Duplicate Records in Master Data
Duplicates in master data are a common problem in many companies. They usually occur due to accidentally duplicated records caused by faulty imports or repeated entries. This leads to inefficient processes and distorted analyses. The APICON Data Master offers an efficient solution for identifying and cleansing such duplicates.
Use Cases for Duplicate Checking
Single Record Creation: When entering new data, the system checks before creation whether a similar or identical record already exists. For example, when entering a business partner, the system verifies if the name and address match – such as “Müller” vs. “Mueller.” If a duplicate is found, the system displays it, and the user can decide whether to proceed with creating the record.
Inventory Check: A continuous background check runs on the entire data inventory. All existing records are analyzed for potential duplicates, such as identical addresses or name variants. These potential duplicates are also displayed, allowing easy later cleanup.
Example: Business Partner Data
A practical example of this application is duplicate checking for business partners. The system examines fields such as name, address (street, postal code, city), and even email addresses. By detecting differences like “Müller” vs. “Müller und Schmidt” or “Maier” vs. “Meier,” the duplicate check ensures that no incorrect records enter the data inventory.
Goals of Duplicate Checking
Cleansing of Existing Data: Identifying and removing duplicates makes the data inventory cleaner and more reliable.
Prevention of New Duplicates: The system ensures that no new duplicates are created or edited when adding or updating records.
Increased Efficiency: Automating duplicate checking saves time and resources, making data maintenance simpler and faster.
Flexibility and Customization: The check can be flexibly adapted to the company’s needs, e.g., by setting thresholds for similarity scoring.
Cost Reduction: Especially for material master data, avoiding duplicates optimizes inventory management and administrative effort.
Conclusion
With duplicate checking in the APICON Data Master, your company ensures clean, consistent, and high-quality master data – a foundation for efficient and error-free business processes.