Microsoft Access

The most common database in the business world is not Oracle or even MySQL, it is Microsoft Access. As such, this article will focus on the upgrade of existing Microsoft Access systems.

Leveraging Existing Development

One of the most effective assets of a Microsoft Access database is its ability to produce professional reports with extreme ease. This asset is completely missing from web-based systems. Printing out a webpage results in an unprofessional document. One that you certainly wouldn't send to a client as an invoice or purchase order.

Our unique systems can actually import and use your existing MS Access reports with little or no design changes whatsoever. There are no redevelopment costs. Your investment in report development is not discarded, it is re-invested, off-setting the time and labor involved with that redevelopment. Additionally, unlike almost any other system, your online reporting will be professional as well as multi-platform.

Leveraging Existing Employees

Moving from an existing MS Access database to a web-based system can cause a huge amount of conflict with your existing developer. Advanced Database Development skills dealing with online systems is uncommon even amongst professional web developers, yet you will find few that will admit it. As such, it is unlikely your staff member can come close to providing you with an effective solution, regardless of their ablities.

Hiring an outside developer often results in serious personal conflicts. Due to our ability to import MS access reports, the staff developer's skills are used efficently and effectively. This not only reduces your development costs, but it includes both the technical skills as well as the business experience of your existing staff developer. This naturally leads to reduced amount of re-programming, as the staff developer can guide our development.

Leveraging Existing Data Structures

Moving from a Windows platform to Unix or Linux is a massive change. Importing a database from MS Access to another database results in a total disconnection of your data interface with your data. Even the importation of all the data and a development of online data-forms based exactly upon your existing system results in a period of development, followed by a total re-importation of the current data, followed by a weekend installation of the new system, followed by a 100% guarrenteed move back to the MS Access system due to a failure - at least once.

Again, this is a business decision. Costs can be extreme. We import your data into an MS SQL Server database on your own network, then link your existing datase forms and reports to it. It can be done in a couple hours. You will maintain full connectivity and no risk of data loss. Period.

Once that move is made, development of a new system can be made in parallel, allowing your staff to utilize one web interface at a time. If the online inteface is unacceptable or "buggy", the staff can simply use the MS Access system - at the same time. This is actually a fantastic way to rate the quality of a system. If more staff members use the online inteface, it can clearly be considered more efficient. If they prefer the MS Access system - the online inteface needs to be enhanced.

In the end, the benefits are enormous. No loss of connectivity. No interuption of business. No Loss of development time. Clean transferance from system to system. Simply put, the Business Logic of this method of system impelemtation is undeniable.