Database software solutions can really jumpstart your productivity, pump up your sales efforts, enhance your customer service and improve inventory control. That’s because database programs enable your company to keep accurate and up-to-date information on a variety of types of information, including:
- Accounting: Database software solutions include programs that are built specifically to manage invoicing, banking, payroll and tax information.
- Customer relationship management (CRM) and sales force automation: Keep track of customer contact information, client order history and marketing campaigns with customer relationship management databases.
- Inventory management: Manage your supplies, ordering and vendors by building an inventory database with database programs.
Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done
Customer relationship management databases
Some customer relationship management databases come with the basics only; others offer a lot of bells and whistles that you may not need. Poll your sales teams and customer service employees who will use the database software on a daily basis to find out what features are must-have items.I recommend: Act! Premium database software is a leader in CRM and sales force automation and can be customized to fit your specific needs. Biz-Tech Customer Database Software works well for small businesses that need to track sales, have a customer contact database and mail merge to that list. Entellium offers several web-based database software solutions to help with CRM and sales force automation.
Server based databases
Server based databases are ideal for large companies or small businesses that have multiple users or staff who log on from remote locations. By centralizing server based databases to one server, you enable the IT department to keep tabs on access privileges and maintenance.I recommend: Oracle Database software, Microsoft SQL Server database software, FileMaker Server software and IBM's DB2 dbase software are all good solutions for small and large companies that need server based databases. WebOffice by WebEx allows you to build a database that is hosted online so that you don’t have to have a dedicated server for your database.
Desktop based databases
For many small businesses, desktop based databases are sufficient. They allow you to share the database on a local network or by purchasing multi-user licenses.I recommend: AlphaFive and FileMaker are user-friendly desktop based databases that are easy to build and customize. Microsoft Office Access and IBM Lotus Approach also allow you to build your own desktop based databases. PrimaSoft PC database software comes with more than 100 ready-to-use database templates.
Database software programming tools
Programming tools can help you customize your database software.I recommend: Check out tools on Microsoft’s website to assist in writing code and building your Visual FoxPro database. The Scriptology Theme Library offers templates and layouts for FileMaker Pro. EMS SQL Management Studio offers database administration and development tools for Microsoft SQL database software.
Custom databases
If off-the-shelf database programs don't meet your needs, hire an IT consulting firm that creates custom databases.I recommend: The Zodeca Company specializes in creating custom databases and in customizing existing database programs.
Tips & Tactics
Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide
- Create a backup plan so that your company databases are backed up at regular intervals, whether you use desktop based databases or server based databases.
- Assign passwords and editing privileges to each employee so you can track changes to your database software.
- Desktop based databases can be a cheaper solution for small businesses that only have a few employees who need to access the database.
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