--- title: The Supplier Master Data Riddle description: How difficult should it be to match your supplier relationships, and related information, to your supplier records? --- [![HICX](https://hub.hicxsolutions.com/hubfs/HICX_Solutions_August2018%20Theme/Image/logo.svg)](http://www.hicxsolutions.com) [Read whitepapers](http://www.hicxsolutions.com/resources/whitepapers/) [Request a Demo](http://www.hicxsolutions.com/demo/) [![HICX](https://hub.hicxsolutions.com/hubfs/HICX_Solutions_August2018%20Theme/Image/logo.svg)](http://www.hicxsolutions.com) [Read whitepapers](http://www.hicxsolutions.com/resources/whitepapers/) [Request a Demo](http://www.hicxsolutions.com/demo/) September 26, 2017 ## [The Supplier Master Data Riddle](https://hub.hicxsolutions.com/blog/the-supplier-master-riddle) by [Costas](https://hub.hicxsolutions.com/blog/author/costas) 2 minute read They say that, if you can solve “Albert Einstein’s riddle”, you are in the top 2% of intelligent people in the world. Sometimes navigating an organization’s supplier master feels like a riddle. As such, just for fun, here is a puzzle… 1. Within the supplier master there are five supplier records, each with the same company name, yet each has a different tax ID. 2. Each supplier record relates to different organizational units (sites). 3. Each organizational unit purchases a different product, has had different invoice numbers tied to their record, and maintains a unique remit to / bank address. THE QUESTION: WHAT ORGANIZATIONAL UNIT AND RECORD SHOULD INVOICE #7281 BELONG TO? Here are some hints: - **Site 4, US** has a supplier with a TIN# of **86-5251821**. - Invoice **#3956** was for **Site 6, EMEA**. - **Site 4, US** buys **Keyboards**. - The record with TIN# **74-7205478** is next to, and above TIN# **48-2816262**. - The supplier with TIN# **74-7205478** provides **Consulting**. - Invoice **#4213** was paid to an **HSBC, UK** bank account. - TIN# **59-7015211** uses an **HSBC, US** account. - The middle “supplier” had provided **Monitors**. - The top supplier record serviced **Site 2, UK**. - The supplier record using a **JPMC, US** account for payment is next to the one who has an invoice of **#7566**. - The supplier record with the invoice of **#4712** is next to the record that uses an **HSBC, US** bank account. - When **Servers** were bought, a **Citigroup, US** account was used for payment. - Payment to the **RBS, UK** account was for **Site 1, CA**’s supplier record. - The **Site 2, UK** supplier record is next to the supplier record having a TIN# of **87-4888411**. - The supplier record representing **Laptops** is next to the supplier record using a **JPMC, US** bank account. There are no tricks – and, if you are so inclined, you can solve this puzzle through logic alone. The question is, however, how difficult should it be to match your supplier relationships, and related information, to your supplier records? It shouldn’t be, and it certainly shouldn’t be something so confusing that 98% of the world’s population would not be able to solve the Supplier Master Riddle. Without proper master data governance at the core of Supplier Information Management, one cannot establish the “single version of the truth” needed to: gain operational efficiencies; extend the value of any investments within the existing supply base initiatives; and, avoid having to solve the Supplier Master Riddle. #### Make some noise - - - - Topics [Master Data Management](https://hub.hicxsolutions.com/blog/tag/master-data-management-blog), [Supplier Management](https://hub.hicxsolutions.com/blog/tag/supplier-management) ### by Costas [More articles by Costas](https://hub.hicxsolutions.com/blog/author/costas) or ## Explore our solutions The answer to all of your third party and supplier management problems. [Learn More](http://www.hicxsolutions.com/solutions/) ## Try for yourself Give our sales team a call +1 (312) 948-0391 (US) or +44 (0) 203 325 4244 (UK) [Live Demo](http://www.hicxsolutions.com/demo/)