{"id":124188,"date":"2026-09-08T12:30:13","date_gmt":"2026-09-08T10:30:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.applus-erp.de\/wissen\/blog\/data-management-in-the-workplace\/"},"modified":"2026-09-08T15:28:33","modified_gmt":"2026-09-08T13:28:33","slug":"data-management-in-the-workplace","status":"publish","type":"blog","link":"https:\/\/www.applus-erp.de\/en\/knowledge\/process-optimization\/blog-data-management-in-the-workplace\/","title":{"rendered":"Data Maintenance with ERP: How to Improve Your Data Quality"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It\u2019s Monday morning. Your controlling department has released the quarterly figures, and it quickly becomes clear that the sales analysis by product group <strong>differs from the sales report by 15%.<\/strong> This isn\u2019t due to calculation errors, but because 40% of the item master data lacks a clear product group assignment.  <\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">You know that <strong>the problem runs deeper\u2014namely, in data maintenance<\/strong>. But as soon as you bring up this unpopular topic at work, all you hear is, \u201cWe don\u2019t have time for that.\u201d   <\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Does this scenario sound familiar? If so, you\u2019re probably familiar with the <strong>paradox<\/strong> that many companies face: All employees want reliable analytics, but hardly anyone is willing to do anything to make them happen. So how do you solve this problem?    <strong>How do you effectively integrate data maintenance into your daily work routine?<\/strong>  In this article, we&#8217;ll take a closer look at this challenge.<\/p>\n\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"section\" data-elementor-id=\"113478\" class=\"elementor elementor-113478 elementor-23433\" wpc-filter-elementor-widget=\"1\" data-elementor-post-type=\"elementor_library\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-7f7ddec e-ecs-flex e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"7f7ddec\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\" data-settings=\"{&quot;ecs_container_type&quot;:&quot;flex&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-00fb37a elementor-grid-1 elementor-grid-tablet-2 elementor-grid-mobile-1 elementor-widget elementor-widget-loop-grid\" data-id=\"00fb37a\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;template_id&quot;:112968,&quot;columns&quot;:1,&quot;_skin&quot;:&quot;post&quot;,&quot;columns_tablet&quot;:&quot;2&quot;,&quot;columns_mobile&quot;:&quot;1&quot;,&quot;edit_handle_selector&quot;:&quot;[data-elementor-type=\\&quot;loop-item\\&quot;]&quot;,&quot;row_gap&quot;:{&quot;unit&quot;:&quot;px&quot;,&quot;size&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;sizes&quot;:[]},&quot;row_gap_tablet&quot;:{&quot;unit&quot;:&quot;px&quot;,&quot;size&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;sizes&quot;:[]},&quot;row_gap_mobile&quot;:{&quot;unit&quot;:&quot;px&quot;,&quot;size&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;sizes&quot;:[]}}\" data-widget_type=\"loop-grid.post\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-loop-container elementor-grid\" role=\"list\">\n\t\t<style id=\"loop-112968\">.elementor-112968 .elementor-element.elementor-element-71faf02{--display:flex;--flex-direction:row;--container-widget-width:calc( ( 1 - var( --container-widget-flex-grow ) ) * 100% );--container-widget-height:100%;--container-widget-flex-grow:1;--container-widget-align-self:stretch;--flex-wrap-mobile:wrap;--align-items:center;--gap:40px 40px;--row-gap:40px;--column-gap:40px;}.elementor-112968 .elementor-element.elementor-element-2bc2467 img{max-width:270px;}.elementor-112968 .elementor-element.elementor-element-2bc2467{margin:0px 0px calc(var(--kit-widget-spacing, 0px) + 0px) 0px;}.elementor-112968 .elementor-element.elementor-element-7876078{--display:flex;}.elementor-112968 .elementor-element.elementor-element-180f467 .elementor-heading-title{font-family:\"Nunito\", Sans-serif;font-size:32px;font-weight:900;text-transform:none;line-height:1.2em;color:var( --e-global-color-secondary );}.elementor-112968 .elementor-element.elementor-element-1c48798{color:var( --e-global-color-secondary );}.elementor-112968 .elementor-element.elementor-element-5a57b9a .elementor-button{font-size:18px;font-weight:500;fill:#707070;color:#707070;background-color:rgba(2, 1, 1, 0);box-shadow:0px 0px 0px 0px rgba(0,0,0,0.5);border-style:solid;border-width:0px 0px 4px 0px;border-color:var( --e-global-color-5a6c6f85 );border-radius:0% 0% 0% 0%;padding:10px 0px 6px 0px;}.elementor-112968 .elementor-element.elementor-element-5a57b9a .elementor-button:hover, .elementor-112968 .elementor-element.elementor-element-5a57b9a .elementor-button:focus{color:var( --e-global-color-secondary );border-color:var( --e-global-color-60921509 );}.elementor-112968 .elementor-element.elementor-element-5a57b9a .elementor-button:hover svg, .elementor-112968 .elementor-element.elementor-element-5a57b9a .elementor-button:focus svg{fill:var( --e-global-color-secondary );}.elementor-112968 .elementor-element.elementor-element-5a57b9a{margin:10px 0px