Database Design and Implementation
Data and databases are at the heart of every successful company. The best method for gathering, displaying and analyzing data is a database. Now some of the smaller company owners may be thinking that this is not the case for them. Well, if you have an accounting system like Peachtree or QuickBooks, you already have a database working for you. Databases are not as complicated as some owners think. I have seen owners do some extraordinary things using excel that would have been very easy with a database.
The next level up is a small database that may only be used on one or two machines. Normally I see people using MS Access for this purpose. Given a little time, you can do some very good work using this system. However, it doesn't take too long before this tool is outgrown.
On the other side of the fence are huge, and very expense database systems like SAP which uses a database called Oracle. This system can do just about anything with data that you can imagine, including stifling your work flow. It can be so limiting that you almost need programmers on staff to use it. There are many, many large companies using this system. And unless you are in the fortune 500, I do NOT recommend the extra staff and cost to operate this type of system.
So, what is the small to medium sized business to do about data? The first thing is not to b e under the impress that databases are some very complicated piece of software that is impossible to learn or use. If you have a need to analyze your inventory, sales, test results, or what ever you do, talk to us about a solution. Believe me, I have seen spreadsheets that are much more complex than most databases for small companies.
Make sure that if you get someone to come in and build a database system for you that they are not using software that is too expensive for what you need. Some of the best database software is actually free (with no support of course). Additionally, make sure that you understand what they are doing. You don't have to know the database language (it's call SQL) in order to understand what they are doing. Ask questions, and make sure that it passes your "red face" test. Database are very logical, so you should be able for follow what the programmer is up to.
If not, give us a call and we will decode it for you.