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IBM InfoSphere MDM vs Informatica Intelligent Data Management Cloud (IDMC) vs SAP Master Data Governance 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 Market Share Distribution
ProductMarket Share (%)
IBM InfoSphere MDM7.8%
SAP Master Data Governance21.6%
Microsoft MDS13.0%
Other57.599999999999994%
Master Data Management (MDM) Software
Data Management Platforms (DMP) Market Share Distribution
ProductMarket Share (%)
Informatica Intelligent Data Management Cloud (IDMC)14.1%
Palantir Foundry25.9%
Adobe Audience Manager6.2%
Other53.8%
Data Management Platforms (DMP)
Master Data Management (MDM) Software Market Share Distribution
ProductMarket Share (%)
SAP Master Data Governance21.6%
Microsoft MDS13.0%
TIBCO EBX12.6%
Other52.8%
Master Data Management (MDM) Software
 

Q&A Highlights

it_user545286 - PeerSpot reviewer
Dec 09, 2016
 

Featured Reviews

SoumikDolui - PeerSpot reviewer
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.
SaurabhGaonshindhe - PeerSpot reviewer
Modular structure and AI features stream new reporting processes
One of my clients has a requirement; they want to integrate metadata into the process, which means, for example, if I just want to implement a new field into my database, that field needs to be reflected throughout, let's say, 200 mappings. This highlights the need for a data-driven approach. My experience with technical support from Informatica is quite interesting; I would rate it as nine out of ten for Informatica PowerCenter kind of products or the Informatica integration products, because my team can do some hands-on using their free licenses or one-month kind of products. However, for products Master Data Management or related to MDM or Data Governance, there is no way by which we can directly practice, and my team struggles at that point.
UdayReddy - PeerSpot reviewer
Detailed technical support and data integration capabilities create seamless user experience
Regarding SAP Master Data Governance, there is significant room for improvement particularly concerning the replication types. For example, when a vendor master is created in Ariba and a request is submitted from the Ariba system, SAP Ariba directs it to MDG. MDG verifies the details entirely through PI/PO or CPI. Once MDG verifies the data, the request is submitted to the S/4HANA system, the target. After a final approval at all levels, the vendor number is generated, and the vendor code gets passed from source to target system. This number is available in both the Ariba integration in the systems and in SAP BPT code, as well as the S/4HANA system.

Quotes from Members

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

Pros

"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."
"There are not really many areas of the product that need improvement because the product stays up-to-date with data management needs."
"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 interface has a great look and feel, and the functionality is so easy."
"The data quality component is very good."
"The most valuable features of Informatica MDM are its reliability, match functions, and integration capabilities. The out-of-box functionality of deduplication and built-in data models ensure faster implementation."
"We use parts and standardization for most of our testing. We purchase the US Postal Service address database, which is updated periodically. Many useful tools, such as Google Maps, can detect and mark new businesses or changes in business locations. Informatica captures and updates this information. Some periodic maintenance is involved, but setting it up is not overly complicated."
"The profiling feature in Informatica Data Quality is incredibly effective for data governance."
"The most valuable feature of Informatica Axon is features, interfaces, and data mapping. It represents clusters nicely."
"It is very useful for testing purposes and designing mappings for small projects. If you go for IDQ in the mapping itself, you can see the data. You can then correct it, and test it so easily. It is working fine. It is also stable, scalable, and easy to deploy."
"Their new licensing is very flexible. With Informatica Cloud, you have plenty of items under the same umbrella, such as services, offerings, data quality, and data masking. You have also got master data management and API management. What I really like about them is that you don't need to go to Informatica and say that you need a data integration module. You would say that you need iPaaS or Informatica Cloud. They'll then try to understand your needs and give you IPUs, which are the processing units. If I purchased a hundred IPUs from Informatica as a customer, I can use 70 IPUs for data integration. I would also need data quality, so I can use 10 IPUs for data quality. I can use the remaining 20 IPUs for API management. Down the line, if I see that my initial data integration needs for the development phase are met, then out of the 70 IPUs assigned for data integration, I can use 30 IPUs for data masking. I can shuffle these numbers in any way within the Informatica Cloud umbrella for the tenure for which I have subscribed to these IPUs. I can use all services the way I want. This flexibility is what I really love about Informatica. It also has got good connectors."
"SAP MDG has extensive data models and good integration with upstream and downstream systems."
"I am satisfied with the solution's customer service."
"I like how the solution integrates with other SAP tools and third-party solutions."
"User-friendly and provides customized reports and personalized data."
"SAP Master Data Governance integrates well."
"It is a stable solution."
"The main purpose of SAP Master Data Governance is maintaining a single source of truth for enterprise data, and it helps a lot and works quite well."
"Pricing for SAP Master Data Governance in the latest scenario depends on each version, offering a robust and user-friendly application."
 

