Understanding Database Development
Solity fully understand the need for quality data management. Without consistent and quality data how can your business get any truly accurate and measurable information about where it has been or what needs to happen to achieve the businesses objectives.
Solity are experts in relational database management system (RBMS) databases
Small businesses particularly suffer from this problem recording data in spreadsheets on paper or not at all. The issues with using spreadsheets is that users can insert data in a format that is inconsistent for example 22.10.23 compared to 22/03/22 or completely inappropriate like a note in a date column which means when sorting, searching or reporting the data makes inaccurate. Databases prevent this by enforcing accurate information held in a recognisable and consistent way.
Professionals in the use of Structured Query Language (SQL)
Ease of finding information
Databases store data in a compressed way by only storing information in a table that belongs to one category of data and then relating the information to other tables via a key.
For example in the below spreadsheet snippet of cars and drivers, you can see there needs to be repeated data and other data like CC and Tax band which are not relevant when talking about drivers but useful to know in other circumstances.
In this instance a database would store data about Cars and data about Drivers then use a report or query to associate the two together to identify who is driving which car. This would allow for reports about:
- When tax is due
- Different CC’s of each Car
- Which cars are available
- How many of each are currently being managed
- and many more
Consistent Quality
Notice also in the spreadsheet that row three that the make is misspelt as “Frod” instead of “Ford” this would result in the data being missed is searching for Ford type cars. Similarly the tax date of the first Car is not in a correct format so could be missed. All these aspects could not happen in a well designed database. There other aspects of a well designed database that help enforce the integrity of the data but these are not relevant here.
Experienced Database Developers
Solity have been developing quality databases for customers for a number of years and have experience in most bespoke requirements from CRM’s to Stock Control, Candidate Fitness tracking to Asset management and even cost implications of demolishing buildings used in the UK Nuclear industry.
Our Core strengths revolve around 3 key database technologies
Although Microsoft Access is lightweight tool, it can be used for small on site solutions or for quick Rapid application development RAD. It is fantastic tool for helping design a solution when the requirements are unclear as it can easily and quickly be adapted to the customers requirements allowing them to visualise input solutions. Another great feature of access is its ability to be upgraded to connect to the bigger database tools.
MySQL is the world’s most popular open source database, as such hosting costs are relatively cheap but provide a great deal of power. MySQL powers many of the most accessed applications, including Facebook, Twitter, Netflix, Uber, Airbnb, Shopify, and Booking.com. It is a database engine that can grow to your needs, so as your business takes off you can expand and develop your database capabilities to keep up.
Microsoft’s offering of a database engine is a very powerful solution. It has a number of features and tools that are available straight out of the box improving productivity and reporting. It will integrate direct into the Microsoft network domain allowing security to be allocated with the user as they login to their PC, allowing for 1 username and password to gain access across your estate of applications.
What Database Services Solity offer
As experts in the database field we offer multiple services from
- Complete Database Design and Implementation
- Entity Relationship Design
- Database Normalisation
- Data integration & Cleansing
- SQL Query Design
- Query Analysis and Fault Finding
Solity also offer custom built solutions contact us for more information
