Golden Record Decisions

Build Trusted Business Objects From Multiple Data Sources

Most organizations maintain business data across multiple systems and external sources.

The challenge is not collecting data.

The challenge is deciding which data should be trusted.

When multiple sources contain conflicting information, organizations need business rules that determine which values become part of the Golden Record.

CLE allows these decisions to be maintained in Excel and executed consistently through REST APIs across integration processes. Implement business rule changes in hours instead of weeks.

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Data Consolidation Requires Decisions

Business objects often exist in multiple systems.

Each source may contain different values, different update cycles and different levels of completeness.

Examples include:

  • product data
  • supplier data
  • customer data
  • location data
  • asset data
  • reference data

Simply merging records is not enough.

Multiple sources often provide different values for the same attribute. One source may contain more recent information, another source may contain more complete information, while a third source may be considered authoritative for specific attributes. Building a Golden Record therefore becomes a decision problem rather than a data integration problem.

Business decisions must determine which values become part of the trusted business object.

Typical Consolidation Rules

If Source A contains a more recent value, use Source A.
Otherwise use Source B.
Always use descriptions from Source A.
Always use contact information from Source B.
If the preferred source contains no value, use the secondary source.
Convert source-specific classifications into enterprise-wide classifications.

These are business decisions rather than technical mappings.

CLE allows these decisions to be maintained in Excel and executed consistently across integration processes – as a standalone decision runtime.

Example

Source A and Source B in one Business Object

POST /api/decision
Content-Type: application/json

[{
  "sourceA": {
    "name": "Camping Resort Lakeview",
    "inspectionDate": "2025-03-01",
    "description": "Premium lakeside campsite with marina.",
    "rating": 5,
    "website": null
  },
  "sourceB": {
    "name": "Camping Resort Lakeview",
    "inspectionDate": "2026-02-01",
    "description": "Lakeview Holiday Park",
    "rating": 4,
    "website": "https://www.lakeview.example"
  }
}]

Decision Rules

  1. Use the most recent inspection data.
  2. Descriptions always come from Source A.
  3. Websites always come from Source B.
  4. Ratings must be converted to the internal scale.
HTTP 200 OK

[{
  "sourceA": { ... },
  "sourceB": { ... },
  "unified" : {
    "name": "Camping Resort Lakeview",
    "inspectionDate": "2026-02-01",
    "description": "Premium lakeside campsite with marina.",
    "rating": 4,
    "website": "https://www.lakeview.example"
  }
}]

Original source data omitted for readability.

Unified Business Object

The result is a Golden Record that combines the most trusted, most complete and most up-to-date information available across all sources.

By default, CLE follows a JSON-In / JSON-Out enrichment model and returns the original business object with additional decision results. For advanced scenarios, an optional custom output mode allows CLE to generate entirely different response structures.

Business Rules Define The Golden Record

A Golden Record is a business-defined representation of the best available information across all sources.

It is created by deciding:

  • which source is trusted
  • when a source takes precedence
  • how conflicting values are resolved
  • how external values are translated
  • how missing information is handled
  • how multiple sources are combined

These decisions evolve continuously as source systems, business priorities and data quality requirements change.

Why Organizations Use CLE For Golden Record Decisions

Source Prioritization

Determine which source wins under which conditions.

Rule-Based Consolidation

Create trusted business objects from multiple sources.

Business-Controlled Logic

Maintain consolidation rules in Excel.

Consistent Results

Apply the same decisions across all integrations.

Explainable Outcomes

Understand why a particular value was selected.

Faster Rule Changes

Update consolidation rules without changing application code.

One Decision Model. Multiple Sources.

CLE can execute consolidation decisions for:

  • ERP systems
  • PIM systems
  • supplier feeds
  • partner data
  • reference data
  • master data repositories
  • custom applications

Regardless of where information originates, the same decision model determines which values become part of the final business object. The resulting Golden Record can be consumed through REST APIs by ERP systems, PIM systems, master data platforms and custom applications.

Learn how CLE exposes Golden Record decisions through a Decision Engine API.

From Multiple Sources To One Trusted Object

Systems collect data.

Business experts define consolidation rules.

CLE executes the decisions.

Keep the consolidation rules. Replace the implementation.

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