Creating the intellectual business value you want first starts with understanding your business needs and goals. Do you want to streamline processes to eliminate manual updating? Improve data detail and accuracy? Quickly respond to ad hoc requests? Develop multi-variable “what if” analysis? Once we understand your unique business needs, we will review your current system and processes to come up with a plan to “data-fuse” your business information. To recommend and implement a custom data solution for your business we will discuss the following:
Existing Systems and Processes
How does your business currently store information? Paper, spreadsheets, database formats or in proprietary data tables or other off-the-shelf software (like QuickBooks). How does this information get updated? Is this information accurate and reliable? What are the lowest reporting dimensions available? Can your historical data be used to support your business goals or can it be reasonably fixed or modified? Often times this part of the process is the most time consuming part of the project since this will be the foundation of your custom database(s) which requires a good design that can be responsive to current and future business changes and updates.
End User Interface
Once the custom database is complete, developing non-technical interfaces for in-house employees to retrieve data and conduct analysis will be done. Spreadsheet users will utilize drop down boxes, macro buttons, predefined functions and more to retrieve critical business information or to complete key models or templates.
In-house “Mechanics”
The business organization needs to identify one or two individuals who input and maintain the database(s). We will do the design work but a “mechanic” with basic database skills is needed to run regular updates. The “mechanic” will also be able to generate internal ad hoc queries with little training.
The “Custom Solution” Product
At this point, the custom database is ready to be used. The database will greatly expand the company’s opportunities to develop new business tools and the ability to retrieve information and streamline processes. Depending on your business goals defined at the beginning of the project, we can now build the initial models your business needs quickly and efficiently. After the completion of the initial data conversion, often times businesses continue to recognize the many new opportunities to utilize their new database(s). In most cases, new automated reports, analytical tools or additional streamline data processing can be done in a more time and cost effective manner. New or additional “add-ons” can utilize the various data tables created in the initial project thus keeping future development costs very nominal.
Support and Training
We will continue to be available for support once your project is complete. If there is a design-related problem once we have completed your project, we will fix it for no additional charge. At the completion of your project, we will provide reference materials and help documents for training purposes. If needed, on-site training can be arranged.