Common Data Model (CDM)

What is Common Data Model (CDM)? Common Data Model (CDM) Explained.

The Common Data Model (CDM) is a standardized and extensible data schema and semantic model that is designed to enable interoperability and consistency of data across different applications and services. It provides a consistent and structured representation of data entities and their relationships, making it easier to integrate and share data across various systems and platforms.

Here are some key points to understand about the Common Data Model (CDM):

The CDM is a conceptual data model that defines a set of standard entities, attributes, and relationships to represent common business concepts and scenarios. It serves as a shared language and framework for describing data in a standardized and interoperable manner.

Structure and Entities: The CDM organizes data into entities, which represent specific business concepts or objects such as customers, products, sales, or invoices. Each entity consists of attributes that capture the properties or characteristics of the entity. Entities are organized hierarchically and can have relationships with other entities.

Standardization and Extensibility: The CDM provides a standard set of entities and attributes that cover common business scenarios. However, it is also designed to be extensible, allowing organizations to add their own custom entities, attributes, and relationships to meet their specific data requirements.

Semantics and Metadata: The CDM includes semantic definitions and metadata that provide a common understanding of the data and its meaning. This includes standardized names, data types, units of measure, and relationships between entities. Semantic annotations help ensure consistent interpretation and usage of the data across different systems.

Integration and Interoperability: The CDM facilitates data integration and interoperability by providing a common data schema that different systems and applications can adhere to. It allows data to be shared, exchanged, and integrated more easily, enabling organizations to break down data silos and achieve a unified view of their data.

Microsoft CDM: The term “Common Data Model" is often associated with the Microsoft Common Data Model, which is a specific implementation of the CDM by Microsoft. The Microsoft CDM is designed to work with various Microsoft products and services, such as Dynamics 365, Power Platform, and Azure. It provides a standardized data model for integrating and working with data from these Microsoft platforms.

Open Standards and Community: The CDM is built on open standards and is supported by a community of organizations and industry experts. It is designed to be platform-independent and can be used with different technologies and tools. The CDM community collaborates on defining and extending the model, ensuring its relevance and usefulness across various domains.

The Common Data Model (CDM) aims to promote data interoperability and consistency by providing a standardized and extensible framework for representing data. It simplifies data integration and sharing across different systems and applications, enabling organizations to unlock the value of their data and make more informed decisions.