Data Integration. Imaging. Intelligence.

Database Design and Management

Database Design

Marketing, product, client and sales information is readily available, but many firms can’t get their arms around their own data and strategically leverage it to grow the business. Frequently, businesses are unable to harness that information because they don’t have the technical expertise to systematically collect it, and selectively analyze the useful parts.

Our experienced team can help you define and organize your business rules to provide a sound foundation for your database development project. Our database design professionals will construct a detailed database model to ensure that your database design is compliant with current database normalization standards, thereby increasing overall database performance and reliability.

Our Process

Requirements analysis: A document that defines the actual requirements of the software including business rules, user interfaces, navigation, reporting, and software integration definitions.

Process flow: We prefer to document process flow. The resulting design document shows each software requirement and its relationship to other components of the custom database application.

Database definition: Before database development or database programming can start, it is important to have an accurate database design and a document listing actual data requirements, database table contents, index structures, and table relationships. A normalized database is essential for high reliability, high performance, and database application development. The database design may also include stored procedures, database triggers, and referential integrity specifications. This document is especially important for custom database software development projects.

User interface: A definition of the user interface requirements containing screen layouts, data elements, sequence of entry, and error reporting requirements. In a custom database software design the interface may also specify fonts, colors, and screen organization to create a seamless appearance when joined with other web pages or business software applications.

Reporting requirements: Database design also includes details of reports and queries required by the software application. In addition to actual report content, the reporting details contain special requirements such as any specialized output (PDF, HTML, etc.).  Internet software applications should also contain special requirements for document delivery and internet security.