How a database could save your business (management included…)

So who needs a database, anyway?

If you run a business and you’re not already using one the answer is probably ‘You do’.

Don’t believe me?

Then think about your everyday operations.

Every day, for example, you will be in some form of contact with your staff, your clients, your suppliers, and many others.

If you don’t have a database already, their contact details will be stored in your email system.

Many of the same details will also be stored in your accounting system. (Did you enter them separately? It’s more than likely you did!)

You may also have contact files – perhaps a spreadsheet to record interactions with your clients, or sales opportunities, or the progress of orders.

And of course, you’ll also need records for your team members. Payroll. Holiday bookings. HR matters. And the rest!

All of which can be hugely inefficient, expensive and time-consuming.

The good news? It doesn’t have to be – as we noted in an earlier article.

Making the difference

Any successful business depends on the right processes to make it work.

You need a method of working that you and everyone else can follow – something set in stone. And – ideally – a single point of entry for all your data. So you can minimise the risk that it’s wrong, out of date, or missing some vital piece of information.

Of course, information alone is not enough. It needs to be structured. That way you can find what you’re looking for. And that way related information is also intelligently connected. It’s fine knowing exactly how many widgets you have in stock, but what are the latest prices, allowing for currency fluctuations? What discounts are available for the customer you currently have on the phone? Come to that, what’s their payment record like? And didn’t they have a glitch with their last delivery…?

This is the point where a database can (and should) meld, seamlessly, with your business processes.

Can you manage?

A Database Management System is known in the trade as a DBMS. (Because computer people love acronyms…)

But what is it, exactly?

You could describe it as the interface between the database itself and the people who are using it. It allows them to do whatever they need to do as quickly and easily as possible. Safely. And from any point of access with a secure internet connection.

The DBMS will ensure that they always work with the latest information. That they can’t change data someone else is already editing. That the database is organised in a sensible and logical way (as in a good filing system). That it’s regularly backed up – and can be rolled back if necessary. And that the system is easy to use, with a clear structure.

That, in itself, ensures you have a powerful tool for managing your business in just the way you want.

But custom programming can give you even more control…

Like to know more? Give us a call on 0345 11 88 150 or drop us an email to arrange a free consultation. No charge, no obligation.