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Golden Record

Data management10/21/2025Advanced Level

A golden record is the single, most accurate, and complete version of a data entity (like a product) compiled from all available sources, ensuring data consistency.

Definition

A golden record, also known as a 'single source of truth' or 'master record,' represents the definitive, most accurate, and complete view of a data entity within an organization. For products, it's a consolidated record that harmonizes information from various source systems (e.g., ERP, PIM, DAM, CRM) by resolving conflicts, removing duplicates, and enriching missing data. The golden record ensures that all departments and systems refer to the same, trusted product information, eliminating inconsistencies and improving data quality across the enterprise. It is a core concept in Master Data Management (MDM) and PIM.

Why It's Important for E-commerce

In e-commerce, the golden record for products is critical for delivering a consistent and trustworthy customer experience. Inaccurate or conflicting product data across different channels (e.g., website, marketplace, mobile app) leads to confusion, higher return rates, and damaged brand reputation. By establishing a golden record, businesses ensure that product descriptions, prices, inventory levels, and specifications are uniform and reliable everywhere. This operational consistency reduces errors, streamlines workflows, and supports better decision-making, from marketing campaigns to supply chain management.

Examples

  • A product's weight is listed as '5 kg' in the ERP, '5.1 kg' in the PIM, and '5000 grams' on a supplier sheet. The golden record process resolves this to a single, validated '5.1 kg' for all systems.
  • Consolidating product descriptions from different regional marketing teams into one authoritative, localized version for each market.
  • Merging inventory data from multiple warehouses into a single, real-time available stock figure for e-commerce display.
  • Ensuring that product images and digital assets are consistent across the website, mobile app, and printed catalogs.

How WISEPIM Helps

  • Data harmonization: Centralize product data from various sources and resolve conflicts to create a golden record.
  • Data validation rules: Implement rules to ensure the accuracy and completeness of the golden record.
  • Version control: Maintain historical versions of product data while always pointing to the active golden record.

Related Terms

Also Known As

Single source of truthMaster recordConsolidated record

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