IBM InfoSphere MDM vs Microsoft MDS comparison

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Executive Summary

We performed a comparison between IBM InfoSphere MDM and Microsoft MDS based on real PeerSpot user reviews.

Find out in this report how the two Master Data Management (MDM) Software solutions compare in terms of features, pricing, service and support, easy of deployment, and ROI.
To learn more, read our detailed IBM InfoSphere MDM vs. Microsoft MDS Report (Updated: March 2024).
765,386 professionals have used our research since 2012.
Featured Review
Quotes From Members
We asked business professionals to review the solutions they use.
Here are some excerpts of what they said:
Pros
"There are not really many areas of the product that need improvement because the product stays up-to-date with data management needs.""The features that are most valuable are the governance, the end-profiling and the ETL which allows you to see the metadata repositories.""The advantage is that the matching engine is very good, so that's why customers generally prefer it. From the inbuilt data model perspective, IBM MDM is good.""When users update their information on one product, the data is sent to a database. My approach was to maintain a master data record, ensuring that each platform loads the latest updated record. Instead of having three separate records, the system keeps one master data record, storing the historical records for reference."

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"Enables non-technical people to directly interact with the BI system.""It has a very good feature called Excel plug-in. You just have to install the plug-in, and then it directly connects to the MDS instance where you can maintain and manage your data and publish it right through Excel. You don't need to go to the front end to make any changes. It has easy integration with SQL Server, and you can use SSIS to do the ETLs. It is a part of the Microsoft stack. It works with most of the Microsoft stuff.""Unlike specialized tools, MDS is adaptable for various industries, making it a versatile choice for master data management.""Technical support is very good.""It's very easy to use.""It is very easy to deploy and provision a machine.""The most valuable feature of Microsoft MDS is its management.""What I like about Microsoft, is that it has a huge database with many users."

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Cons
"We also want better cloud integration, so we could do things in the cloud if we needed to. This would be a good feature to add in a future release.""IBM InfoSphere MDM's UI is complicated. It also needs to improve its on-prem configuration.""The tool is difficult to understand from a customer perspective and for developers.""The product is really only created for large organizations."

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"The solution could be better integrated into Microsoft's other products.""The only drawback is that it does not have the matching, merging, and all true MDM components. For these, you have to use another competent called Data Quality Services (DQS). You need to plug it in and use it along with MDS for true MDM. Both of these are integrated together, but you have to do them separately, whereas, in Profisee, there are a couple of screens where you can configure the matching process, create matching rules, and other things, and everything is in one product, which is not the case with MDS. In order to implement a true MDM, you need MDS, DQS, and SSIS. You have to use MDS to store your golden records, DQS to configure and standardize all your rules and matching percentages, and SSIS to load the data to DQS and MDS. At the same time, you also need Melissa Data to clean up your addresses to validate and standardize the addresses. That's the main component of true MDM. It would be good if they can create a true matching component inside MDS and merge MDS and DQS.""Stability can be fragile at times. If you are not attentive or make a mistake, it can cause problems.""I do not like using Silverlight and Internet Explorer. The new 2019 version gets rid of that, which is one of the reasons why we are looking to switch.""In the next version, I would like to see integration with Azure.""Most of the Microsoft partners, especially digitally, are separate. Personnel are business people, and they do not have technical expertise, so you end up as a company spending a lot of money training your staff and your engineers.""Microsoft MDS isn't getting strong support because Microsoft is focusing more on cloud solutions.""Microsoft MDS' language should be simple so everyone can use it easily."

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Pricing and Cost Advice
  • "It may be costly for small organizations but adds value for large organizations with demanding workflows."
  • More IBM InfoSphere MDM Pricing and Cost Advice →

  • "The pricing of this solution is good."
  • "With Microsoft, we buy everything though an agreement, so we purchase volume licensing every year."
  • "I would like to see better pricing."
  • "MDS is a part of the SQL Server enterprise license. I am not aware of any additional costs."
  • "SAP is more expensive than Microsoft."
  • "The solution does require a license and we have enterprise licenses."
  • "Microsoft MDS is an expensive solution."
  • More Microsoft MDS Pricing and Cost Advice →

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    Questions from the Community
    Top Answer:When users update their information on one product, the data is sent to a database. My approach was to maintain a master data record, ensuring that each platform loads the latest updated record… more »
    Top Answer:IBM InfoSphere MDM's UI is complicated. It also needs to improve its on-prem configuration.
    Top Answer:When users update their information on one product, the data is sent to a database. My approach was to maintain a master data record, ensuring that each platform loads the latest updated record… more »
    Top Answer:Unlike specialized tools, MDS is adaptable for various industries, making it a versatile choice for master data management.
    Top Answer:Microsoft MDS is cost-effective because it comes with SQL Server Enterprise Edition at no extra software cost. The main expenses are for deployment, but it saves money by reducing the need for custom… more »
    Top Answer:Microsoft MDS isn't getting strong support because Microsoft is focusing more on cloud solutions. Profisee initially made MDS, which Microsoft bought. Profisee now handles the cloud version. There are… more »
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    Also Known As
    InfoSphere MDM, InfoSphere Master Data Management
    Microsoft Master Data Services, Microsoft MDM, Microsoft SQL Server Master Data Services, MS MDS
    Learn More
    Overview

    InfoSphere Master Data Management (MDM) is the most complete, proven and powerful MDM solution with collaborative and operational capabilities. InfoSphere MDM manages master data for single or multiple domains - customers, patients, citizens, suppliers, locations, products, services offerings, accounts and more - for improving application & business process effectiveness

    Microsoft Master Data Services (MDS) is an SQL server solution for master data. MDS enables users to organize and manage a business's master set of data into models while also creating rules for updating the data and control over who can edit it. In addition, the master dataset can be shared with other people in your organization through Excel.

