"the Now Platform use a single system of record and a common data model" what is this single system referred?

[Lei Wang3]

In the ServiceNow Platform overview, it says that "The applications that run on the Now Platform use a single system of record and a common data model to consolidate your organization's business processes".

What does it really mean by "a single system of record and a common data model"? what does this single system refer to? either the ServiceNow system or one central database or something else?

Is there an example which uses multiple systems of record? 

what is the downside of using multiple systems of record?

[doug_schulze · Accepted solution]

I would interpret that being the single system of record, as our moniker of being the platform of platforms. The ability to bring together multiple systems of "truth", into a common data model, in one holistic view on a single platform .. 🙂

[Lei Wang3]

I guess the term "record" is overused. in Now, "record" is the row in a table. a single system of truth, that makes more sense.