calc(var(--kit-widget-spacing, 0px) + 3px) 0px;padding:0px 0px 0px 0px;width:auto;max-width:auto;}@media(max-width:1024px){.elementor-112968 .elementor-element.elementor-element-5a57b9a{margin:0px 0px calc(var(--kit-widget-spacing, 0px) + 0px) 0px;}}@media(min-width:768px){.elementor-112968 .elementor-element.elementor-element-71faf02{--content-width:800px;}.elementor-112968 .elementor-element.elementor-element-7876078{--width:66.6%;}}@media(max-width:767px){.elementor-112968 .elementor-element.elementor-element-71faf02{--gap:0px 0px;--row-gap:0px;--column-gap:0px;}.elementor-112968 .elementor-element.elementor-element-2bc2467{padding:0px 0px 0px 0px;}.elementor-112968 .elementor-element.elementor-element-7876078{--margin-top:0px;--margin-bottom:0px;--margin-left:0px;--margin-right:0px;--padding-top:0px;--padding-bottom:0px;--padding-left:0px;--padding-right:0px;}.elementor-112968 .elementor-element.elementor-element-180f467 .elementor-heading-title{font-size:30px;}.elementor-112968 .elementor-element.elementor-element-5a57b9a{margin:0px 0px calc(var(--kit-widget-spacing, 0px) + 0px) 0px;}}<\/style>\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"loop-item\" data-elementor-id=\"112968\" class=\"elementor elementor-112968 elementor-63106 elementor-63106 e-loop-item e-loop-item-112306 post-112306 whitepaper type-whitepaper status-publish has-post-thumbnail hentry whitepaper_categories-erp-implementation content_category-project-management\" wpc-filter-elementor-widget=\"1\" data-elementor-post-type=\"elementor_library\" data-custom-edit-handle=\"1\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-71faf02 e-ecs-flex e-flex e-con-boxed e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"71faf02\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\" data-settings=\"{&quot;ecs_container_type&quot;:&quot;flex&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-con-inner\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-2bc2467 elementor-widget elementor-widget-image\" data-id=\"2bc2467\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"image.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/www.applus-erp.de\/en\/knowledge\/project-management\/whitepaper-erp-implementation\/\" id=\"wp-cta-image\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"500\" height=\"624\" src=\"https:\/\/www.applus-erp.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/cta-ipad-whitepaper-Todsuenden-EN-1.png\" class=\"attachment-full size-full wp-image-80627\" alt=\"Whitepaper ERP Projekte\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.applus-erp.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/cta-ipad-whitepaper-Todsuenden-EN-1.png 500w, https:\/\/www.applus-erp.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/cta-ipad-whitepaper-Todsuenden-EN-1-240x300.png 240w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-7876078 e-con-full e-ecs-flex e-flex e-con e-parent\" data-id=\"7876078\" data-element_type=\"container\" data-e-type=\"container\" data-settings=\"{&quot;ecs_container_type&quot;:&quot;flex&quot;}\">\n\t\t\t\t<div data-dce-title-color=\"#54595F\" class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-180f467 elementor-widget elementor-widget-heading\" data-id=\"180f467\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"heading.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"elementor-heading-title elementor-size-default\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.applus-erp.de\/en\/knowledge\/project-management\/whitepaper-erp-implementation\/\" id=\"wp-cta-title\">Free Whitepaper<\/a><\/p>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-1c48798 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"1c48798\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tMust-read before starting a project: We show you how you can easily avoid the 8 deadly sins of an ERP project.  \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div data-dce-background-color=\"rgba(2, 1, 1, 0)\" class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-5a57b9a elementor-widget__width-auto res sec-link  elementor-widget elementor-widget-button\" data-id=\"5a57b9a\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"button.default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-button elementor-button-link elementor-size-sm\" href=\"https:\/\/www.applus-erp.de\/en\/knowledge\/project-management\/whitepaper-erp-implementation\/\" id=\"wp-cta-button\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-button-content-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-button-text\">Request now for free<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What is data maintenance?<\/h2>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Data maintenance is the <strong>ongoing process<\/strong> by which companies keep their data up-to-date, complete, and accurate. A key part of this is <strong>master data maintenance<\/strong>, which involves basic company information as well as data on products, customers, and suppliers. This includes, for example, bank account information, prices, addresses, and purchasing terms.    <\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Data quality<\/strong> is the result of data maintenance. The more consistently master data is maintained, the better the data quality\u2014and the more reliably processes, reports, and automations function within the ERP system. <\/p>\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Why Does Data Maintenance Fail in Companies?  <\/h2>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">To get a handle on the dilemma posed by the data maintenance paradox, you first need to understand its causes. Essentially, the problem can be <strong>viewed from two perspectives<\/strong>: the organizational perspective and the human perspective. <\/p>\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">1. Organizational Perspective<\/h3>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">From an organizational perspective, poor data quality can be attributed to the fact that master data maintenance is often <strong>not an integral part of the process<\/strong>:<\/p>\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>There are usually no guidelines regarding complete data entries.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>There are no audit cycles in place to ensure that the data is reviewed on a regular basis.  <\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>And there are no data owners to verify such requirements.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In many companies, data maintenance is therefore optional. And that has <strong>serious consequences for the accuracy<\/strong> of data entry. <\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In most cases, the reason for this situation is quite simple: <strong>For a long time, data maintenance wasn&#8217;t considered particularly important<\/strong> because business was going well and sales were strong. Many companies simply didn&#8217;t see a need for optimization.   <\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">But today, in an era of intense international competitive pressure, the situation looks different in many companies: With orders drying up, <strong>process optimization is becoming increasingly important<\/strong>. Without adequate data quality, however, this goal is difficult to achieve. <\/p>\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">2. The Human Perspective<\/h3>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Even when data maintenance is firmly integrated into a company\u2019s processes, employees often don\u2019t take <strong>great care when entering data<\/strong>. And let\u2019s be honest: Who can really blame them? After all, data maintenance is just an extra step that makes their day-to-day work more complicated.    <\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The problem: <strong>In most cases, employees do not benefit directly from data maintenance.<\/strong> The impact only becomes apparent when you look at the company as a whole. It is not uncommon for just a single department to reap the benefits of the diligence shown by the rest of the organization. That is precisely what makes it so difficult to get employees on board with master data maintenance.  <\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>A real-world example:<\/strong><br\/>A colleague in production planning doesn\u2019t enter her setup times into the system. She thinks to herself: \u201cWhy should I spend my time on data maintenance <strong>if I don\u2019t benefit from it<\/strong>? I might end up suffering\u2014despite my extra effort\u2014because of another department\u2019s lack of diligence. If I only deal with data maintenance sporadically, I\u2019m making my life easier.\u201d <strong>A classic case from game theory.<\/strong>  <\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This approach works for the employee because she keeps track of the times in her head. The detailed planning, on the other hand, does not factor these times into its calculations\u2014and thus <strong>fails to<\/strong> ensure <strong>an efficient project workflow<\/strong>. <\/p>\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Here&#8217;s How Much Poor Data Costs Your Company<\/h2>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Inadequate master data management is not just an internal nuisance. <strong>It has a direct negative impact on your operating costs<\/strong>. This is because incorrect or incomplete data records affect the entire organization.   <\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The following overview highlights <strong>a few areas of business<\/strong> where neglecting data maintenance can end up costing you dearly:<\/p>\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table class=\"has-fixed-layout\"><tbody><tr><td><strong>Area<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>Role in the Process<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>Consequences of Poor Data Maintenance<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>Economic Impact  <\/strong><\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Detailed planning<\/strong><\/td><td>Detailed planning of work processes, sequences, personnel, materials, and machinery  <\/td><td>Delays, unrealistic planning, limited system support<\/td><td>Downtime, longer lead times, inefficient use of resources<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Disposition<\/strong><\/td><td>Management of inventory levels, receipts, and shipments, as well as the availability of items and components<\/td><td>Excess inventory, missing parts, production<br\/>delays, delivery problems<\/td><td>Rising inventory costs, tied-up capital, emergency purchases, contractual penalties<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Distribution<\/strong><\/td><td>Using Customer Data from the CRM for Targeted Marketing and Sales Management<\/td><td>Wasted reach, inappropriate messaging, missed sales opportunities<\/td><td>Loss of revenue, inefficient use of the budget<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Purchasing<\/strong><\/td><td>Procurement of Materials and Components<\/td><td>Incorrect order quantities, missing or incorrect MRP data, and price information<\/td><td>Higher purchase prices, rush orders, unfavorable terms, supply shortages<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Management Accounting <\/strong><\/td><td>Evaluation of Key Performance Indicators and Decision-<br\/>-Making Based on KPIs<\/td><td>Unreliable analyses, lack of transparency<\/td><td>Poor decisions, bad investments, delayed management<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>As you can see:<\/strong><br\/>Poor data quality causes not only operational <strong>problems<\/strong> but also <strong>massive financial problems<\/strong>. It simply costs your company money\u2014every single day. <\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The international <a href=\"https:\/\/www.forrester.com\/report\/millions-lost-in-2023-due-to-poor-data-quality-potential-for-billions-to-be-lost-with-ai-without-intervention\/RES181258\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Forrester study \u201cData Culture and Literacy Survey, 2023\u201d reveals just how alarming the consequences actually are :<\/a> More than a quarter of the data and analytics leaders surveyed worldwide <strong>estimate that annual losses due to poor data quality exceed $5 million.<\/strong> 7% even report losses totaling $25 million or more. <\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Looking at these figures, it quickly becomes clear: data maintenance is not a process you can neglect. To ensure your long-term viability, you must approach this task with the necessary seriousness. <strong>So what specific steps can you take<\/strong> to permanently integrate master data maintenance into your daily workflow? It\u2019s simple: Build a strong foundation\u2014consisting of five pillars.    <\/p>\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">The 5 Pillars of Sustainable Data Management in ERP<\/h2>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Simply urging employees to maintain data is generally of little use. Instead, <strong>clear rules and useful functions<\/strong> are needed within the individual processes\u2014supported by the ERP system. The following five pillars have proven effective in practice.  <\/p>\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote\"><p><q>Only by integrating systematic data management into your processes can you respond to a crisis at any time with accurate analyses.\n<\/q><\/p>\nDaniel Bartetzko, Asseco Solutions<\/blockquote>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">1. Enable required fields and validity checks in the ERP system<\/h3>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The best tool for improving data quality is <strong>an ERP system<\/strong>. For example, you can enable required fields and validation rules in the system to ensure that <strong>important information is entered reliably and consistently<\/strong>. This way, data entered directly can no longer be incomplete.  <\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Example:<\/strong> <br\/>A new item cannot be released until the product group and the planning parameters <strong>have been fully maintained<\/strong>. This ensures that subsequent analysis in Controlling is reliable from the outset. <\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>But be careful:<\/strong><br\/>Also remember to <strong>meticulously review<\/strong> your <strong>existing database<\/strong>. Only by adding the data that has been missing so far, deleting duplicate entries, and updating outdated records will you be able to sustainably improve your previously poor data quality. <\/p>\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">2. Designate responsible data owners for each area<\/h3>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Proper master data management requires clear responsibilities. So-called \u201cdata owners\u201d ensure that relevant data <strong>is created, maintained, and regularly reviewed<\/strong> within their area of responsibility. In addition, they define standards and serve as points of contact for questions. Without these clear responsibilities, data maintenance remains a vague collective task that often gets overlooked in day-to-day operations.   <\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Example: <\/strong><br\/>In production planning, data owners are responsible <strong>for maintaining work plans and setup times<\/strong>. In this way, they ensure that changes from the production floor are promptly reflected in the system. <\/p>\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">3. Conduct a data review once a quarter<\/h3>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Even if you have achieved <a href=\"https:\/\/www.applus-erp.de\/wissen\/prozessoptimierung\/blog-erp-buchhaltung-finanzwesen\/\">good data quality<\/a>, that doesn&#8217;t mean it will stay that way in the future. Especially when processes change or the product lineup expands, <strong>errors and inconsistencies can quickly creep back in<\/strong>. <\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Setting a fixed schedule for the systematic review and evaluation of your data sets therefore ensures that the database <strong>is regularly cleaned up <\/strong>. Without such a fixed schedule, duplicates and outdated records will accumulate over time.   <\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>The ERP system<\/strong> also <strong>plays a key role<\/strong> in data reviews. With the help of reports, anomalies can be specifically identified and addressed. <\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Example:<\/strong><br\/>Once a quarter, a team in the purchasing department checks whether the lead times for purchased parts are still up to date!<\/p>\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{&quot;imageId&quot;:&quot;6abf2f352d472&quot;}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6abf2f352d472\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"386\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" src=\"https:\/\/www.applus-erp.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/datenpflege-im-erp-blog-infografik-1024x386.png\" alt=\"Five Pillars of Sustainable Data Maintenance in ERP Systems, infographic by Asseco Solutions.\" class=\"wp-image-124135\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.applus-erp.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/datenpflege-im-erp-blog-infografik-1024x386.png 1024w, https:\/\/www.applus-erp.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/datenpflege-im-erp-blog-infografik-300x113.png 300w, https:\/\/www.applus-erp.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/datenpflege-im-erp-blog-infografik-768x289.png 768w, https:\/\/www.applus-erp.de\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/09\/datenpflege-im-erp-blog-infografik.png 1200w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><\/figure>\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">4. Take Advantage of Automation and AI Capabilities<\/h3>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Modern ERP solutions offer the ability to automatically analyze master data using AI, taking into account the associated transaction data, and to proactively flag necessary changes to master data.<\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It is also possible for the ERP system <strong>to perform<\/strong> certain tasks <strong>fully automatically<\/strong>. This also has a positive effect on user acceptance: Employees often are much more receptive to data maintenance guidelines when they do not require any additional effort on their part. <\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Example:<\/strong><br\/>The system regularly reconciles lead times and lot sizes in Purchasing with actual order and delivery data. It actively and periodically indicates which master data should be updated. <\/p>\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">5. Conduct a cross-departmental workshop<\/h3>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Many employees have no idea what the data they enter will be used for later on. As a result, the workforce often lacks an <strong>understanding of the implications for the rest of the process<\/strong>, and master data maintenance automatically ends up being given a lower priority. <\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A company-wide workshop can provide the necessary transparency at this stage. During the workshop, you\u2019ll demonstrate to each department <strong>the drastic consequences<\/strong> that incomplete or incorrect data can have for the organization. This knowledge usually brings about a fundamental shift in how data maintenance is perceived.  <\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Example: <\/strong><br\/>During the workshop, the work planning department realized <strong>that missing setup times are skewing the detailed schedule<\/strong>. In the future, this department will certainly pay more attention to data maintenance. <\/p>\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Real-World Use Case:<br\/>PALME Benefits from Accurate Data Maintenance in ERP<\/h2>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Since PALME Duschabtrennungen GmbH began using the APplus ERP system, <strong>data quality has improved significantly<\/strong>. While the old system did not require systematic master data maintenance, APplus now requires users to enter existing information in a structured manner. <\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">On the one hand, this does mean a noticeable increase in workload for PALME. On the other hand, the company is now able to generate <strong>comprehensive analyses and reliable key metrics from <\/strong>the ERP solution. This, in turn, enables better decision-making.  <\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.applus-erp.de\/referenz\/palme-duschabtrennungen-gmbh\/\">Read full case study<\/a>    <\/p>\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Conclusion: Data maintenance requires clear processes and responsibilities.  <\/h2>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Data maintenance is not purely an IT issue; rather, it is primarily a matter of <strong>organization, communication, and accountability across <\/strong>all departments. It must be firmly integrated into all business processes. This includes <strong>careful data entry<\/strong> as part of operational workflows, as well as clear guidelines and responsibilities. Furthermore, master data maintenance can only be successful if you communicate the necessity <a href=\"https:\/\/www.applus-erp.de\/wissen\/prozessoptimierung\/blog-mit-erp-zusammenarbeit-und-kommunikation-verbessern\/\"><strong>across departments<\/strong><\/a>. Only then will your colleagues be willing to go the extra mile with you.    <\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Always keep in mind: Optimal data quality is by no means a peripheral issue that you can address at some point in the future. If you don\u2019t act now, <strong>even the next crisis could threaten your company\u2019s very existence<\/strong>. As soon as revenue drops rapidly, you\u2019ll need a precise analysis of the causes based on high-quality master data.  <\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>ERP systems provide the tools needed<\/strong> to solve the data maintenance problem\u2014but it is the process owners who provide the decisive impetus.<\/p>\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group summary-block-outline is-layout-constrained wp-block-group-is-layout-constrained\">\n<h3 id=\"nomarginheadline\" class=\"wp-block-heading\"><strong>Webinar: How to Ensure Clean Datasets<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We&#8217;ll show you how to save a lot of time when entering data and avoid data entry errors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.applus-erp.de\/wissen\/unternehmensentwicklung\/whitepaper-product-carbon-footprint-im-erp-berechnen\/\">Download now<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-custom-faq-accordion\"><div class=\"faqab\"><h2 class=\"faqab-title\">Frequently Asked Questions About Data Maintenance in ERP:<\/h2><div class=\"faqab-accordion\"><div class=\"faqab-item\"><details open=\"\"><summary class=\"faqab-question\"><div class=\"faqab-question-header\"><div class=\"faqab-question-text\"><h2 class=\"faqab-h4\">Why is the ERP system so important for data maintenance?<\/h2><\/div><div class=\"faqab-question-icon\"><span class=\"faqab-icon faqab-icon-opened\"><svg width=\"32\" height=\"32\" viewbox=\"0 0 32 32\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 9L12 15L18 9\" stroke=\"currentColor\" stroke-width=\"5\" stroke-linecap=\"round\" stroke-linejoin=\"round\" transform=\"rotate(180 12 12)\"><\/path><\/svg><\/span><span class=\"faqab-icon faqab-icon-closed\"><svg width=\"32\" height=\"32\" viewbox=\"0 0 32 32\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 9L12 15L18 9\" stroke=\"currentColor\" stroke-width=\"5\" stroke-linecap=\"round\" stroke-linejoin=\"round\"><\/path><\/svg><\/span><\/div><\/div><\/summary><div class=\"faqab-answer\"><div>The ERP system generates and processes a great deal of data that is needed for purchasing, sales, production, warehousing, work planning, and management accounting. That is why it is the ideal place to make data maintenance an integral part of daily operations. <\/div><\/div><\/details><\/div><div class=\"faqab-item\"><details><summary class=\"faqab-question\"><div class=\"faqab-question-header\"><div class=\"faqab-question-text\"><h2 class=\"faqab-h4\">How does an ERP system improve data quality?<\/h2><\/div><div class=\"faqab-question-icon\"><span class=\"faqab-icon faqab-icon-opened\"><svg width=\"32\" height=\"32\" viewbox=\"0 0 32 32\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 9L12 15L18 9\" stroke=\"currentColor\" stroke-width=\"5\" stroke-linecap=\"round\" stroke-linejoin=\"round\" transform=\"rotate(180 12 12)\"><\/path><\/svg><\/span><span class=\"faqab-icon faqab-icon-closed\"><svg width=\"32\" height=\"32\" viewbox=\"0 0 32 32\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 9L12 15L18 9\" stroke=\"currentColor\" stroke-width=\"5\" stroke-linecap=\"round\" stroke-linejoin=\"round\"><\/path><\/svg><\/span><\/div><\/div><\/summary><div class=\"faqab-answer\"><div>An ERP system improves data quality by providing clear data entry rules, required fields, validity checks, duplicate checks, and workflows. This makes errors visible earlier and integrates data maintenance into operational processes. <\/div><\/div><\/details><\/div><div class=\"faqab-item\"><details><summary class=\"faqab-question\"><div class=\"faqab-question-header\"><div class=\"faqab-question-text\"><h2 class=\"faqab-h4\">What is a data owner in the context of ERP?