A Step-by-Step Guide to Configuring Master Data Synchronization Across Multiple Companies in Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central
Master Data Management (MDM) is a powerful feature in Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central that enables organizations to synchronize master data across multiple companies from a single source. By centralizing key business data such as Customers, Vendors, Items, G/L Accounts, Currencies, and other reference tables, MDM helps maintain data consistency, reduce manual effort, and improve operational efficiency.
This comprehensive guide walks you through the complete configuration process for Master Data Management (MDM) in Business Central, including setting up the source company, configuring Synchronization Tables and Fields, managing Job Queue entries, defining recurrence settings, and monitoring synchronization through the Synchronization Log.
Whether you're an administrator, consultant, or Business Central implementation partner, this step-by-step tutorial will help you configure MDM correctly and ensure reliable master data synchronization across your Business Central environment.
What is Master Data Management?
Master Data Management (MDM) in Business Central allows you to synchronize master data — such as Customers, Vendors, Items, G/L Accounts, and other reference tables — from one Source Company to one or more Subsidiary Companies. This ensures all companies in your environment share consistent, up-to-date master data without manual duplication.
ℹ When to Use MDM
Use Case: If your business runs multiple companies in Business Central and you want all of them to share the same Chart of Accounts, Currency list, or Customer master, MDM is the right tool to keep them in sync automatically.
STEP 1
Open Master Data Management Setup
The first step is to find and open the Master Data Management Setup page in Business Central.
-
Search for the Setup Page
Use the Search bar (Alt + Q) and type Master Data Management Setup. Open the page from the results.
2. Select the Source Company
In the Connection section, click the Source Company field and select the company you want to use as the source (the company that holds the master data you want to push to other companies).
3. Enable Data Synchronization
Toggle on the Enable Data Synchronization field. This activates MDM for the current company and allows it to receive synchronized data from the source company.
ℹ Important Note: You configure MDM on the receiving (subsidiary) company — not on the source company.The Source Company is where the master data originates. The current company will receive updates from it.
STEP 2 - Configure Synchronization Tables
After enabling synchronization, click the Synchronization Tables button in the action bar at the top of the page. This opens the list of tables that will be synchronized.
1. Review the Default Table List
Business Central pre-populates a default set of synchronization tables. A confirmation dialog may appear asking if you want to reset them to the default configuration.
Click No to keep your existing setup, or Yes to reset to the default table list. If you are setting this up for the first time, clicking Yes is recommended to get a clean starting point.
2. Remove Unwanted Tables
Review the pre-defined list. If a table is not required for your business, you can select it and click Delete to remove it from the synchronization list.
3. Add Required Tables
Click New to add any additional tables that you need to synchronize across companies.
⚠ Required Table Settings
For each table in the list, ensure the following settings are configured correctly:
• Status — must be set to Enabled. Disabled tables are skipped during synchronization.
• Overwrite Local Change — must be turned ON (checked).
This ensures that any changes made locally in the subsidiary company are overwritten by the source company data during the next sync.
STEP 3 - Configure Synchronization Fields
For each table, you can control which specific fields are synchronized. This allows you to sync only the fields that are relevant, rather than the entire table record.
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Open the Fields Page
From the Synchronization Tables list, select a table and click the Fields button in the action bar. This opens the Synchronization Fields page for that table.
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Select Required Fields
Review the list of fields for the table. Enable only the fields that need to be synchronized. You can use the Enable and Disable buttons in the action bar for quick selection.
ℹ Field Settings
For each field you want to synchronize, the Status must be set to Enabled.
Fields with Status = Disabled will be ignored during synchronization, even if the parent table is enabled.
Optionally, you can enable Validate Field to run field-level validation when data is written to the subsidiary company.
STEP 4 - Review the Automatically Created Job Queue
Once a table is enabled for synchronization, Business Central automatically creates a Job Queue entry for that table. You do not need to create it manually.
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Open Job Queue Entries
From the Synchronization Tables list, select a table and click the Job Queue Entry button in the action bar. The system will open the Job Queue Entries page filtered to that table's sync job.
The system creates a Codeunit job (Object ID 5339 — Integration Synch. Job Runner) for each enabled synchronization table. By default, the status may be On Hold with Inactivity Timeout, which means it needs to be configured before it runs correctly.
STEP 5 - Configure the Job Queue Recurrence
Before activating the Job Queue entry, you must configure its recurrence settings — especially the Inactivity Timeout Period. Skipping this step is the most common reason MDM synchronization does not work correctly.
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Put the Job On Hold
Click Set On Hold in the action bar. This allows you to edit the Job Queue entry fields. You cannot edit a running or ready job directly.