    In Master Data Services, you create a model, which is the highest level container in the structure of your master data. This model can then be used to group similar data. Within the model, there can be one or more entities that are similar to a table. Those entities contain members that are the data records. For example, your model can include commodities such as style, color, and product if you manage online product data. The color entity may contain members for various colors. Models may also have attributes that contain values that describe entity members and can be defined within the entities.

    There are also attributes that contain values that help describe entities within entity members. There are two different types of attributes:

    • Free-form attributes - include numbers, dates, text, or files.
    • Domain-based attributes - includes values that can be used as attribute values for other entities.

    Features of Microsoft MDS

    Microsoft MDS offers a variety of features that provide a central management of master data, while accommodating access to editors and other consumers of the information. These features include:

    • Data Validation: With a proactive monitoring process in Business Rules, users can ensure data validity before the lists are used.

    • Domain Agnostic: Any data type or data schema can be supported by the MDS system.

    • Security: Without risking unauthorized changes, IT teams are empowered to control access at the attribute, entity, and record levels.

    • Web-based UI: There is no need to install software, as the web-based user interface gives access to a vast user base.

    • Versioning: Each model in MDS can be versioned, allowing for users to tab particular versions for subscribing systems.

    • Hierarchy Management: MDS offers functional and versatile management of business hierarchies with various hierarchy types and specialized controls.

    • Transaction Logging: MDS offers a transaction log to keep track of changes, as well as the ability to explain why changes were made.

    Reviews from Real Users

    For those managing large quantities of master data, Microsoft MDS is a solution of choice for a number of reasons. Two of those are its ability to empower everyone to interact with the BI system as well as its integration with Azure active directory.

    Satyam S., a senior software developer at a manufacturing company, notes, "Enables non-technical people to directly interact with the BI system."

    An individual contributor at a pharma/biotech company writes, "One of the main features I have found useful is the integration with Azure active directory."

    Sample Customers
    L'Oreal S.A., Kingland Systems, Oncor, Farmaceuticos Maypo, Volkswagen Financial Services
    ETA a.s., Apeejay Surrendra Group, Blue Star Infotech, Rotherham Doncaster and South Humber NHS Foundation, The Sydney Children's Hospitals Network, New Belgium Brewing
    Top Industries
    VISITORS READING REVIEWS
    Financial Services Firm26%
    Insurance Company8%
    Computer Software Company8%
    Manufacturing Company6%
    REVIEWERS
    Non Profit17%
    Manufacturing Company17%
    Retailer8%
    Government8%
    VISITORS READING REVIEWS
    Computer Software Company15%
    Financial Services Firm10%
    Manufacturing Company8%
    Government7%
    Company Size
    REVIEWERS
    Midsize Enterprise27%
    Large Enterprise73%
    VISITORS READING REVIEWS
    Small Business17%
    Midsize Enterprise12%
    Large Enterprise71%
    REVIEWERS
    Small Business40%
    Midsize Enterprise10%
    Large Enterprise50%
    VISITORS READING REVIEWS
    Small Business16%
    Midsize Enterprise15%
    Large Enterprise69%
    Buyer's Guide
    IBM InfoSphere MDM vs. Microsoft MDS
    March 2024
    Find out what your peers are saying about IBM InfoSphere MDM vs. Microsoft MDS and other solutions. Updated: March 2024.
    765,386 professionals have used our research since 2012.

    IBM InfoSphere MDM is ranked 4th in Master Data Management (MDM) Software with 9 reviews while Microsoft MDS is ranked 2nd in Master Data Management (MDM) Software with 18 reviews. IBM InfoSphere MDM is rated 7.4, while Microsoft MDS is rated 7.6. The top reviewer of IBM InfoSphere MDM writes "Provides inbuilt data model and good matching engine". On the other hand, the top reviewer of Microsoft MDS writes "Useful Excel plug-in, good scalability, and good integration with SQL Server and other Microsoft products". IBM InfoSphere MDM is most compared with Informatica MDM, IBM Master Data Management on Cloud, SAP Master Data Governance, TIBCO EBX and Reltio Cloud, whereas Microsoft MDS is most compared with Informatica MDM, SAP Master Data Governance, Profisee, TIBCO EBX and Stibo STEP MDM. See our IBM InfoSphere MDM vs. Microsoft MDS report.

    See our list of best Master Data Management (MDM) Software vendors.

    We monitor all Master Data Management (MDM) Software reviews to prevent fraudulent reviews and keep review quality high. We do not post reviews by company employees or direct competitors. We validate each review for authenticity via cross-reference with LinkedIn, and personal follow-up with the reviewer when necessary.