<\/h2><\/div><div class=\"faqab-question-icon\"><span class=\"faqab-icon faqab-icon-opened\"><svg width=\"32\" height=\"32\" viewbox=\"0 0 32 32\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 9L12 15L18 9\" stroke=\"currentColor\" stroke-width=\"5\" stroke-linecap=\"round\" stroke-linejoin=\"round\" transform=\"rotate(180 12 12)\"><\/path><\/svg><\/span><span class=\"faqab-icon faqab-icon-closed\"><svg width=\"32\" height=\"32\" viewbox=\"0 0 32 32\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 9L12 15L18 9\" stroke=\"currentColor\" stroke-width=\"5\" stroke-linecap=\"round\" stroke-linejoin=\"round\"><\/path><\/svg><\/span><\/div><\/div><\/summary><div class=\"faqab-answer\"><div>A data owner is responsible for specific areas of data in the ERP system. For example, the Purchasing department can maintain supplier and pricing data, the Work Planning department can manage work plans and setup times, and the Sales department can keep customer data up to date. <\/div><\/div><\/details><\/div><div class=\"faqab-item\"><details><summary class=\"faqab-question\"><div class=\"faqab-question-header\"><div class=\"faqab-question-text\"><h2 class=\"faqab-h4\">How can data maintenance be permanently integrated into the ERP system?<\/h2><\/div><div class=\"faqab-question-icon\"><span class=\"faqab-icon faqab-icon-opened\"><svg width=\"32\" height=\"32\" viewbox=\"0 0 32 32\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 9L12 15L18 9\" stroke=\"currentColor\" stroke-width=\"5\" stroke-linecap=\"round\" stroke-linejoin=\"round\" transform=\"rotate(180 12 12)\"><\/path><\/svg><\/span><span class=\"faqab-icon faqab-icon-closed\"><svg width=\"32\" height=\"32\" viewbox=\"0 0 32 32\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 9L12 15L18 9\" stroke=\"currentColor\" stroke-width=\"5\" stroke-linecap=\"round\" stroke-linejoin=\"round\"><\/path><\/svg><\/span><\/div><\/div><\/summary><div class=\"faqab-answer\"><div>Data maintenance can be permanently embedded in the ERP system if it is governed by fixed rules, clear responsibilities, and regular review cycles. This includes required fields, validity checks, data owners, data reviews, automation, and a shared understanding of the consequences of poor-quality data. <\/div><\/div><\/details><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>It\u2019s Monday morning. Your controlling department has released the quarterly figures, and it quickly becomes clear that the sales analysis by product group differs from the sales report by 15%. This isn\u2019t due to calculation errors, but because 40% of the item master data lacks a clear product group assignment. You know that the problem [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":30,"featured_media":124187,"template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"content-type":"","inline_featured_image":false,"_lmt_disableupdate":"","_lmt_disable":"","footnotes":"","_ppma_block_editor_authors":""},"tags":[],"whitepaper_categories":[2028],"content_category":[1969],"ppma_author":[548],"class_list":["post-124188","blog","type-blog","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","whitepaper_categories-erp-implementation","content_category-process-optimization"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.applus-erp.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/blog\/124188","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.applus-erp.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/blog"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.applus-erp.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/blog"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.applus-erp.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/30"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.applus-erp.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/blog\/124188\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.applus-erp.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/124187"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.applus-erp.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=124188"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.applus-erp.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=124188"},{"taxonomy":"whitepaper_categories","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.applus-erp.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/whitepaper_categories?post=124188"},{"taxonomy":"content_category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.applus-erp.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/content_category?post=124188"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.applus-erp.de\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/ppma_author?post=124188"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}