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IBM InfoSphere MDM vs IBM Master Data Management on Cloud vs Microsoft MDS comparison

 

Comparison Buyer's Guide

Executive Summary

Review summaries and opinions

We asked business professionals to review the solutions they use. Here are some excerpts of what they said:
 

Mindshare comparison

Master Data Management (MDM) Software Mindshare Distribution
ProductMindshare (%)
IBM InfoSphere MDM4.8%
Semarchy xDM12.5%
TIBCO EBX9.8%
Other72.9%
Master Data Management (MDM) Software
Cloud Master Data Management (MDM) Mindshare Distribution
ProductMindshare (%)
IBM Master Data Management on Cloud1.3%
Informatica Intelligent Data Management Cloud (IDMC)18.6%
Semarchy xDM15.6%
Other64.5%
Cloud Master Data Management (MDM)
Master Data Management (MDM) Software Mindshare Distribution
ProductMindshare (%)
Microsoft MDS7.2%
Semarchy xDM12.5%
TIBCO EBX9.8%
Other70.5%
Master Data Management (MDM) Software
 

Featured Reviews

SoumikDolui - PeerSpot reviewer
Assistant Consultant at a tech services company with 10,001+ employees
Provides inbuilt data model and good matching engine
It's a tough tool for developers. Right now in the market, I think Informatica MDM is number one and is used a lot. IBM MDM was developed by some other company and IBM developed it more. There are definitely some flaws. The tool is difficult to understand from a customer perspective and for developers. Generally, customers can understand Informatica MDM and its functionality easily. If a developer is facing issues with IBM MDM, then a customer will definitely not understand most of the functionality. That is the main concern. IBM is introducing some Next-Gen MDM, where they are using a lot of current technologies and machine learning. Most of the problems we may be facing right now are probably solved in that version.
reviewer1507302 - PeerSpot reviewer
Sr Solution Architect - Enterprise Storage and Virtualization at a computer software company with 501-1,000 employees
Effective service consolidation, new features frequent added, and beneficial centralized management
My advice to others would be IBM Master Data Management on Cloud should be considered as one of the solutions in comparison with other cloud providers in that area. Compare other solutions, such as Azure or AWS Endure data management. Based on some of the projects that we have had most customers have been extremely satisfied, I rate IBM Master Data Management on Cloud a nine out of ten.
reviewer1524357 - PeerSpot reviewer
Solution Architect at a computer software company with 51-200 employees
Has supported endpoint management while revealing areas where usability and latency can improve
The couple of times we found issues with technical support from Microsoft for Microsoft MDS, they resolved them. The response time and understanding were adequate, though there was always a language barrier between the teams. The teams we worked with were in Korea, and it was sometimes a language issue.

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."
"It is one of the best MDM solutions available on market."
"Flexibility Web services"
"The features that are most valuable are the governance, the end-profiling and the ETL which allows you to see the metadata repositories."
"For the company I work for, not having MDM is not an option."
"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."
"The advantage is that the matching engine is very good, so that's why customers generally prefer it, and from the inbuilt data model perspective, IBM MDM is good."
"IBM Master Data Management on Cloud has been valuable because it has helped in the consolidation of services and lots of the cost of administering and centralizing all the management and automation. Additionally, new features are frequently added."
"IBM Master Data Management on Cloud has been valuable because it has helped in the consolidation of services and lots of the cost of administering and centralizing all the management and automation, and new features are frequently added."
"The ROI is terrific and it means you can avoid building or purchasing a solution."
"The most valuable feature is the administration console."
"It has been 200% useful in our organization."
"I would recommend Microsoft MDS to companies that need a simple solution at no cost."
"The pricing of this solution is good."
"One of the main features I have found useful is the integration with Azure active directory."
"The best thing about it is that it comes with the Microsoft package."
"The most valuable feature of Microsoft MDS is its compatibility with ETL tools like SSIS, which simplifies operations for end-users."
 

Cons

"The tool is difficult to understand from a customer perspective and for developers."
"It needs a better database."
"IBM InfoSphere MDM's UI is complicated. It also needs to improve its on-prem configuration."
"Though probabilistic search is supported, this feature is not an out of the box API."
"The master data, and the reference data management in the toolset are not good."
"It's complex because of the poor quality of the documentation."
"If you are a small company, it is more likely overkill."
"However, it needs to mature in several areas including, UI, DAM, lighter out-of-box features, and simplify the currently complex technical footprint."
"The solution is continually being improved by adding features."
"The solution is continually being improved by adding features. They should continue to improve the solution in the future."
"JMD repositories have records that come in thousands and millions, which takes a long time to process."
"Microsoft MDS isn't getting strong support because Microsoft is focusing more on cloud solutions."
"There are occasions when the solution maintains SD and we get duplications of MDS."
"The business rules definition interface could be improved."
"The solution could be better integrated into Microsoft's other products."
"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."
"It would be a better option to have an on-cloud version."
"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."
 

Pricing and Cost Advice

"It may be costly for small organizations but adds value for large organizations with demanding workflows."
Information not available
"Microsoft MDS is an expensive solution."
"I would like to see better pricing."
"Product licensing is very complicated. It would be helpful to have an online calculator to estimate the cost of a license."
"The solution does require a license and we have enterprise licenses."
"With Microsoft, we buy everything though an agreement, so we purchase volume licensing every year."
"The pricing of this solution is good."
"SAP is more expensive than Microsoft."
"MDS is a part of the SQL Server enterprise license. I am not aware of any additional costs."
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Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews
Financial Services Firm
22%
Healthcare Company
15%
Manufacturing Company
8%
Government
5%
No data available
Financial Services Firm
12%
Manufacturing Company
10%
Computer Software Company
10%
Media Company
8%
 

Company Size

By reviewers
Large Enterprise
Midsize Enterprise
Small Business
By reviewers
Company SizeCount
Midsize Enterprise3
Large Enterprise8
No data available
By reviewers
Company SizeCount
Small Business9
Midsize Enterprise2
Large Enterprise15
 

Questions from the Community

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What do you like most about Microsoft MDS?
More generic related things can be included in the services.
What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for Microsoft MDS?
Microsoft MDS was pretty affordable. We implemented the solution without a problem.
What needs improvement with Microsoft MDS?
I cannot really give specifics about disadvantages. From what we have seen, speaking to customers, Microsoft MDS was ...
 

Also Known As

InfoSphere MDM, InfoSphere Master Data Management
No data available
Microsoft Master Data Services, Microsoft MDM, Microsoft SQL Server Master Data Services, MS MDS
 

Overview

 

Sample Customers

L'Oreal S.A., Kingland Systems, Oncor, Farmaceuticos Maypo, Volkswagen Financial Services
Zions Bancorporation, London Borough of Camden, Government of Odisha, 1-800-Flowers.com, Nordea Bank, Sonoma County, California, Localiza
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
Find out what your peers are saying about SAP, TIBCO, Qlik and others in Master Data Management (MDM) Software. Updated: March 2026.
885,837 professionals have used our research since 2012.