MDM microservices architecture – Is it Even Possible

Proponents of the agile methodology believe that microservices must be developed and maintained by independent teams each of which has the autonomy to choose the most appropriate data store. Practitioners of MDM (master data management), on the other hand, believe on reconciling multiple data copies and doing away with redundant data.

In this article, we attempt to discuss whether MDM microservices architecture can happen and whether it is worthwhile at all. Interestingly, in a survey conducted by IBM, 51% of the respondents identified challenges related to internal data management that was geared towards monolithic application development.

What is Master Data Management

Any business relies on data, and therefore this should remain updated and relevant for the progress of the business. MDM is the process by which redundant and obsolete data is discarded whenever necessary. MDM ensures that the business derives truthful data from a single source.

Breaking the Monolith

Development of cloud technologies, requirements for enhanced security, growing business requirements of the modern world, etc., have forced business owners to think about repurposing their monolithic application package architectures. It is for this reason that they pursue setting up microservices, which also helps the team work in an agile fashion.

Agile Methods

Breaking the monolith into microservices perfectly fits the Agile method of working for the developer teams. Discrete functions can be developed quickly without interference from anyone. In this process, best practices are adopted in 3 key areas: application architecture, data architecture, and packaging and deployment.

Are you worried about the constant demand for development resources for your emerging microservices platform?.

Storing Master Data

Businesses choose from many options when it comes to storing data.  SQL and NoSQL are popular choices. Choosing the server, however, depends on the needs of the business concerned. Businesses that have a structure that is established with no changes foreseen in the future will likely choose SQL.  If you are thinking of significant changes, then NoSQL is the way to go.

Read our blog, "Microservices Database Management – What You Should Know".

The latest concepts in data management point to serverless or cloud-native data stores. It is vital to understand that serverless data stores still require servers to store the data. However, these servers are maintained by third parties instead of your IT departments. This is favorable to the organization in more ways than one.

MDM Microservices Architecture

Combining microservices with MDM is basically controversial. When you first look at it they seem incompatible. It seems difficult to understand how microservices systems and work independently with shared master data.

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However MDM microservices architecture is believed possible by some experts executed through a set of data checks and balances to remove data inconsistencies and redundance.

Achieving Agility with MDM Microservices Architecture

When repurposing their monolithic architecture systems, many organizations are looking into how they can achieve agile MDM without replacing existing data systems entirely.

Download and read our eBook to gain more insights! "Porting from Monoliths to Microservices - Is the shift worth it"

One approach that can work is to provide a microservices layer that works seamlessly with the MDM environment that is set up. Another approach is to implement extensive customizations.

Creating a Microservices layer allows for the following Advantages:

• Helps to decompose the MDM processes and interfaces in the monolithic system
• Create MDM APIs that are use case–specific
• It allows for loosely connected systems to access the MDM resources in real-time
• This allows for rapid changes and flexibility in the MDM microservices layer

The benefits of MDM and microservices can be combined together to build an agile architecture model that allows the user to adapt to a constantly changing business environment.

Why MDM Requires Microservices

Though MDM with a single source of truth is a powerful asset, it may be difficult for MDM to deliver data to those areas of business where there are real-time business data changes owing to various decisions. There are the areas where microservices are likely to help.
 
Any MDM’s monolithic processes or interfaces can be decomposed using microservices according to specific use cases. The combination of the two works synergistically, with MDM taking care of the quality of the data and its consistency, and microservices delivering this to wherever and whenever required.

Advantages of MDM Microservices Architecture

Using an MDM microservices architecture can allow your organization to enjoy the following benefits:

• Better customer experience with faster access to timely information.
• Improved operational efficiency by allowing systems to respond efficiently according to varying customer needs and demands.
• Unlike traditional MDM, where data is replicated to other data stores, leading to issues affecting data privacy and violations of CCPA, GDPR, and other regulations, in agile MDM systems, APIs allow application developers to directly access the MDM system, reducing the amount of floating data and lowering the compliance issue risks.
• Figure 1: Potential Drivers for MDM Microservices Architecture (Picture credit)

Challenges in Implementing MDM Microservices Architecture

Implementing MDM microservices is fraught with challenges, some of them being:

• MDM is generally guarded and tightly governed.
• The integration is usually batch-oriented.
• MDM systems are generally monolithic in design.
• Traditional MDM works in a data centric mode, and not in a use-case centric fashion.
• MDM has limited real-time connectivity applications (downstream).
• A majority of MDM systems contain process and data silos.

Final Thoughts

MDM microservices architecture thus helps to decompose monolithic MDM processes and allows you to create specific APIS to loosely connect the systems to such MDMs in real time. AT the same time, it is possible to bring rapid changes to the microservices layer without affecting the MDM layer in any way whatsoever.
 
How SayOne can help
 
At SayOne, we offer independent and stable services that have separate development aspects as well as maintenance advantages. We build microservices specially suited for individuals' businesses in different industry verticals. In the longer term, this would allow your organization/business to enjoy a sizeable increase in both growth and efficiency. We create microservices as APIs with security and the application built in. We provide SDKs that allow for the automatic creation of microservices.

Our comprehensive services in microservices development for start-ups, SMBs, and enterprises start with an extensive microservices feasibility analysis to provide our clients with the most apt solutions. We use powerful frameworks for customizing microservices for our different clients. We design APIs to enable fast iteration, easy deployment, and significantly less time to market. In short, our microservices are dexterous and resilient and deliver the security and reliability required for the different functions.
 
Are you thinking of shifting to microservices to help your business grow? Call SayOne today.