Database Software

Multiuser database software with comprehensive customization options plus team collaboration. Recommended for information / task management and team collaboration needs in business or personal projects. The FlySpeed series of database tools for database migration, data transfer and SQL query building for database administrators and developers.

1. Database Software Definition Computer
2. Database Software Programs

In the digital age, data is king. The businesses that can successfully store, maintain and make sense of their data have a clear competitive advantage, while those that let the flow of information overwhelm them are destined to fall by the wayside. With businesses sitting on more data, the demand for software to handle this vital task is at an all-time high. According to Gartner, the database management system market totaled over in 2016 (report available to Gartner clients). All that to say: If you're in the market for a new database management system, you're not alone. If you're confused on what to look for or where to start with this software, you're certainly not alone there either.

We're here to help. In the Buyer's Guide below, we'll go over definitions, functionality, pricing models and more to help first-time database management system buyers like yourself make sense of this complex software arena. Click a link below to jump to that section: What Are Database Management Systems? Database management systems, also known as DBMSs, are software programs that act as a connecting point between databases and the various users and applications that need to access them.

The purpose of a DBMS is to provide businesses with an access point to create, retrieve, modify and organize their vast amounts of data. Though the terms have become somewhat synonymous over time, a database and a DBMS are not the same thing. A database is simply a collection of related data. A DBMS, on the other hand, is a tool to manage and organize multiple databases. In other words, the database stores the data, while the DBMS accesses and manipulates it.

Two Types of Database Management Systems The database management system market is rarely static. As businesses' data capabilities and needs have grown over the past 40 years, the database management system has taken on many different forms. Here are the two most common types of DBMSs you should know about: 1) Relational database management systems (rDBMSs) Relational database management systems connect disparate data using tables with columns (“fields') and rows (“records'). The main advantage that rDBMSs bring is the ability to spread a single database across several tables, which provides benefits in terms of data storage and access capabilities.

Most rDMBSs use what's called “structural querying language' (SQL): a series of commands that allow users or applications to retrieve or update data. Visual database design in MySQL Workbench According to Gartner, rDBMSs account for of the total DBMS market, making them the bread and butter of the industry. Popular systems here include Oracle Database, Microsoft's SQL Server, MySQL and IBM's DB2. 2) Semi-structured database management systems In contrast to the rigid tables of rDBMSs, semi-structured database management systems offer more flexibility.

Data can be structured as much or as little as possible depending on the purpose, usually with tags or other markers to define attributes and categories. In the age of the internet where data takes many forms, semi-structured database management systems have become increasingly important, as they enable applications to communicate with one another with ease and without loss of information. Service status in Cloudera Manager Semi-structured DBMSs are on the rise. While they only represent five percent of the total DBMS market, their growth rate (78 percent) was of any type of DBMS in 2016 according to Gartner. Big players here include Amazon, Cloudera and MapR. The other major type of DBMS is called a “Prerelational-era DBMS'—an antiquated category that no longer has any relevance to first-time buyers. Benefits of Database Management Systems DBMSs provide a number of benefits to both internal users and external parties like customers or clients.

If you're having trouble convincing stakeholders in your organization that new software is a worthwhile investment, let them know that a DBMS can provide:. Improved data access.

A DBMS can make it possible for all your internal and external business applications to quickly retrieve information from a single source using ad hoc queries. Whether it's an online customer wondering if you still have that shirt in blue or someone on your marketing team wanting to know last month's ad spend, a DBMS can supply the right data in real-time. Sustained data integrity. Data organized using different methods across multiple databases can result in a ton of errors when applications need to communicate with one another. A DBMS can provide data standardization and structure to ensure these costly errors don't occur.

Increased data security. Businesses big and small about data loss and hackers.

A DBMS can ease these fears with features like dual authentication and data encryption to ensure that only those with authorization can access and manipulate different data sets. Database Management System Pricing A big headache when researching DBMS vendors is the lack of concrete pricing information. A lot of companies don't want to reveal how much their system costs for a number of reasons. The final price might vary from business case to business case or the vendor might simply want to get you on the phone to sell their system. In general though, DMBSs will have one of two pricing models, which we explain in the table below: Per-user subscription pricing This type of pricing is more common with cloud-based systems. You pay a monthly or annual fee based on how many users will have access to the DBMS. Is a good example of this approach.

