Data Mesh is a decentralized way of managing data. It treats data as a product and makes domains responsible for their own data. Combined with IFS Cloud’s project methodology, it creates a framework for strong governance and scalable data management across business domains.
This approach replaces centralized control with a federated model. Business domains own and manage their data products while following shared governance standards.
Phase 0: Define Project and Scope
Phase 1: Initiate Project
Phase 2: Confirm Prototype
Phase 3: Establish Solution
Phase 4: Implement Solution
Phase 5: Go Live
Committee
Processes
Technology
Months 1–3
Months 4–8
Months 9–12
Data Products
Governance
Business Value
Technical
Organizational
Using Data Mesh within IFS Cloud projects creates a modern data model that balances domain ownership with enterprise governance. It makes use of IFS Cloud’s native tools while building a federated architecture for agility and decision-making.
Success depends on strong leadership, change management, and a phased rollout. By combining IFS methodology with Data Mesh, organizations can deliver a working ERP and a scalable data foundation for future growth.
In modern enterprise ERP implementations such as IFS Cloud, accurately mapping functional modules to an organization's business domains is foundational to project success. This is especially vital when implementing advanced architectural paradigms like Data Mesh, which emphasize decentralized data ownership aligned with business domains. The following outlines a structured approach to achieve this alignment during project scoping, highlights key business domains typically involved in IFS mapping, and proposes essential tools to facilitate the implementation.
Structured Mapping Approach in IFS Cloud Implementation
The IFS Implementation Methodology provides a comprehensive framework for projecting and detailing the scope of IFS functional modules vis-à-vis business domains through distinct project phases:
Central to this approach are the IFS Scope Tool - for capturing and refining scope at multiple levels - and the Enterprise Book of Rules, which codifies business operations and governance as prerequisites for mapping. The Solution Architect plays a crucial role in orchestrating solution design, ensuring modules effectively map to business processes and domains, and managing scope control throughout.
Key Business Domains for IFS Functional Mapping
Enterprises generally recognize a set of core business domains which serve as the natural structuring units for mapping IFS modules, including:
Effectively mapping IFS modules to these domains enables enterprises to define clear role responsibilities, maintain data stewardship, and optimize processes holistically.
Recommended Tools for Mapping and Implementation
To execute this structured approach effectively, the following tools within the IFS ecosystem and complementary solutions should be leveraged:
Conclusion
Mapping IFS functional modules to business domains during an IFS Cloud implementation with Data Mesh integration involves a systematic methodology supported by a suite of powerful tools. These tools facilitate detailed scope capture, domain-specific workshops, traceability of customizations, project and risk management, and data governance. Leveraging these enables solution architects and project teams to deliver cohesive, modular solutions aligned perfectly with business domains, empowering decentralized data ownership through Data Mesh principles and delivering scalable, agile enterprise value.
References: IFS Implementation Methodology, Scope Tool, Enterprise Book of Rules, Solution Architect guidelines, IFS PM Handbook for Partners, Data Mesh frameworks
A governance structure gives clarity around who does what in an IFS Cloud Data Mesh setup. It establishes who makes decisions, who is responsible for specific data, and which rules everyone needs to follow. This structure helps companies handle complex data projects by making sure work doesn’t fall through the cracks and everyone follows the same standards.12
Governance in IFS Cloud projects organizes oversight bodies such as steering committees and assigns roles such as domain owners and compliance stewards. It lays out processes for making decisions, handling problems, and keeping track of progress. This is important since authority is shared between central teams and business units. The goal is to give teams freedom to manage their data without losing sight of company rules or security.3
Using Data Mesh in IFS Cloud means moving from a fully centralized model to something more shared. Business teams are in charge of their data, but still follow company-wide rules. Standards like data contracts and compliance policies tie everything together.34
IFS Cloud projects have several stages. Each stage handles governance differently.
Federated governance lets business units work independently while following central rules. Each team manages its own data using the standards everyone agrees to, and central teams handle things like compliance and security.
Teams move faster, stay compliant, and work better together. They can share and reuse data without much confusion or extra work. This approach gives companies the control they need without blocking innovation.651
Success depends on having the right people in the right roles.
In IFS Cloud Data Mesh, these roles and processes work together. They give business teams enough control to move fast but make sure important rules are never ignored. This balance supports both strong compliance and quick innovation as a company grows.291
Let me know if anything here is unclear or if you want details on specific roles or processes.
