In the landscape of SAP Master Data Governance (MDG), the ability to manage and transport data models across different system environments is crucial for ensuring consistent master data governance processes throughout the enterprise. Transporting data models is an essential step in the lifecycle of SAP MDG implementations, allowing organizations to migrate master data definitions, configurations, and enhancements from development to quality assurance and production systems efficiently and securely.
Before diving into transporting, it’s important to recall that a data model in SAP MDG defines the structure, attributes, relationships, and business rules for master data entities such as Business Partners, Materials, or Financial data. These models govern how master data is created, maintained, validated, and replicated.
SAP landscapes are typically structured into multiple environments such as:
Transporting data models ensures that changes developed and tested in DEV are reliably moved to QAS and PRD without inconsistencies, enabling smooth governance and data quality management in production.
Transporting in SAP MDG refers to the process of moving the metadata, configurations, and customizations related to data models from one SAP system to another using SAP’s Transport Management System (TMS). This includes:
Several key objects are involved when transporting MDG data models:
Development and Customization:
Master data models are created or extended in the development environment using SAP MDG modeling tools.
Transport Request Creation:
Changes are grouped into transport requests which contain all objects related to the data model.
Export from Development System:
Using the Transport Management System, transport requests are exported and prepared for import.
Import into Target System:
Transport requests are imported into quality or production environments following standard SAP transport procedures.
Testing and Validation:
Post-import, the transported data models are tested to ensure functionality, data integrity, and performance meet organizational standards.
Transporting data models in SAP MDG is a vital part of master data governance implementation and ongoing management. It enables organizations to move structured master data definitions and associated governance logic across systems securely and efficiently. Mastery of transport processes not only supports system integrity and operational excellence but also empowers businesses to maintain high-quality, consistent master data — the cornerstone for reliable business operations and analytics.