Perpetual pricing This type of pricing is more common with on-premise systems. With this model, you pay one large fee upfront to own the software in perpetuity.

Is a good example of this model. Database Management System Trends As I mentioned before, the DBMS market is always changing. Here are some trends to keep an eye on as you research different systems:. Database platform-as-a-service (dbPaaS). More and more, businesses are dropping their bulky, expensive, in-house servers to host their DBMSs in the cloud.

Scalable and flexible, dbPaaSs are increasingly popular options to handle back-end data needs for e-commerce and mobile applications. Open-source database management system (OSDBMS). The OSDBMS market is increasing in both system options and sophistication of features. If you have the IT bandwidth, consider an open-source DBMS for your business. Capterra breaks down some of the most popular offerings.

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The author is a Forbes contributor. The opinions expressed are those of the writer. “Which technology should I use for my database?” is a great second question, says my buddy Jerry Gitchel, founder of, which provides technology coaching for entrepreneurs and professionals. Every small business, my own included, struggles with its database. Some of it is in MS Outlook, another part is on the ConstantContact email program, and another chunk resides on LinkedIn. What is the best database program to handle it all?

Below are the questions Gitchel says a small business should consider asking before trying to solve the database stumper. What are you trying to accomplish?. Who is it for?.

What do they need?. What do you need from them? What can CRM do for me? This is really a contact relationship management (CRM) question.

Alas, there is no magic database program that can do it all, says Gitchel, one that can easily (that is the key word) handle all of the following:. Address Book - Provides storage and retrieval of all your contact details. Event Scheduling - Provides you with one or more calendars to schedule, promote and remind you and your team of events.

Additional benefits would include public/private calendars, automated invitations and RSVPs. Messaging - More that email, messaging now includes Tweets, IM, Text and social messaging. A system that embraces multiple channels is ideal.

Contact preference is the focus. A contact in Asia may prefer Facebook Messenger over email or text. To-Do Task-List - An email inbox is a poor place to keep track of tasks.

The ability to create an unscheduled task then move it to your calendar by adding a date is an important feature. Document Activities - Moving contact relationships forward requires not only knowing what’s next but what just happened. The ability to review prior interactions is vital prep for future conversations. “Your focus should include segments, patterns and connections,” says Gitchel. “Strong contact relationships rely on embracing complexity in the lives of your contact. Using multiple tags to segment your database increases the value of each and every contact.” What a CRM is Not Both CRM and email marketing platforms allow us to send email messages.

Database Software Definition Computer

That’s where the similarity ends. Here’s how they differ: “Email marketing platforms are used to send the same personal addressed message to multiple recipients,” explains Gitchel. “CRM messages are personal messages to a single contact. Email marketing includes Auto Responder functionality to generate a series of personally addressed messages to a single contact, on-demand.

Database Software Programs

Highest function of an AR is to create a drip campaign with the goal of lead nurturing. Email marketing is automated, CRM is hands on.” The Best of Both Worlds “In most cases, organizations need both CRM and Email Marketing,” says Gitchel. Here are some best practices from Gitchel for defining, acquiring and operating an online communications connection platform. Define your world - Lots of folks, same message? Email marketing 1-on-1 over time = CRM. An investment in defining your needs delivers big dividends during the acquire and operate phase.

Acquire systems tailored to your needs - LinkedIn/Nimble.com are a perfect fit. Website based white paper lead nurturing programs work well with the Auto Responders within Zoho CRM. Efficient Daily Operations - Contact profiles are organic. The ability to smoothly capture changes, conversations and connections each day is the most valuable element of CRM. Additional Considerations. Device Independence - Cloud driven device independence is vital for mobile professionals.

Collaboration - The ability for real-time team interaction builds first-responder competitive advantage into your operation. Plays Well With Others - The key to connecting all your digital dots is the ability of your systems to share information beyond re-typing or cut/paste. Technically known as APIs, the capability to share Nimble contacts with MailChimp allows you to use your CRM to build relationships, then deliver marketing campaigns to a market segment and track your results. Bottom Line “You already have all the technology you need,” says Gitchel. For that elusive perfection, start by understanding how you really need to communicate. Then put together an efficient system that works for you.