We have extensive knowledge in producing database driven websites for:

You can manage Contacts, Customers, Sales, Stock and other data effectively using Ivso’s business database systems.

Many businesses recognise that they could cut costs and boost profits by using their data more effectively.

Keeping track of contacts, Customers orders or whatever you choose becomes more important and more difficult as your business grows.

Ivso builds professional bespoke database web-systems that fit your needs usually at a fraction of the costs that can be saved in the first year plus all our systems are designed and built by people who understand business - not just computer systems - so they meet the real needs of your organisation.

Q: Why use a database in my website?

Traditional web pages are nothing more than a collection of images and text files containing styling information and html. This can make maintaining and regularly updating content a chore.

By incorporating a database into your website you can not only reduce the hassle and complexity of maintaining and updating your website, but also realise some of the real power behind the web that comes with dynamic database driven websites.

One of the distinct advantages of database driven websites is the power it gives you when designing and redesigning your pages or even customising the experience for individual users and content types. With a database powering your website you need only design and maintain a handful of pages to deliver thousands of pages of dynamic content.

Another distinct advantage of a database driven website is that it can be made to be highly searchable and organised making your content far more accessible to the end user. By having static pages you immediately restrict the way in which the user can interact with the content.

You can even migrate entire traditional software based systems to database driven website's and realise the benefits of web based applications.

Q: What are the benefits of a database driven website?

A database allows vast quantities of information to be handled consistently and with ease. The data stored can range from simple product information, to large quantities of data requiring complex calculations and joins to other sources of data both locally and remotely before the results are displayed.

A database driven website's information is produced dynamically, so that customisation of delivered content can be tailored to individual users such as language preferences, or shopping 'wish lists'. Traditional web pages are nothing more than a collection of images and text files containing styling information and html. This can make maintaining and updating content a chore.

Database driven websites gives the user the opportunity to interact with the site, for example storing information supplied by them for use on the next visit.

Ivso have comprehensive expertise in the development of dynamic database driven websites, and specialise in web enabling your existing systems for online database integration or intranet development. Our experience and knowledge in this field, means we are able to provide solid advice to our Clients regarding their online solutions, even developing new ground breaking techniques to solve particular requirements.

Q: How do I know if we need a database?

Businesses which constantly provide information and need to update their website and inform their users have database driven websites.

As the information displayed is stored in a database, everytime a page is loaded by a user it displays the information stored. This ensures that the latest information such as price lists, documents and contact details etc are available.

Many novice business users greatly underestimate the usefulness of databases. We have found this is usually caused by a lack of understanding of how they work and of the applications to which they can be applied.

Q: How does it work?

You probably have information scattered about, in spreadsheets, in documents, or on paper. A database helps you bring all this information together so you (and your team) can become more organized and productive.

Think of a database as a big stack of cards with several bits of information on each card. All sorts of information can be put on those cards, e.g. text, telephone numbers, dates, images, product codes, web links (whatever you want). The cards are then organized into lists you can store of customers or projects you are working on, and items or images you want to organize.

Q: Why would you want to put information into a database instead of, say, a spreadsheet or a document?

A: Databases are far better at finding information, for instance you can ask a database a question such as

And get an immediate answer

What the experts say

“Database driven websites are at the cornerstone of information technology, and their ability to organise, process and manage information in a structured and controlled manner is key to the many aspects of modern business efficiency today”

The simple fact is Databases organize your information in lists (like spreadsheets) but, unlike spreadsheets, you can view your information as forms, e.g. 

Forms provide a great way to get at the details and view all your projects in a list simply by clicking a button. Forms also help with data entry.

Databases also ensure your information is accurate plus data updates are easy to do as it is only a simple matter of changing the information relating to a particular field within the database. Attractive pop-up lists, auto-complete fields, and other features make data entry fast and consistent.

You are, no doubt, familiar with applications that have database-like functions, such as address books, calendars, photo management programs, and so on. While extremely useful, these programs perform a limited number of functions and only hold a limited amount of information. In contrast, databases can hold whatever information you need and you can view your data any way you like. The possibilities are endless.

Databases do more than hold data. They help you solve problems, answer questions, and make decisions. Databases create formulas and calculations to help you analyze information, and then whip together quick reports to help you share your insights.

Databases give you the ability to easily and quickly share information. A simple way of sharing is to export data to PDF files or spreadsheets and then email the files to team members, business partners or associates.

Conclusion

Many businesses often overlook the benefits of database driven website's and yet even the smallest website will develop over time and could benefit from being database driven.

Databases add a new dynamic angle to your website giving additional leverage and accessibility to your content providing a richer and more interactive user experience whilst at the same time reducing the support and maintenance overhead associated with maintaining static websites.

Why not call ivso today to find out if we could empower you with your own database driven website?

Additional Info

Database-backed applications are behind the most successful websites on the net. Every search engine, directory, auction and e-Commerce website on the World Wide Web derives its information from a database and also stores information about its visitors. A database-backed website which presents dynamic content to its users will make your site interesting generating many repeat visitors.