The word database can conjure up images of huge and expensive main-frame servers storing huge amounts of data that can only be accessed by writing cryptic code. This may be true for large companies especially if they are using older, legacy technology. Today, even very small business can employ database technology for very little cost. And, with the right application, the end-user does not have to be a techno-geek (my apologies to techno-geeks of the world). The federal government with some of their monster databases will use smaller desktop applications for special projects.
A database is a powerful tool that can improve your business in many ways. The standard use is store customer information and then create mail merges. Ah, but that is just scratching the surface. If you incorporate a database into your everyday business processes a whole new level of efficiency and functionality becomes available. A properly set up database requires you to enter information only one time. That information can used to populate all your business forms. Routine procedures can be automated and scheduled. Just by doing your business you can be collecting valuable data (see "Gold Mine" post below) that can be queried and loaded into reports with the click of a mouse.
What does this mean? It can mean more time growing your business and less time dealing with the paperwork. Standardized and automated processes can make it easier to train new employees and reduce the number of errors. Mailings, inventory, statistics, business trends, productivity, customer preferences can be made available with a push of a button.
If you are writing things by hand, recording data more than once, or otherwise spending too much time with administrative tasks it's time to embrace the database (sorry about the rhyming thing).
No comments:
Post a Comment