Executive Summary
Master data is the backbone of ERP. Parts, customers, suppliers, and the chart of accounts keep the business running. Yet these records do not always flow cleanly into analytics, AI, or partner APIs. Wrapping IFS Cloud master data in machine-readable contracts changes that. Contracts make tables into products: versioned, tested, discoverable, and safe to reuse. This article explains how to move from ERP truth to data products in ten steps. The benefits are clear. Fewer remediation tickets, faster ROI, and a governed path for digital projects.
Why start with master data
- It is canonical and governed. ERP enforces unique values, mandatory fields, reference lists, and security.
- It changes slowly. Schemas evolve slowly, so contracts rarely break.
- It is authoritative. When disputes arise in finance or operations, ERP is the system of record.
A data contract is an agreement that defines schema, semantics, quality checks, and access rules. Master data is a strong first candidate. It is stable, trusted, and high-impact.
IFS building blocks
- Schema → Aurena projections such as PartCatalog or CustomerInfo. Export OpenAPI v3 and push to Git as the contract of record.
- Semantics and glossary → Field labels, LOVs, metadata. Enrich OpenAPI with descriptions, enums, and custom tags. Sync to the Data Catalog.
- Delivery channels → OData APIs for CRUD, IFS Connect events for change data, Data Pump for Parquet batch loads.
- Quality and SLOs → ERP validation plus SQL checks. Express in JSON-Schema or dbt tests. Enforce in CI/CD.
- Security → IAM scopes and permission sets. Add to OpenAPI and auto-provision roles on deploy.
Tip: Treat OpenAPI as code. Store the contract with its pipeline. A Git merge is the approval gate.
Publishing workflow
- Export the OpenAPI spec from Aurena.
- Push it to Git and tag the version.
- Run CI jobs to lint, generate dbt tests, and report results.
- When merged, register in the IFS Data Catalog.
- Trigger Data Pump to land Parquet files in the lake with the contract ID.
- Consumers find and use the data with confidence.
Versioning policy
- Add a non-breaking column → Minor version bump. Keep backward compatibility for six months.
- Rename or drop a column → Major bump. Keep the old version until all consumers migrate.
- Change enum values → Add values is minor. Removing values is major.
- Tighten quality SLO → Patch. No breakage.
Tip: Automate the diff in CI. Fail merges if major changes lack a version bump.
Governance in a data mesh
Classic governance needed central approval for all changes. Data mesh defines a thin set of rules such as naming, SLO baselines, and PII handling. Policies are templates. Domain teams publish contracts, inherit templates, and self-certify in CI. Machines enforce rules, humans debate policy. Reviews are faster, audits are stronger.
Master Data Hub synergy
A hub reduces duplicates, errors, and compliance issues. Contracts extend that value.
- Single source of truth → Hub data advertised to all systems.
- Real-time sync → OData or events remove nightly reconciliations.
- Scalable → New domains or M&A? Add a contract, no re-platform.
- Faster insights → Analysts trust freshness and lineage.
Tip: Use contracts as stable interfaces during MDM migration.
Implementation checklist
- Export OpenAPI specs for master entities.
- Commit and tag in Git. Review required.
- Integrate contract linting and dbt test generation in CI.
- Add SLOs and quality checks in YAML.
- Schedule dbt jobs with Data Pump cadence.
- Register all merged contracts in the Data Catalog.
- Configure IAM roles and reference in contracts.
- Automate Data Pump jobs to land Parquet with contract IDs.
- Monitor freshness and compliance in dashboards.
- Train domain teams to publish contracts on their own.
Key takeaways
- Start with master data. It is authoritative and stable.
- Use IFS built-ins. Export APIs, use the catalog, and automate Data Pump.
- Automate governance. CI/CD runs tests and diffs.
- Version with intent. Semantic rules keep consumers safe.
- Pilot quickly. Pick one entity and finish within two sprints.
Spin up your first contract now. It sets the foundation for governed, reusable data products.