https://www.informatica.com/resources/articles/data-mesh-governance-explained.html↩
https://datahub.com/use-cases/what-is-a-data-mesh-and-how-to-implement-it-in-your-organization/↩
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https://digital.orange-business.com/en-en/insights/digital-newsroom/data-mesh-federated-governance-key↩↩
https://acagroup.be/en/blog/data-mesh-governance-a-blueprint-for-decentralized-data-management/↩
This comprehensive guide outlines how to create an effective data product vision during Phase 0 of IFS Cloud Data Mesh implementation, establishing the foundation for treating data as a strategic product. The approach ensures alignment with decentralized, domain-oriented data mesh principles while supporting specific IFS Cloud business objectives including 414% three-year ROI and operational efficiency improvements. Key components include defining purpose and value propositions, establishing quality standards, ensuring accessibility, assigning ownership, and creating governance frameworks. Real-world examples demonstrate how manufacturing, asset management, and project-based organizations can leverage data products to achieve measurable outcomes like 15% cost reduction through predictive maintenance and 50% faster decision-making. Implementation requires structured approaches optimized for AI and search systems, with success measured through adoption rates, user satisfaction, and business impact metrics.123
Setting a clear data product vision in Phase 0 forms the foundation for successful IFS Cloud Data Mesh implementation. This foundational phase ensures data gets treated as a product while aligning with decentralized, domain-oriented data mesh principles and supporting specific IFS Cloud business objectives.456
A data product vision defines the purpose, value, and expectations for data products within an organization. It transforms thinking from viewing data as a byproduct of business operations to recognizing it as a valuable asset that drives decision making, innovation, and operational efficiency.78
Key Entity Relationships: IFS Cloud, Data Mesh Architecture, Phase 0 Implementation, Data Product Management, Enterprise Data Strategy.9
Define how data products achieve specific business objectives aligned with IFS Cloud implementation goals. Organizations implementing IFS Cloud typically target 414% three-year ROI and $5.5 million average annual benefits, making data products essential for achieving these outcomes.710
Manufacturing Example: A discrete manufacturer using IFS Cloud can create data products that provide real-time shop floor visibility and integrated supply chain orchestration. These data products might track Overall Equipment Effectiveness (OEE) metrics, helping achieve the 15% cost reduction through predictive maintenance that IFS.ai enables.11
Asset Management Example: For asset-intensive industries like oil and gas or utilities, data products can focus on asset performance optimization and predictive maintenance. Organizations managing complex assets like offshore drilling equipment or wind farms can create data products that track asset health indicators, enabling the 50% faster equipment outage resolution that IFS Cloud delivers.122
Establish measurable expectations for data accuracy, timeliness, and reliability. Create specific service level agreements that data products must meet to ensure they remain trustworthy and actionable.813
Project Management Example: Engineering firms and defense contractors using IFS Cloud for project-based ERP management need data products with real-time project visibility. Service level agreements might specify 99.5% uptime for project cost tracking data and sub-second refresh rates for resource allocation dashboards, supporting the unified project view that drives project success.14
Supply Chain Example: Manufacturing organizations targeting 20% lead time reduction and 15% production efficiency increases require data products with stringent freshness requirements. Inventory data products might need updates within 15 minutes of transactions, while demand forecasting data products require daily refresh cycles to support AI-driven production planning.153
Make data products easily accessible and discoverable by authorized users through proper implementation. Deploy comprehensive data catalogs and expose data through well-documented APIs to facilitate seamless access.165
Multi-Site Manufacturing Example: A global industrial materials manufacturer operating across six countries needs data products accessible through IFS Cloud's unified platform. Data catalogs should provide role-based access where plant managers see local production metrics while executives access consolidated performance dashboards across all facilities.17
Field Service Example: Environmental services providers with thousands of field technicians require mobile-accessible data products. IoT-connected equipment data must be discoverable through field service applications, enabling technicians to access real-time asset status and automated maintenance alerts.17
Assign clear ownership of data products to specific domains or teams with defined responsibilities. This accountability structure ensures data products get maintained, updated, and governed effectively throughout their lifecycle.513
Domain-Specific Examples:
Define comprehensive governance structures and compliance requirements to maintain data integrity and security. Create detailed policies covering data access, usage patterns, audit trails, and regulatory compliance.13
Pharmaceutical Manufacturing Example: Companies using IFS Cloud's formula-based modules for regulatory compliance need data products with complete lot traceability and batch tracking capabilities. Governance frameworks must ensure FDA compliance while supporting the quality control improvements that drive customer satisfaction.20
Aerospace and Defense Example: Organizations in compliance-heavy environments require data products with comprehensive audit trails and security controls. Data governance policies must support both operational efficiency and regulatory requirements while enabling the collaborative project execution that IFS Cloud facilitates.11
Connect the data product vision directly with strategic IFS Cloud business objectives through measurable outcomes. Organizations typically implement IFS Cloud to achieve specific goals including operational efficiency improvements, cost reductions, and enhanced customer satisfaction.2110
Operational Efficiency Goals: Data products should support the 30% productivity increase through workflow automation that IFS Cloud delivers. Examples include automated production planning data products that reduce manual scheduling processes and real-time resource utilization dashboards that optimize workforce deployment.11
Financial Performance Goals: Target the 25% reduction in downtime and 20% cost savings within the first year by creating data products that enable predictive maintenance and resource optimization. Financial data products should provide real-time project profitability visibility and accurate cost forecasting capabilities.11
