Beck Technology has recognized the need to better manage your important and proprietary data sets. For both DESTINI Profiler and DESTINI Estimator, we have created a new utility called Data Manager.
Here's a simple explanation of what Data Manager is and what it can do for your estimating and costing information.
If I were given a dollar for every instance someone called their Excel information a "database," I'd own 75% of all the domain names on the internet. Cha-Ching!!A bit of an exaggeration, but you get my point. Let's start with some basic, simple facts:
* A spreadsheet by Webster's simple definition is a computer program (like Excel) that calculates numbers and organizes information in columns and rows.
* A database by Webster's simple definition is a collection of pieces of information that is organized and used (for rapid search and retrieval) on a computer.
Simple facts, but they illustrate some strong distinctions. Both have a common element and that's "information." But their definitions have a distinct dichotomy on how "information" is implemented, consumed, and archived.
For many of the proficient, long-time users of Excel, the information, the notations, the manipulation of data and data sets are their "collection of pieces of information that is organized and used (for rapid search and retrieval) on a computer." That applied database definition, however, is isolated to each user, each having their own information, notations, data, and data sets that they can search and retrieve. And, let's be honest, we're describing years of collecting pieces of information and many, many Excel spreadsheets that comprise their "individual career databases." As companies and their departments' trends towards standardization, improving efficiencies, and applying best practices, the "individual career databases" will need to be consolidated and shared. That's where a true database structure is required.
Let's stay with basic, simple facts regarding a specific type of database:
* A definition of a relational database by a Google search is a database that "is a collection of information that is organized so that it can easily be accessed, managed, and updated."
Now let's expand the definition a wee bit by techtarget.com:
* "A relational database is a collection of data items organized as a set of formally-described tables from which data can be accessed or reassembled in many different ways without having to reorganize the database tables. The relational database was invented by E.F. Codd at IBM in 1970."
Let's now apply a specific, commonly implemented database called a SQL database. A SQL database is a relational database where SQL is the programming language that provides for all the features and functions of data manipulation and control. Companies like Microsoft, Oracle, IBM, and SAP utilize SQL to create relational databases for their product foundations. In case you're interested, SQL is an acronym for structured query language (SQL) and the present standard for database interoperability.
So, now that we're all pseudo-experts of SQL databases, I'd like to introduce a Beck Technology product called Data Manager. Data Manager utilizes a SQL database to define, create, organize, modify, manage, manipulate, control, query, and access information within a Beck Technology SQL database or any created Beck Technology SQL database. What about your years of Excel spreadsheet information? Never fear, Data Manager is here! Data Manager can be used to add all or selected information into your database using simple copy and paste functions. If there's an existing database, Beck Technology can make that database available for immediate use.
So what's the big deal? Quoting the infamous Gordon Gekko, Wall Street (1987), "The most valuable commodity I know of is information." So, preserve the years of gathered and created information within a database and not a spreadsheet. As noted in the illustration above, it's likely that his information was entered on a spreadsheet.... ;)
How to utilize databases with Data Manager
Whether our clients are new to using a database system or they’re migrating their data to Data Manager from a legacy system, they want to be sure they are using databases in the most strategic way for their business. In terms of a recommended method, we believe that the decision is truly custom to each client’s needs and makeup.
There are four main database strategies: National, Regional, Individual, and Hybrid.
The National database strategy involves developing a single database from which all users will pull data.
The Regional database strategy involves setting up and maintaining a database per region or office, with estimators having the ability to point to different regional databases if they are working on projects in these regions.
The Individual database strategy involves each estimator having a database installed on their local machines.
All three methods have advantages and disadvantages. Both the National and Regional database methods require connecting to the database across a network, which can be affected by network latency, however, from a consistency standpoint each estimator is using the same cost data. The local database strategy does not have the same network latency challenge however local copies of data often result in a lack of consistency.
The fourth strategy is aimed at taking the benefit of consistency from the National and Regional strategies while providing the performance of the local database strategy. The fourth method is a Hybrid strategy in which the National or Regional database is replicated to each user’s local machine and accessed as a read-only local database.
Here is a high-level overview of Data Manager