Most large companies are users of large ERP packages like SAP, PeopleSoft, EBiz, Siebel and JDEdwards, and sometimes more than one of these.I'm a big believer in the importance of data and the power that metadata has in revealing that data.With so many large organizations now being run on these ERP packages, the need for a good understanding of data in such environments has never been greater. There is a general view that the data underlying these systems is a ‘black box’ that is not understandable by anyone other than ERP specialists, and that there is no need to understand them because the data is managed by the ERP software itself.That’s no longer the case.The technology and expertise exist to enable Information Management people to understand and utilise ERP metadata just like any other data source in their environment.Just because the data is in an ERP, it doesn’t mean it would be needed for:• Data Warehouse/Data mart design and implementation• Master Data Management• Data Quality• Data Governance• Metadata Management...and just about anything else that involves utilizing ‘data’ in ERP packages.I’ve helped customers take control of their ERP metadata for a range of ‘information management’ projects that often involve:• Finding the ‘right’ tables in a haystack of thousands that are an ERP database• Getting Data models of an ERP• Rationalising multiple ERP instances into fewer• Migrating from one ERP to anotherWhilst I’d like to say it was my intellect that enabled this, that would be stretching the truth somewhat – in each case it’s been down to use of our product, Safyr to enable users to find data structures in ERPs themselves, without having to rely on specialists.My own blog is http://nicholasporterblog.wordpress.com/Silwood Technology website is www.silwoodtechnology.com