. The cloud-based MDM offering, called smartdatagovernance.com, allows non-IT users to quickly setup and maintain a single source of the truth for business-critical data in the cloud, and keep on-premise and cloud apps in sync.
SnapLogic is teaming up with MDM experts at Orchestra Networks to enhance its cloud integration offering with a cloud-based master data management (MDM) solution.
The innovative cloud-based MDM offering, called Smartdatagovernance.com, allows non-IT users to quickly establish and maintain a single source of the truth for business-critical data in the cloud, and keep on-premise and cloud apps in sync. Data sets could include products, employees, financials and other assets.
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The ongoing and rapid adoption of SaaS is driving companies to look for “cloud to on-premise integration,” and now that includes ways to ensure uniform data quality and synchronization across disparate applications and data stores, Elias Terman, SnapLogic’s director of product marketing, told IDN.
Elias Terman
Director of Product Marketing, SnapLogic
“Because of cloud and SaaS options, companies just have so many more apps and data sources and they want all those [resources] to fire off the same reference or master data,” Terman said. “In this cloud-driven world, we saw the need to take master data management in a whole new direction – and make it easier and less complicated for businesses.”
The SnapLogic / Orchestra cloud-based MDM approach aims to help customers avoid the need for costly on-premise hardware and software. Further, it will help customers address a full lifecycle of MDM-related tasks -- from setup, configure and management using a simple web interface. It is designed to provide web-based collaboration, workflows, change management and connectivity to any application.
Orchestra Networks is the creator of EBX5 enterprise MDM software, which provides multi-domain MDM capabilities with a business-user focus to Global 100 firms. Its IP powers smartdatagovernance.com. Notably, the SnapLogic/Orchestra partnership has not watered down the EBX5 MDM features to run from the cloud or be accessible from simple web browsers, said Orchestra CEO Christophe Barriolade.
Smartdatagovernance.com customers will manage their master data with the same technology that empowers MDM programs at large companies worldwide, Barriolade noted He added that Orchestra / SnapLogic partnership marries MDM and cloud integration at the right time to help customers and grow the enterprise-ready SaaS industry.
“Both [companies] are focused on consumerizing IT and maximizing the benefits of the cloud, so that companies can more easily embrace new best-of-breed SaaS applications, strategically manage their data assets, and effectively collaborate around data governance,” Barriolade said in a statement.
Inside the Architecture of SmartDataGovernance.com
How SnapLogic, Orchestra Unify Cloud Integration, MDM
The smartdatagovernance.com MDM offering leverages the SnapLogic connectivity and integration platform with a cloud-based central repository. The result is an integration-ready single version of a company’s master data, Terman told IDN.
To update and ensure data consistency across multiple cloud or on-premise applications, the repository can readily integrate with a wide range of apps and datastores using SnapLogic’s ‘Snaps,’ which are pluggable and standardized containers to connect a wide range of applications and data.
Smartdatagovernance.com provides these services and features:
Data governance – Secure and simple cloud-based collaboration and workflow configuration, data model design with business rules for data quality, hierarchy authoring and management, and integration for all facets of business data
Product information management – Synchronization with ERP, CRM and e-Commerce systems, change management and approval processes for management of complex product catalogs
Reference data management – Single repository of reference tables such as geographies, codifications and hierarchies integrated across enterprise applications; and
Business intelligence dimensions – Centrally managed, unique definitions for each dimension and hierarchy consumed by BI solutions (product categories, market segments, financial accounts, etc.)
SnapLogic’s Cloud MDM approach also aims to remove much of the complexity of traditional MDM projects. “Companies know they need better data governance and even master data, but MDM for many in IT has become a four-letter word. It has just become too much of an expensive, complicated project,” Terman told IDN.
Under the covers, the SnapLogic / Orchestra approach delivers integration-ready master data to simplify MDM. Business users will be able to use their browser to access these collaboration and change management features:
- Author data and hierarchies. Eliminates the need for spreadsheets or complex ERP updates, and allows users to manage reference and master data hierarchies in a single tool with data authoring, hierarchy management and version control
- Easier, broader data collaboration. All stakeholders can be part of data governance, as change management and approvals are made easier via collaborative data management, role-based security and workflow configuration
- Designing custom data models. Non-IT users can create rich data models with embedded business rules to enforce data quality
- Keep data safe and protected. Uses top standards for directory and permission management, data isolation and security
Easily integrate master data with current apps. Simple-to-leverage access to SnapLogic’s modern connection architecture and SnapStore’s readily-available “Snaps” to synchronize all master data with a wide range of on-premise and cloud apps.
As a result of this lifecycle approach to cloud integration and data governance, Smartdatagovernance.com will provide master data to many of the most popular cloud-based SaaS applications, including Salesforce.com and NetSuite, as well as traditional enterprise applications, such as SAP or Oracle. Specialized, vertical and home-grown applications can also be supported.
At least one analyst said this trend to enrich cloud integration with MDM capabilities for data sync will be valuable to companies adopting cloud and SaaS solution.
“Organizations are adopting cloud-based applications across many line[s] of business, yet only 34% are satisfied with the data governance capabilities included in these service providers’ applications,” said David Menninger, VP & Research Director, Ventana Research. The approach SnapLogic is using brings MDM and data governance to basic cloud integration, and helps address these needs, he added.
