Martin-Bauer transforms Master Data Governance with SAP MDG and Alluvion's MPP

Martin-Bauer transforms Master Data Governance with SAP MDG and Alluvion's MPP 

This article explains how Martin-Bauer, implemented SAP MDG as part of a S/4HANA RISE transformation together with Alluvion’s MDG Productivity Pack (MPP) to replace its previous master data tool and support a large and complex set of business rules.

The main result of the project is a scalable, flexible, and future-proof master data governance solution that improves data quality, simplifies processes, and allows Martin-Bauer to manage more than 1,000 business rules in a sustainable way. By combining SAP MDG with an enhanced version of Alluvion’s MPP, Martin-Bauer can now automate validations, derivations, workflow routing, and departmental involvement based on the data ownership within the organization.

This article is relevant for organizations considering SAP MDG or replacing a legacy master data tool. It is especially useful for companies looking to manage a high number of business rules without extensive custom development as well as for companies with complex processes, global operations, and a strong need for data quality and governance.

If you are facing similar challenges in master data management, the next step is to assess whether your current MDM setup is still scalable and future-proof. For questions about SAP MDG, business rule management, or Alluvion’s MDG Productivity Pack, please reach out to Alluvion via the contact form.

About Martin-Bauer

Martin-Bauer is a global company specialized in the development and production of high-quality botanical ingredients for the tea, beverage, food, nutraceutical and pharmaceutical industries. Founded in Germany in 1930, the company has grown into a worldwide leader in botanical solutions, offering a broad portfolio of herbal and fruit teas, extracts, powders and functional plant-based ingredients. This renowned manufacturing company employs more than 2,300 people worldwide and operates over 20 production sites and sales units across more than 50 countries, sourcing and processing over 200 botanicals from more than 80 countries worldwide. 

The Challenge: Replacing a legacy setup during a S/4HANA RISE Transformation

After someone from the S/4HANA Implementation Partner All4One attended the Alluvion SAP MDG Admin Trainings, Martin-Bauer came into contact with Alluvion as they had several questions regarding the MDG framework.

Martin-Bauer had been searching for a partner to implement SAP MDG as part of a S/4HANA 2023 RISE Transformation from ECC 6.0.

Martin-Bauer was looking for a Master Data Management tool that could support their large volume of business rules. This is where SAP MDG supported by Alluvion's MDG Productivity Pack (MPP) came into the picture. As Martin-Bauer was previously using a tool called Glasswing (Master Data Simplicity – MDS which was an add-on on ECC system), making the switch to MDG made for several concrete master data challenges:

•           Legacy System Limitations: Martin-Bauer was operating on SAP ECC 6.0 with an add-on ITMDS system for master data. This setup was outdated and needed replacement as part of the migration to SAP S/4HANA. The ITMDS add-on was not fit for future requirements, lacking modern capabilities for master data governance and integration.
•           User Experience and Adoption Challenges: There was a need to modernize the user experience with SAP Fiori applications and launchpad stepping away from the ITMDS Glasswing UI for Material Management and the backend transactions for Business Partner (Customer/Vendor). Therefore, moving towards SAP Fiori Launchpad, the more intuitive way of working towards the future.
•           Workflow Routing: To be able to apply the data ownership concept throughout the organization and have department involvement depending on the master data being created or changed.
•           Data Quality and Governance Issues: There was a need for improved data quality controls, including validations, derivations, deduplication and field property logic. Existing processes lacked robust governance, making it hard to enforce business rules and ensure compliance across all entry points.

Alluvion's Role: Create speed first; then add the right flexibility

Alluvion was asked to support the SAP MDG implementation for Business Partner - customers and vendors - and Material Master. Because timing was tight, the project started with a dual-track approach. One track analyzed the existing ITMDS/Glasswing setup and mapped the gap with the envisioned SAP MDG end state. The other track accelerated the baseline setup and configuration of SAP MDG using Alluvion's MDG Project Booster.

This approach gave the project team two things at the same time: a working SAP MDG foundation and a clearer view of the specific gaps that still had to be solved in later cycles.

The Solution: Sap MDG Supported by Alluvion

SAP MDG became the central governance solution for master data. The implementation focused on the core MDG capabilities needed for a robust setup: Central Governance, Consolidation and Mass Processing, Data Quality Management, Reporting and Analytics.

Alluvion fully implemented SAP’s MDG solution while also installing Alluvion's MDG Productivity Pack (MPP) on top of this. In order to be able to fully match the requirements of the growing business rules of Martin-Bauer, we expanded the MPP with several new functionalities:

• More flexible input conditions/options for derivation rules, so default values and calculated fields can be governed more easily.
• Improved key logic to support better defaulting of master data for specific organizational levels
• Validation Framework expanded with more input selection flexibility
• Custom Domestic/Foreign logic for Martin-Bauers business rules on organizational levels.
• Dynamic workflow behavior, allowing departments or approval steps to be included or skipped based on the data in the request.
• Field property logic to enforce mandatory data at the right moment in the process, instead of pushing all requirements to the requester at once;

Keeping the core clean while still meeting the business needs

One of the strongest choices in the project was the focus on keeping the S/4HANA core clean. Martin-Bauer had many business rules, but that did not mean every rule had to become hard-coded logic. By extending MPP in a reusable and configurable way, Alluvion helped create a governance layer that remains easier to maintain, test and adapt over time. 

A practical example: data-driven workflow involvement

In a classic workflow, the same departments are often asked to approve every request, even when their input is not needed. In Martin-Bauers current setup, workflow involvement became more data-driven. When certain data was not relevant, specific departments could be skipped. When sensitive or critical fields were changed, the right approvers could still be included. This reduced unnecessary manual effort while preserving control where it matters.