Master Data Management (MDM) is crucial in microservice architecture to avoid data inconsistencies and chaos among services relying on core data entities like customers, products, and suppliers.
Common pitfalls without MDM include customer name mismatches, product catalog inconsistencies, data duplication issues, and hard-to-maintain integration logic.
Common approaches for MDM in microservices include centralized MDM service, data replication for read-only caching, shared database for master data, and domain ownership with reference publishing.
Best practices for MDM include defining a canonical data model, using versioned APIs, ensuring idempotency, automating reconciliation, and monitoring changes. Real-world example involves Product Catalog MDM in eCommerce system.