Informatica PIM vs Microsoft MDS comparison

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Comparison Buyer's Guide
Executive Summary

We performed a comparison between Informatica PIM and Microsoft MDS based on real PeerSpot user reviews.

Find out in this report how the two Product Information Management (PIM) solutions compare in terms of features, pricing, service and support, easy of deployment, and ROI.
To learn more, read our detailed Informatica PIM vs. Microsoft MDS Report (Updated: July 2022).
765,234 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
"The staging and hierarchical features are the most valuable.""A great product enrichment tool.""The most important features are the mastering of the data and the UI intuitiveness."

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"Unlike specialized tools, MDS is adaptable for various industries, making it a versatile choice for master data management.""What I like about Microsoft, is that it has a huge database with many users.""The most valuable feature is the administration console.""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.""The solution is easy to install.""The tool is easy to use.""The backup and restore functionality are the solution's most valuable aspects.""The ease of use is valuable."

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Cons
"Database access is highly restricted particularly if you're using the cloud version.""Its look and feel needs improvement. It has a lousy look and feel. Informatica PIM is designed specifically for the retail industry. They need to make sure that it is also applicable to all the other industries and verticals.""They need more feature flexibility, as it is not fully developed."

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"From my understanding, MS, as of 2021, will not maintain the product going forward.""In the next version, I would like to see integration with Azure.""JMD repositories have records that come in thousands and millions, which takes a long time to process.""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.""Microsoft MDS' language should be simple so everyone can use it easily.""The stability could be improved.""There are occasions when the solution maintains SD and we get duplications of MDS.""The Microsoft license cost could be lower."

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Pricing and Cost Advice
  • "We switched to Informatica PIM because it was cheaper than the Oracle solution. It is cheaper initially, but they will bundle it later. This is what happens in the industry."
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  • "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
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    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 »
    Ranking
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    Comparisons
    Also Known As
    PIM, Product 360, Heiler
    Microsoft Master Data Services, Microsoft MDM, Microsoft SQL Server Master Data Services, MS MDS
    Learn More
    Overview

    MDM – Product 360 is Informatica’s master data-fueled product information management (PIM) system. It allows business users to more effectively manage and collaborate on product content to fuel all sales channels with consistent, rich, and accurate product data for an informed and engaging customer experience. By delivering clean, consistent, and trusted product data, Product 360 empowers customer engagement and a company’s digital transformation by increasing speed, agility, and time to market.

    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
    Puma, Saint Gobain, Unilever
    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
    Manufacturing Company16%
    Computer Software Company15%
    Retailer11%
    Financial Services Firm6%
    REVIEWERS
    Non Profit17%
    Manufacturing Company17%
    Retailer8%
    Government8%
    VISITORS READING REVIEWS
    Computer Software Company15%
    Financial Services Firm10%
    Manufacturing Company8%
    Government7%
    Company Size
    REVIEWERS
    Midsize Enterprise29%
    Large Enterprise71%
    VISITORS READING REVIEWS
    Small Business20%
    Midsize Enterprise12%
    Large Enterprise68%
    REVIEWERS
    Small Business40%
    Midsize Enterprise10%
    Large Enterprise50%
    VISITORS READING REVIEWS
    Small Business16%
    Midsize Enterprise15%
    Large Enterprise69%
    Buyer's Guide
    Informatica PIM vs. Microsoft MDS
    July 2022
    Find out what your peers are saying about Informatica PIM vs. Microsoft MDS and other solutions. Updated: July 2022.
    765,234 professionals have used our research since 2012.

    Informatica PIM is ranked 2nd in Product Information Management (PIM) while Microsoft MDS is ranked 2nd in Master Data Management (MDM) Software with 18 reviews. Informatica PIM is rated 8.2, while Microsoft MDS is rated 7.6. The top reviewer of Informatica PIM writes "Great product enrichment tool that provides flexibility and can be plugged with any e-commerce site". 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". Informatica PIM is most compared with SAP Hybris PCM, Informatica MDM, SAP Master Data Governance, Stibo STEP MDM and Profisee, whereas Microsoft MDS is most compared with Informatica MDM, SAP Master Data Governance, Profisee, TIBCO EBX and Boomi AtomSphere Master Data Hub. See our Informatica PIM vs. Microsoft MDS report.

    We monitor all Product Information Management (PIM) 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.