Current-state system landscape and systems of record
Key Takeaway
Agentforce Manufacturing sits on top of a manufacturer's back-office systems, such as ERP and Order Management Systems (OMS), and integrates with them. Start discovery by mapping which system holds the official version of each kind of data.
Discovery for Agentforce Manufacturing starts with mapping the systems a manufacturer already runs. For each kind of data, you decide which system holds the official version. Agentforce Manufacturing sits on top of back-office systems such as Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) systems and Order Management Systems (OMS). You need to know which systems own which data before you plan integration and governance.
System roles in a current-state map
Four system roles complete a current-state map of the systems a manufacturer runs.
| What it is | Used for | |
|---|---|---|
| System of record | The authoritative source for specific data. It is usually where the data is created or recorded, and it holds the official version. | Compliance, auditing, and historical data accuracy |
| System of reference | The authoritative access point for data | Reaching trusted data, especially when different pieces of data have different systems of record |
| System of engagement | An access point that interacts directly with users | Typically customer or employee interactions |
| System of intelligence | A system that supports decision-making | AI, machine learning, and analytics |
The first two roles are easy to mix up. The system of record is where the official data is created and kept. The system of reference is the trusted place to reach that data.
A system of record is tied to specific data, not to a whole company. One landscape can have different systems of record for different pieces of data. A system of reference becomes important exactly in that situation.
A maker of industrial valves runs several systems. Engineers create product specifications in a product lifecycle management (PLM) system, so the PLM system is the system of record for specifications. Inspectors record test results in a quality management system, so that system is the system of record for inspection data. Distributors use a customer portal to see past purchases and log requests, which makes the portal a system of engagement. A reporting tool that uses machine learning to predict valve failures is a system of intelligence. Because specifications and inspection data have different systems of record, the team names one system of reference as the trusted place where users reach both.