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  1. Home
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  3. Master Data Services
Logo of Master Data Services

Master Data Services

byMicrosoft
in Master Data Management of Customer Data Solutions (Transitioning to Master Data Management Solutions)
3.8

Overview

Product Information on Master Data Services

Updated 13th October 2025

What is Master Data Services?

Master Data Services is a software offered by Microsoft that provides tools for managing and maintaining an organization’s master data, which may include product details, customer information, and organizational assets. The software enables businesses to define, organize, and control core data across various systems by supporting the creation of models and business rules for validating data integrity. Master Data Services supports versioning, security, workflow, and auditing, helping organizations reduce data inconsistencies and improve data quality management. It addresses business challenges relating to data redundancy, inaccurate reporting, and data governance by enabling centralized control and integration of business-critical information across different departments and applications.

Master Data Services Pricing

Master Data Services software utilizes a licensing-based pricing model, structured primarily around Microsoft SQL Server editions. Pricing is determined by the chosen edition and can be based on core or server plus client access licenses. The software is generally included as a feature within specific SQL Server packages and requires purchase of the underlying SQL Server license to access and deploy master data management capabilities.

Overall experience with Master Data Services

Manager
10B - 30B USD, Manufacturing
FAVORABLE

“Easy, but do not expect too much!”

4.0
Oct 24, 2019
Microsoft's Master Data Services is easy to install and use, but the functionality it offers is limited. It works well for basic MDM requirements, but you might need something better if your expectations are higher.
BI Analyst
500M - 1B USD, Banking
CRITICAL

“Cumbersome Load process that still yields great results and works as intended.”

3.0
Nov 8, 2018
MDS is not being ported to Azure. This was obvious from operating in the product. When a vendor no longer even bothers to skin their app to match the rest of the ecosystem, generally the writing is on the wall. So, how is product working? Fairly well. The staging and loading process is tedious and a little cumbersome to learn how to do. However, the utility provided by unified lookups generally far outweighs the patience needed to build out your load packages. We have used this system to identify workflow inconsistencies in source and this is helping drive change in the business that is going to really increase the integrity of our data.

About Company

Company Description

Updated 11th August 2023

Microsoft enables digital transformation for the era of an intelligent cloud and an intelligent edge. Its mission is to empower every person and every organization on the planet to achieve more. Microsoft is dedicated to advancing human and organizational achievement. Microsoft Security helps protect people and data against cyberthreats to give peace of mind.

Company Details

Updated 25th March 2024
Company type
Public
Year Founded
1975
Head office location
Redmond, Washington, United States
Number of employees
10000+
Annual Revenue
30B+ USD
Website
https://microsoft.com

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Key Insights

A Snapshot of What Matters - Based on Validated User Reviews

Reviewer Insights for: Master Data Services
Performance of Master Data Services Across Market Features

Master Data Services Likes & Dislikes

Like

It is easy to set up and use.

Like

Its a microsoft product in a microsoft ecosystem. I am sure there other products that integrate just as well.

Like

Quick learning curve and easy setup

Dislike

Requirements even with medium complexity (e.g. multi-level approval workflow or row-level security) are not easily achievable.

Dislike

The load process. It can take quite a while for a developer to catch on to the style of data load. Without the addition of a simplified Slowly Changing Dimension component to our SSIS tool, it would have been much more difficult to do. MDS has no awareness of difference between loads, so you must do all of your Update/Add checking from outside MDS using your preferred ETL tool.

Dislike

Performance and user interface is not up to the mark of other Microsoft products

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Peer Discussions

Master Data Services Reviews and Ratings

3.8

(19 Ratings)

Rating Distribution

5 Star
16%
4 Star
53%
3 Star
32%
2 Star
0%
1 Star
0%
Why ratings and reviews count differ?

Customer Experience

Evaluation & Contracting

4.1

Integration & Deployment

4.1

Service & Support

3.8

Product Capabilities

4.0

Filter Reviews
Sort By:
Most helpful
Last 12 Months
Star Rating
Reviewer Type
Reviewer's Company Size
Reviewer's Industry
Reviewer's Region
Reviewer's Job Function
  • Manager
    10B+ USD
    Manufacturing
    Review Source

    Easy, but do not expect too much!

    4.0
    Oct 24, 2019
    Microsoft's Master Data Services is easy to install and use, but the functionality it offers is limited. It works well for basic MDM requirements, but you might need something better if your expectations are higher.
  • Data Architect
    50M-1B USD
    Healthcare and Biotech
    Review Source

    Easy implementation and deployment, but user interface can be improved

    4.0
    Jan 4, 2019
    MDS is being used as reference data management system. Besides managing reference data, it has a good interface for users but it can be improved for better.
  • BI Analyst
    50M-1B USD
    Banking
    Review Source

    Cumbersome Load process that still yields great results and works as intended.

    3.0
    Nov 8, 2018
    MDS is not being ported to Azure. This was obvious from operating in the product. When a vendor no longer even bothers to skin their app to match the rest of the ecosystem, generally the writing is on the wall. So, how is product working? Fairly well. The staging and loading process is tedious and a little cumbersome to learn how to do. However, the utility provided by unified lookups generally far outweighs the patience needed to build out your load packages. We have used this system to identify workflow inconsistencies in source and this is helping drive change in the business that is going to really increase the integrity of our data.
  • Business Intelligence Data Analyst
    1B-10B USD
    Banking
    Review Source

    Not a Sophisticated tool when compared to competitors but gets the basic stuff done.

    3.0
    Nov 8, 2018
    This is Poorly Designed Product with limited features, unattractive user interface and not a sophisticated tool, Excel Integration is cool feature .
  • IS Director
    50M-1B USD
    Manufacturing
    Review Source

    Simple Master Data Management solution. Limited to small medium size business.

    4.0
    Aug 6, 2018
    Simple Master Data Management solution with user friendly interface based on Excel. Limited to small medium size business.
Showing Result 1-5 of 19

Recommended Gartner Insights

  • Market Guide for Master Data Management of Customer Data Solutions (Transitioning to Master Data Management Solutions)

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