If you have a business, and that business has a computer, chances are you have a database. Databases are what computers are good at. Word documents, spreadsheets, web pages are all very good, but they are all glorified versions of something that can be done on paper. Replicating the functionality of a relational database in paper simply cannot be done.
The success of a company can also be measured by the size of its database. (Notice we use the singular 'database' here - the rule of thumb with databases is the fewer the better) As a company grows it accrues data at an exponential rate. More sales, more transactions, more clients, more suppliers, more employees - all generate data. Where SQL server comes in is the ability to combine, hold and analyse all of this data easily, efficiently, and securely.
We mentioned above the need to keep the number of databases down to a minimum. How many companies have loads of Access databases, some in accounts, some in sales, others in shipping - that all contain useful information, but can't exchange information? With SQL server, and some database expertise from Citric, it is possible to combine all the information from those Access databases (and other data sources of course - Excel Spreadsheets, Paradox, FoxPro, DBase etc) and hold them as one relational database. So, when the sales manager needs to know whether his best customer's order has been shipped, he can look up the customer's record and find out because it's now related to information from shipping.
This ability to have cross-business information delivered to every employee is called Business Intelligence. SQL Server forms the basis of Citric's recommended business intelligence platform - as expert database designers with a range of experience in tranforming and upsizing a range of data sources, we can develop a business intelligence solution that's right for you and your business. Because business intelligence doesn't end with the database - that's just where it starts.
We can develop web and Windows based client applications, reporting applications, OLAP (OnLine Analytical Processing) cubes and XML web services. You tell us what you'd like to know from your business, and we'll give the tools to find it.
For additional information about our database solutions please see our SQL Consultancy page.