21st Century Technologies, Inc.

Custom Database Software Development, Online Marketing

Custom Database Software

Business Marketing/Local SEO

Conversion Rate Optimization & Lead Gen

  • Home
  • Testimonials
  • Portfolio
  • Case Studies
  • Blog
  • About Us
    • Company Overview
    • Privacy Policy
    • Terms of Use
  • Contact Us
  • Web Design/Development
    • Mobile Websites
    • Web Design Checklist
    • Full Service SEO Friendly Web Design
    • SEO Web Design
    • Web Design Portfolio
  • Local SEO Marketing
    • Small Business Marketing/Local OFFER
    • Online Review Management
    • Local SEO Marketing Services
  • Business Marketing
    • Online Marketing/SEO
    • Local Small Business SEO Marketing Services Bring Customers Through Your Front Door
    • SEO / SEM Services
    • Google My Business
    • SEO Web Design
  • Conversion Rate Optimization/Lead Gen
    • Engagement Marketing
  • Software Development
    • Turn Spreadsheets and Paper Forms into a Mobile Database App
    • Software Development Services
    • Software Development Guide, Checklist

Should You Convert Your Spreadsheet To a Database?

Do you have spreadsheets that are unwieldy and fail to provide the information you need to run your business? If so then you may want to consider converting your spreadsheet to a database. A custom database application will give you many capabilities that spreadsheets could never provide – like great reporting and data analysis.

Database Technologies Have Improved, Costs Reduced

A major factor in customers proceeding with database projects today is that the technologies have improved so much we now build custom database software applications at a fraction of the cost of those built several years back.

Not only will the analysis of your processes go quickly, but creation of the database and the surrounding application for data management and reporting will go smoothly as well. The result to the customer is a powerful database system that automates their processes and will take the company into the future at a very reasonable cost.

Move Your Spreadsheet to a Database?

Reasons to Convert a Spreadsheet to a Database

Several reasons that you may want to convert your spreadsheet to a database:

  1. You have to enter data multiple times.
  2. You can’t summarize data the way you need.
  3. You can’t get succinct reports out of your spreadsheet needed to run your business.
  4. There are too many manual changes needed to get your data out of the spreadsheet.
  5. Your spreadsheet is extremely huge and unwieldy to keep up to date.
  6. You have many spreadsheets linked together.
  7. Sharing violations occur when multiple people open one spreadsheet.
  8. People are entering invalid data into the spreadsheet and you need to maintain data integrity by enforcing rules like true or false, numerical data or field lengths. I have seen people use the letter ‘o’ into a number field so the data would look right. This will obviously throw off your calculations.
  9. Data presentation – databases can present data uniquely and customized to each user of the system based on their needs, which is very difficult with a spreadsheet.

The Technical Aspect of Database Design: Data Normalization

Data normalization is the concept of designing your database so there is no repeating data and no anomalies associated with adding or deleting data. For example, when you delete a telephone number you (probably) don’t want to delete the contact as well. Normalizing your database properly ensures you won’t have these problems.

Data normalization is a critical step in database design, so make sure you do it when you convert your spreadsheet to a database.

Data Conversion

When you move from a spreadsheet to a database you usually have to do some data cleanup. For example you may have entered credit cards like M/C, Mastercard, American Express, AX, Amex, etc. If you want accurate data and reports then all of this will have to be standardized before importing into your database.

Other Database Design Tips

If you’re serious about designing your own database then you’ll need to also need to do the following:

  • Naming conventions – make sure that you name tables and fields according to current standards. In short, you can’t name objects with systems names like Name and Date. Spaces aren’t allowed. Use descriptive names according to exactly what is in the table or field.
  • Learn the languages – You’ll probably want to learn the language of databases Structured Query Language, more commonly referred to as SQL. You’ll also need to learn an application language like PHP to be able to present your database information on a web page.
  • Unique data – put only one type of data into a field. For example, don’t create a field like EventAndDate that will store data like Debbie’s birthday, 12/15/2018. Split it into two separate fields.