Cons

"The product is really only created for large organizations."
"The tool is difficult to understand from a customer perspective and for developers."
"IBM InfoSphere MDM's UI is complicated. It also needs to improve its on-prem configuration."
"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."
"It could be improved by including a buffer that saves data when there is a connectivity issue."
"I would like to see more functionality added so that it is a bit closer to how much you can do with Informatica PowerCenter."
"Some functionalities can be a challenge in the cloud."
"It would be helpful if there was a GenAI feature integrated into the system, especially regarding the data quality."
"The solution doesn't directly connect to any of the analytical tools."
"Database access is highly restricted particularly if you're using the cloud version."
"I would like to have the solution in one product and technical support needs to be better."
"Connectivity could be improved, it can be a little slow."
"SAP could do better in attracting talent and simplifying technology adoption."
"There were challenges with handling multiple values within a single input field at the screen level."
"The UI could improve by being more neat and clean. Sometimes users find it difficult to use it."
"It does not ensure data matches after system upgrades."
"The multidomain MDM feature is based on EIP systems, which may not be a good model for all master data."
"RiverFront is a more modern and cost-effective solution compared to MDG. It is flexible and designed to handle big data, which MDG does not support well."
"The implementation could be easier."
"They should improve the solution's performance as sometimes the process consumes much time."
 

Pricing and Cost Advice

"It may be costly for small organizations but adds value for large organizations with demanding workflows."
"The price is neither too high nor too low."
"Its pricing model can be improved."
"Informatica MDM recently changed its pricing model. It's usage-based but I don't have much insight into the current pricing."
"Informatica MDM's price could be lower."
"The pricing is quite flexible."
"You can purchase licenses for this solution at different intervals. For example, annually or every three years. They recently changed their terms for licensing and now it is more flexible."
"Informatica is very expensive."
"I'm not sure about the most recent pricing trends, but I don't believe it's significantly different from PowerCenter. I believe it is nearly the same."
"The licensing cost is reasonable."
"I rate the tool's pricing a seven out of ten."
"SAP Master Data Governance is a licensed product. While there might be no upfront cost for the MDG component itself, you still need to pay for user authorizations."
"We have an enterprise license. The whole SAP landscape pricing model is based on the number of users, and the number of transactions. The price could be better, there is always room for improvement in the price."
"The cost of the product is not ideal."
"The product is too expensive."
"SAP Master Data Governance is an expensive solution."
"The cloud solution is subscription-based, it is paid monthly or quarterly. If the solution is on-premises, it is a one-time fee. As far as I am aware there are no additional costs."
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Answers from the Community

