7 remarkable database management practices you should embrace

Your business database is definitely one of the most valuable assets in your arsenal. It’s an asset that shows you where you are coming from and helps inform every business decision you make. This is why you should invest a considerable amount of resources in database management. Whether it is the data for your WordPress website or your client information, the following tips will help manage your database better.

Automate the Processes

Database management can take up a lot of your business’s resources. However, by automating the process, you will be able to remove the need for slow or inaccurate manual activities as well as give your staff valuable time to focus more on the productive work of your company.

Automating database management will further improve the integrity of the entire process and allow for complete transparency. This is important in ensuring all charities remain accountable. Process automation will further make it possible for your team to manage its workload after hours. This subsequently increases productivity.

The best news is that there are many solutions you can use to automate database management. With this step, you will no longer have to manually enter the information of a new member manually nor have to deal with innumerable problems caused by human error. You can automate your system to run as many platforms as you want.

Embrace the Cloud

If you have been keen on database management, you may have heard a lot about ‘Cloud migration.’ This is due to the many benefits the option guarantees to both small and large businesses. With the Cloud, you can access your database from anywhere and make sure all the fields are updated in real-time.

The Cloud option offers more flexibility than traditional options. This means you no longer have to concern yourself about servers, infrastructure, or maintenance. Everything is completed by a third party at a small fee which may be pay-as-you-go service or subscription. This service is what led to the birth of remote DBA expert services.

The Cloud will give you the chance to expand your automation environment scope. Your team can work from anywhere in the world and you will be able to keep track of their activities.

Think Mobile

Technology is changing and continually shifting to mobile platforms. This change has made it possible for a business to manage its database on the move; enhancing working efficiency and improving overall productivity.

The easier it is for your team to access and update your database, the more productive they will be. Focus on options that improve flexibility. Going mobile will ensure that your team is able to work overnight, out of the office, or over the weekends. They can even do so from their mobile devices.

The database management team will also have more flexibility. With a good mobile solution, any automated process that is flagged can be investigated remotely and in real time over a mobile device. This means the team does not have to wait until they get back in the office to fix a problem.

Going mobile will help you maintain a professional approach in checking and monitoring all after-hours workload, eliminating time-consuming and also ensuring sophisticated remote access to the servers. The option will help combat the website or server downtime problem effectively.

Single support view

There is nothing better than being able to engage with your customers in real-time on a single support view. This is now possible thanks to advanced technology. Automating database management and making use of Cloud services makes this possible. The solution interlinks all systems so that you can manage everything from a single view. Such a solution will help your future growth.

Simplify access to both old and emerging data

This is more of a best practice than a tip. The purpose of maintaining a database is so as to have all the company’s data in one place so that you can use it to inform your decisions. The more data you have the better predictions you will be able to make. Your database should, therefore, not focus on emerging data but the traditional data too.

When you have access to more data, you will be able to determine which data gives the best outcomes. Your data management team should be able to work with a wide range of data from various sources, formats, and structures. Don’t omit data simply because it is too old.

Use advanced analytic techniques

Data analysis is important in database management. If you have spoken to a data scientist, you know that most analysts spend about 50 to 80 percent of their model development time on data preparation. The reason behind this is because if data is not well managed, the results will be less optimal.

You need an experienced team with sophisticated statistical analysis capabilities filtering through your data. Your team should be able to pinpoint missing values and outliers that can offset other measures such as average, mean, and median.

Keep up with the trends

The best piece of advice you can get on database management is to keep up with the trends, because technology keeps on changing. It is how well you adapt to new tech that determines how effective your database is.

For example, if you have a database on WordPress, you have to keep looking at what other webmasters are doing. You will also have to keep updating your database with fresh content to keep your website from stagnating. Installing the right plugins will also be crucial.

Clear data is the foundation for decisions. You cannot make educated decisions if your base your solutions on hear-say or presumptions. Do not underestimate the importance of doing your data right. Do not compromise on anything else that will come to bite you later.

The above points will get you started on the right foot in database management. Always resolve to work with an experienced team. You can choose an onsite expert team or opt for the remote management services. Whatever you decide, make sure you have the most competent team work for you.

Feature image: Christophe BENOIT via Flickr.