Is Access good for a business with 3,000 customers

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Guest

I am new to Access and curious if it would be helpful to our business.
However, there are many software programs that are tailored to our type of
business but cost in the thousands. Unfortunelty, that is not an option. Is
Access "childs play," or do allot of business use this application?
 
Access is a tool that is used to create application. It is like Excel.
Excel is used to create a spreadsheet, but you have to be the one to
actually build the spreadsheet.

The answer to your question would all depend on what you want to do with it.
Access is just a tool, not a solution.
 
A very "general" question -- expect very general responses.

Access is very widely used. That doesn't mean it is "child's play".

If you provide a bit more information about what line of business you are
considering, and what kinds of things you want to do (these may/may not
benefit from automation), the newgroup may be able to offer more specific
suggestions.

Good luck

Jeff Boyce
<Access MVP>
 
NRB,


Access is a development tool. It's programmable, customizable and quite
capable of handling 3000 customers with ease.
However, it is what you make it. You can certainly make it a child's play.

As with any other development tools (not just Access), the limit is YOU,
your imagination and your skills (i.e. YOU meaning the developer). The
development tool is rarely the limit. So a developer with the imagination
level of a child will probably produce child's play application regardless
of whether using Access or C++.

If you are new to Access and considering custom developing an Access
application as opposed to off the shelf software, and your limit is a few
thousands, my bet would on the off the shelf software.


Immanuel Sibero
 
If you put any kind of realistic value on your time, then developing any
kind of non-trivial database application will cost much, much more than a
few thousand of anything, regardless of what development tool you use.

If there is an existing application that meets your needs and sells for a
few thousand, that is good value for money and you should use it. If that is
not an option - well, that's either a management or a financial problem, and
we can only help with technical problems here.

Developing your own application (or having a custom application developed
for you) is a great choice when you need an application tailored to your
specific needs. It is *not* a way to get a cheaper equivalent of
off-the-shelf applications.
 
I would like to expand on Brendan's answer and encourage you to spend the
money if the professional application meets your needs. Think about the cost
of a product like Quick Books. I believe it retails for around $200 and the
"Pro" version actually comes in several editions customized for various
business types. The actual development expenses related to this product
could easily have been over a million dollars when you consider the design,
testing, developing time as well as the accountants who have verified its
accuracy. It comes to you for $200 - $300 because of volume sales. There is
no way you could replicate this product at all as a novice and even a
professional developer would be hard pressed to come close in less than a
year.

So, even though it may cost me a development contract, I discourage my
clients from building custom software when retail is available and
acceptable. There is simply no cost benefit.
 
Please refrain from advertising your services in the newsgroups. This
behavior is counter to the code of conduct expected of participants.

Jeff Boyce
<Access MVP>
 
And in case you were not advertising, just offering to take the discussion
off-line, please re-read the code of conduct. Questions and Answers are
posted in the newsgroups, that all readers might benefit.

Thanks!

Jeff Boyce
<Access MVP>
 
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