2. Open the Recurrence Section
Scroll down to the Recurrence tab on the Job Queue Entry Card.
3. Set the Recurrence Options
Configure the following recurrence settings as needed for your environment:
ℹ Recurrence Settings
• Recurring Job — Enable this toggle so the job runs repeatedly on a schedule.
• Run on Days — Enable the relevant day toggles (Mon–Sun) based on when sync should run.
• No. of Minutes between Runs — Set how frequently the job should repeat (e.g., every 30 or 60 minutes).
• Starting Time / Ending Time — Optionally define a time window for the job to run.
⚠ Critical: Inactivity Timeout Period
Inactivity Timeout Period — This is the most critical setting.
Change this value to 5 minutes (or any value less than 30 minutes).
If the Inactivity Timeout Period is set too high, the Job Queue will go into an 'On Hold with Inactivity Timeout' state after running once and will not continue synchronizing. Setting it below 30 minutes ensures the job remains active and re-queues itself correctly after each run.
6. Set Status to Ready
Once all recurrence settings are configured, click Set Status to Ready in the action bar. The Job Queue is now active and will run according to your schedule.
STEP 6 - Monitor via Synchronization Log
After the Job Queue has run at least once, you can review the synchronization activity using the Synchronization Log.
1. Open Synchronization Log
Go back to the Synchronization Tables page and click the Synchronization Log button in the action bar. The system will open the Integration Synchronization Jobs page.
The Synchronization Log shows a history of every time the Job Queue ran for that table. Each row includes:
Start Date/Time and Finish Date/Time — when the sync job ran
Duration — how long it took
Inserted / Modified / Deleted / Unchanged — record counts for each type of change
Failed / Skipped — any records that encountered errors
Direction — confirms data is flowing in the correct direction (e.g., to Concessional Codes)
Message — any error or informational message from the sync run
✓ Reading the Log
If all counts show 0 for Inserted, Modified, Deleted, and Failed — this is normal. It means the records in both companies are already in sync and no changes were detected during that run.
Check the Failed column regularly. If failed counts are increasing, open the log row to see the error message and investigate.
SUMMARY - Configuration Checklist
| STEP |
ACTION |
KEY REQUIREMENT |
|
1.
|
MDM Setup |
Select Source Company + Enable Data Synchronization |
| 2. |
Sync Tables |
Enable required tables, remove unused ones |
| 3. |
Table Settings |
Status = Enabled, Overwrite Local Change = ON |
| 4. |
Sync Fields |
Enable required fields per table, Status = Enabled |
| 5. |
Job Queue |
Auto-created — put On Hold, then configure recurrence |
| 6. |
Inactivity Timeout |
Auto-created — put On Hold, then configure recurrence |
| 7. |
Activate |
Set Status to Ready to start synchronization |
| 8. |
Monitor |
Use Synchronization Log to check sync history and errors |
✓ Result
Once configured correctly, MDM will automatically synchronize master data from the Source Company to the subsidiary company on your defined schedule — keeping all companies aligned without any manual effort.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is Master Data Management (MDM) in Microsoft Dynamics 365 Business Central?
Master Data Management (MDM) allows organizations to synchronize master data such as Customers, Vendors, Items, G/L Accounts, and Currencies across multiple Business Central companies from a single source company.
Which master data can be synchronized using Business Central MDM?
Business Central can synchronize various master data records including:
- Customers
- Vendors
- Items
- G/L Accounts
- Currencies
- Dimensions
- Reference Tables
- Custom supported tables
Where should Master Data Management be configured?
MDM should be configured on the receiving (subsidiary) company while selecting the source company from which master data will be synchronized.
Why is the Job Queue showing "On Hold with Inactivity Timeout"?
This usually happens when the Inactivity Timeout Period is configured too high. Setting it to 5 minutes (or any value below 30 minutes) allows the synchronization job to continue running automatically.
How do I monitor MDM synchronization in Business Central?
You can monitor synchronization through the Synchronization Log, which displays inserted, modified, deleted, skipped, and failed records, along with execution time and error messages.
Can I synchronize only selected fields?
Yes. Business Central allows administrators to configure Synchronization Fields so only selected fields are synchronized instead of entire records.
Does Business Central automatically create Job Queue entries for MDM?
Yes. When synchronization is enabled for a table, Business Central automatically creates the required Job Queue entry. You only need to configure its recurrence settings.
What happens if no records are updated during synchronization?
If the Synchronization Log shows zero inserted, modified, deleted, and failed records, it simply indicates that both companies are already synchronized and no changes were detected.