Customer Satisfaction Goals: Support improved customer service and delivery performance through data products that provide available-to-promise functionality and real-time order tracking. Service-centric organizations can create data products that track customer feedback metrics and service performance indicators.22
Strong leadership commitment and structured change management processes drive successful transformation. Organizations must address fundamental value questions about how data will deliver concrete business benefits before defining technical approaches.23
Use structured data markup to ensure AI and search systems can properly interpret your data product documentation. Implement JSON-LD schema markup for Organization, Product, and FAQ content types to improve discoverability.242526
Focus on clear entity relationships between IFS Cloud components, data mesh principles, and specific implementation phases. Use consistent terminology for key concepts like data products, domain ownership, and service level agreements throughout documentation.27
Ensure all content remains crawlable and indexable by implementing proper technical SEO fundamentals. Use clear heading structures, semantic HTML markup, and fast-loading pages to support both human users and automated systems.2829
Track data product adoption rates, user satisfaction scores, and business impact metrics to validate vision effectiveness. Monitor how frequently your content gets referenced in AI-powered search results and knowledge systems.3031
IFS Cloud-Specific Success Metrics:
Establish feedback loops between data consumers and product owners to continuously refine the vision based on real-world usage patterns and business needs. Regular assessment ensures data products continue supporting evolving IFS Cloud capabilities and business requirements.23
Setting a comprehensive data product vision in Phase 0 establishes the groundwork for sustainable data strategy success. By defining clear purpose, value propositions, and operational expectations aligned with IFS Cloud implementation goals, organizations create the foundation for treating data as a strategic asset that drives informed decision making and measurable business outcomes. This approach ensures data mesh implementations support the operational efficiency, cost reduction, and customer satisfaction improvements that make IFS Cloud implementations successful across manufacturing, asset management, and project-based organizations.61
A data product vision defines the purpose, value, and expectations for data products within an organization implementing IFS Cloud Data Mesh. It shifts thinking from viewing data as a byproduct to recognizing it as a valuable asset that drives decision making, innovation, and operational efficiency while supporting specific IFS Cloud business objectives like achieving 414% three-year ROI.332
Phase 0 serves as the foundational planning stage where organizations define project scope and establish the groundwork for successful implementation. During this phase, setting a clear data product vision ensures proper alignment with business objectives before technical implementation begins, reducing risks and increasing chances of achieving measurable outcomes like the 11-month payback period typical of successful IFS Cloud implementations.62
The five essential components include: Purpose and Value Proposition (defining how data products achieve business objectives), Quality Standards and Service Levels (establishing SLAs for accuracy and reliability), Accessibility and Discoverability (ensuring easy access through catalogs and APIs), Ownership and Accountability (assigning clear domain ownership), and Governance and Compliance Framework (maintaining data integrity and security).5
Data product vision connects directly with strategic IFS Cloud objectives including operational efficiency improvements, cost reductions, and enhanced customer satisfaction. For example, manufacturing organizations can create data products supporting 30% productivity increases through workflow automation, while asset-intensive industries can target 50% faster equipment outage resolution through predictive maintenance data products.342
Manufacturing: Real-time OEE tracking data products enabling 15% cost reduction through predictive maintenance. Asset Management: Equipment health monitoring data products for offshore drilling or wind farms supporting faster outage resolution. Project Management: Real-time project cost tracking with 99.5% uptime SLAs for engineering firms. Supply Chain: Inventory data products with 15-minute update cycles supporting AI-driven production planning.19142
Success measurement includes tracking IFS Cloud-specific metrics such as achieving 414% three-year ROI, measuring 50% faster decision-making, monitoring progress toward $2.5 million annual staff efficiency benefits, and aiming for 11-month payback periods. Additional metrics include data product adoption rates, user satisfaction scores, and business impact measurements validated through regular feedback loops.352
Traditional centralized data architectures suffer from lack of domain knowledge, unforeseen analytical consequences from operational changes, complex governance, and weak producer-consumer contracts. Data mesh addresses these issues through decentralized domain ownership, treating data as products, self-serve infrastructure platforms, and federated governance, enabling faster time to market and better business alignment.36
Implementation timelines vary based on organizational complexity and scope. While specific timeframes depend on factors like existing infrastructure and business requirements, organizations should plan for iterative implementation approaches rather than big-bang deployments. Focus should be on establishing clear vision and governance in Phase 0 before proceeding with technical implementation phases.61
Key challenges include organizational resistance to decentralized ownership, lack of clear governance structures, insufficient change management, and difficulty establishing cross-domain collaboration. Success requires strong leadership commitment, structured change management processes, and addressing fundamental value questions about how data will deliver concrete business benefits.231
Manufacturing Module: Data products support Manufacturing Scheduling Optimization (MSO) with capacity utilization metrics. Asset Management: Predictive maintenance data products enable asset performance optimization. Project Management: Real-time project visibility data products support engineering-to-order operations. Financial Management: Project profitability data products ensure accurate cost tracking across domains.181514
IFS.ai capabilities enhance data mesh implementations by enabling predictive maintenance, automated production planning, and intelligent resource optimization. Data products can leverage AI for anomaly detection, demand forecasting, and equipment health scoring, supporting the operational improvements that drive IFS Cloud's demonstrated ROI benefits.172
Implement comprehensive data catalogs with role-based access controls, expose data through well-documented APIs, and ensure mobile accessibility for field operations. For multi-site operations, provide unified platform access where different user roles see relevant metrics while maintaining security and governance requirements.517
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