Have 21st Design Your Database

We have been designing and building custom databases and database software applications for 20+ years, our costs are reasonable and our database applications always solve your problems – or we won’t even start. We’ll do a free initial analysis and give you an idea of whether or not a database can fix your data problems. Once we decide to proceed, our analysis of your business process ensures that the database will support your operations and improve your processes immensely.

See several case studies of successful custom database applications we have built.

Complete the form at the top-right of the page, let us know your problem and we’ll be in touch within 24 hours – guaranteed!

Comments

comments

Related posts:

  1. Software Development, Database Design Company
  2. Software Development Guide, Checklist
  3. Web Design, Web Development Firm

October 20, 2015 By Michael
Filed Under: Custom Software Development, Database Design, Tools, Web Development Tagged With: conver spreadsheet to database, convert a spreadsheet to a database, custom databases, data analysis, data conversion, data integrity, data management, data normalization, database, database conversion, database design tips, database reporting, database software applications, database systems, database technologies, invalid data, move spreadsheet to database, naming conventions, spreadsheet, spreadsheet formulas, sql, structured query language

Critical Software Features Explained

Get this quick guide on important features that you must consider for your software project.

    Name *

    Email *

    Phone

    What is your app software need?


    Ensure Your Project's Success

    Software Dev Testimonial

    “I highly recommend 21st Century Technologies and Michael Cordova. Michael has successfully built and delivered several in-house custom database software systems for my company, and multiple customer-facing software projects. I have known Michael for over 15 years. His character and reputation are outstanding. Michael has always enhanced our business’s reputation and helped to ensure the successful completion of each project. He has always been very attentive to the needs of our clients and has represented our company well.”
    James P. Greichen, President, Triportals, Inc.

    Author of Wordpress Websites For Business

    Wordpress Websites for Business

    Outstanding Testimonial

    “Michael Cordova has a commanding knowledge of several software development languages. For over ten years I have relied on Michael’s expertise and worked with him on projects. He is the first person I call for an opinion on a perplexing problem or when considering a new methodology. I highly endorse any work that he is involved in. He is reliable and delivers high quality work well within established deadlines. I have and will always consider Michael on any project needs. I highly recommend his talents to anyone with any type of software development needs.”
    Vernon Kercher, Senior Application Developer, Western Union

    Author Productivity Tools For Business

    Author Productivity Tools For Business

    Systems Design Testimonial

    “We hired Michael at a make-or-break time in our business and he has made all the difference. We now have a solid, well documented systems platform to host our community. And Michael and his team provide ongoing expert technical support, WordPress consultation, social media support and consultation, software development, SEO, and PPC for our booming business. When you dream big, you need a dream technical team. That’s Michael and the 21st Century crew!”
    Karen Tax, CEO, I Am Learning Community, KarenTax.com

    CEO Testimonial

    “I would highly recommend Michael Cordova as an expert in website search engine optimization, web design and web development. Michael is the best SEO / Internet marketing consultant I’ve ever met. His work to optimize the TransMagic website not only produced an 8-fold increase in lead generation, but it also stood the test of time.”
    Todd Reade, CEO
    TransMagic, Inc.

    Local SEO Marketing

    Local SEO/Small Business MarketingLocal SEO gets your site ranked at the top of Google's local listings. Your online presence is expanded dramatically, and the sale is already made before your prospects call you. Read more about our local SEO services.

    Web Development

    Web Development - Since the Beginning of the InternetWe at 21st have been doing web development since the beginning of the Internet. We create custom applications like maps, contact management and website customizations that are beyond the skills of other companies.

    Software Development Checklist

    Download our Software Development Checklist to ensure you make no mistakes in your custom software project. See our many short custom software case studies for an idea of the breadth of our software development successes.

    Your Technology Partner

    Have 21st do your software design and development or online marketing and advertising and you will inherit a technology partner. We have been doing it since the beginning of the WWW. We are uniquely qualified to provide technology solutions.

    Copyright © 2023 · 21st Century Technologies, Inc. All rights reserved. · Contact Us

    21st Century Technologies, Inc.
    1566 S. Pennsylvania St. Denver, CO 80210
    303-744-2178
    Should You Convert Your Spreadsheet To a Database? - Denver, Colorado