NAD Database Applications LLC

Honesty, Up-Front and Always - - !

Did Somebody Say Microsoft Access ?
Yes, we've heard it all before! You may have a person in your organization, telling you that using Microsoft Access is a "bad idea".  The problem with that statement is that quite often, nothing could be further from the truth. 

MS Access has it's strengths and it's weaknesses, and as experts at using it, we know what those are.  For the most part whether or not you can get some real value out of MS Access, depends on what you are trying to accomplish, and how you go about it.

How you go about it - - -
If you have an MS Access "power user" in your organization, then you might think why not let that person build us a database. This almost never works out well. Being a "power user" is not the same as knowing about database normalization, entity analysis, referential integrity, and so on. If the underlying data structure is not correct, then you are building on shifting sand. Follow the link to read more about Data Integrity and why it is so very important.

And, power users cannot begin to match our expertise at menus, data validation, required fields, edit tracking, user tracking, database maintenance, complex queries and reports, and so much more. (Click to read about our list of Typical Features.) So, whether it's us, or another firm, hire an experienced MS Access "developer" with a deep understanding of database design principles and techniques.

What You are Trying to Accomplish - - -
Basically, MS Access is not a "Client/Server" technology, it's a "Shared File" technology. Without getting into the technical nitty-gritty, we will just say that it's real strength is sharing data and information among users that are all in the same organization.  If all of your employees have access to the same shared LAN (Local Area Network), then MS Access will work very well for you, at a fraction of the cost for other types of solutions.

On the other hand, if you need employees to access and enter data from all over the country or all over the world, then an MS Access based solution may not be the appropriate technology for the job. But, rest assured that here at "NAD Database Applications LLC", we know what works, and what doesn't.  We never ever take on an assignment that we feel is not right for the technology that we use.

Our Solutions Vs. Corporate IT Solutions - - -
Quite a few of our customers have told us that a nice new "corporate" system was going to be deployed in the next year or two, and at that time the custom Application that we had provided would no longer be needed.  But, after that new system was actually deployed, guess what?  Those same customers still rely heavily on our solution!  That's because most of these "corporate" systems do not provide the level of detail and customization that we typically provide.

And, if the corporation can provide us with access to their data, (even if it's read-only access) then we can use the actual corporate data, and let you extend it with information of your own. This eliminates the need for you to enter all of the data into two separate systems. This method also allows you to track those myriad of details that you need to have at your fingertips, and it also facilitates enhanced reporting. (Our reports can be completely customized, and they often are much sharper looking than the corporate reports!)

What Our Past Customers Tell Us - - -
Oh, to be sure, a few of our solutions have eventually been replaced with corporate systems or web-based solutions, to allow access from all over the globe.  But, the users are the first to tell us that the corporate or web-based solutions actually include only about 50% - 70% (or less) of the functionality that our original custom solution included.  So, they basically have to work a little harder to use the corporate replacement. (But hey, if you need to access it from all over the globe, this may be a small price to pay.)

But What Will it Cost - - - ?
What you end up paying us to develop your custom application will vary based on several factors, but suffice it to say that you will not be able to buy off-the-shelf software that will satisfy your needs like we can. And, if you can find such software, it will very likely cost you more than what you will end up paying us. Typically, it will cost a great deal more. Even worse, if you have to have somebody else design and build your software using different technology, it will definitely cost you a great deal more than what you will end up paying us.

You may find developers on the web that only charge around $25-$40/Hr. Buyer Beware, as these folks are definitely not experts in their field! These are the types of Access Databases that we end up re-building for our customers (and we usually have to start over from scratch!)

Other truly expert developers that specialize in MS Access based solutions sometimes charge from $110.00 to $185.00 per hour. We think that is a bit much, and our rate is definitely more affordable.

So, drop us an email and let's talk about what you need. If we can't deliver what you need, we will tell you why, and advise you on what sort of technology could be used to deliver your needs.

We do NOT accept business if we have the slightest doubt that what we deliver will delight you. That's our Honesty Up-Front, First, Foremost and Always Policy at Work!