it_user545286 - PeerSpot reviewer
Dec 9, 2016
Dec 9, 2016
Riversand technology is leader in the MDM space and makes a product called MDMcenter. Gartner and Forrester put these guys in a leader and visionary quadrant topping Informatica, oracle, and sap. They have a product used by many fortune 1000s and multinational companies. I have rolled out MDM solutions for a bunch of customers using different platforms and Riversand's is the best. They hav...
2 out of 7 answers
it_user348246 - PeerSpot reviewer
Dec 8, 2016
If you buy InfoSphere MDM Domain Hub Standard Edition you can use following products: IBM Process Server Standard v8.5.6 IBM Process Server Standard for Non-production Environment v8.5.6 IBM Process Center Standard v8.5.6 IBM Process Designer v8.5.6 IBM Content Integrator v8.6 IBM DB2 Enterprise Server Edition v10.5 IBM Cognos Business Intelligence V10.2.2.0 IBM InfoSphere Information Server Enterprise v11.5 IBM Integration Bus Healthcare Pack v3.0.0.0 IBM Integration Bus Express Edition v9.0.0.3 IBM Watson Explorer v10.0 IBM Rational Application Developer for WebSphere Software v9.5 IBM WebSphere Application Server Network Deployment v8.5.5 IBM WebSphere Application Server Base v8.5.5 IBM WebSphere MQ v8.0 IBM WebSphere Portal Server v8.5 IBM Installation Manager & IBM Packaging Utility for Rational Software Development Platform v1.8 IBM Security Directory Server v6.4.0.0 For IBM InfoSphere Master Data Management Enterprise Edition you can use also: IBM InfoSphere Big Match for Hadoop v11.5 InfoSphere Information Server contains both DataStage (ETL engine) and QualityStage (DQ components which are fully integrated with ETL). You could always check which products are provided in license on Software License Portal (http://www-03.ibm.com/software/sla/sladb.nsf/search)
it_user311469 - PeerSpot reviewer
Dec 8, 2016
Will do but can you help me out with my groceries for this week ? ( please stop sending me these emails. I am a professional not a volunteer) Sent from my iPhone
 

Top Industries

By visitors reading reviews
Financial Services Firm
26%
Healthcare Company
12%
Manufacturing Company
8%
Computer Software Company
6%
Financial Services Firm
16%
Computer Software Company
10%
Manufacturing Company
10%
Insurance Company
7%
Manufacturing Company
13%
Computer Software Company
11%
Energy/Utilities Company
9%
Financial Services Firm
9%
 

Company Size

By reviewers
Large Enterprise
Midsize Enterprise
Small Business
By reviewers
Company SizeCount
Midsize Enterprise3
Large Enterprise8
By reviewers
Company SizeCount
Small Business42
Midsize Enterprise24
Large Enterprise134
By reviewers
Company SizeCount
Small Business3
Midsize Enterprise5
Large Enterprise21
 

Questions from the Community

What do you like most about IBM InfoSphere MDM?
When users update their information on one product, the data is sent to a database. My approach was to maintain a mas...
What needs improvement with IBM InfoSphere MDM?
IBM InfoSphere MDM's UI is complicated. It also needs to improve its on-prem configuration.
What is your primary use case for IBM InfoSphere MDM?
When users update their information on one product, the data is sent to a database. My approach was to maintain a mas...
How does Azure Data Factory compare with Informatica Cloud Data Integration?
Azure Data Factory is a solid product offering many transformation functions; It has pre-load and post-load transfor...
Which Informatica product would you choose - PowerCenter or Cloud Data Integration?
Complex transformations can easily be achieved using PowerCenter, which has all the features and tools to establish a...
What are the biggest benefits of using Informatica Cloud Data Integration?
When it comes to cloud data integration, this solution can provide you with multiple benefits, including: Overhead r...
What do you like most about SAP Master Data Governance?
We've managed tens of thousands of updates within 30 to 60 minutes, and we can also replicate these changes to all co...
What is your experience regarding pricing and costs for SAP Master Data Governance?
The challenge with SAP MDG is not only the cost but the resources. The skills required are niche in the market, and w...
What needs improvement with SAP Master Data Governance?
I don't see any disadvantages or areas for improvement that I can think of, to be honest. It's sometimes challenging ...
 

Also Known As

InfoSphere MDM, InfoSphere Master Data Management
ActiveVOS, Active Endpoints, BPM, Address Verification, Persistent Data Masking, Cloud Test Data Management, PIM, , Enterprise Data Catalog, Data Integration Hub, Cloud Data Integration, Data Quality, Cloud API and App Integration
SAP MDG
 

Overview

 

Sample Customers

L'Oreal S.A., Kingland Systems, Oncor, Farmaceuticos Maypo, Volkswagen Financial Services
The Travel Company, Carbonite
Convergent IS, CHIO Aachen, Dell, Hamburg Port Authority (HPA), City of Boston, Mozzart, Mitsui Knowledge Industry (MKI), AOK Bundesverband, eBay
Find out what your peers are saying about SAP, TIBCO, Microsoft and others in Master Data Management (MDM) Software. Updated: August 2025.
867,370 professionals have used our research since 2012.