Understanding SQL in the Small Business Environment

Without doubt, virtually all businesses nowadays have migrated to online. For this reason, almost all the companies you come across, or you’ve heard about use SQL (Structured Query Language) in one way or another. Broadly speaking, SQL is a must language when we talk about data analysis simply because SQL is one of the most common data languages.

Given the history of the language, you will understand that it has earned its rightful place among the topmost data languages in the world; it has been around since the 1970s. Needless to say, SQL is the most common method of accessing data in databases today. Therefore, we can simply refer to SQL as a programming language designed with the aim of managing data in a relational database. You can access your data through the many functions SQL is providing for its users. Through these functions, you can easily read, manipulate, and change data.

Another basic way to look at SQL is a fundamental programming language used to send information, retrieve information, and organize information in a database. The benefits of this language for big as well as medium and small businesses cannot be mentioned in a single sentence. SQL is especially important to not only corporations that deliver products to end-users but also business-to-consumer companies.

SQL is a popular language since it’s compatible with almost any high-level language. For this reason, SQL is used mainly to allow for programs to interact with a database. As a matter of fact, SQL optimization is behind big data in regards to its demands in the workplace. SQL can be applied in a wide spectrum, i.e., can be used by a market analyst to analyze the market trends, data analyst in analyzing big data, among others. Below is an overview of what SQL is really all about and how important it is to your business.

Database management in SQL

Like we have discussed earlier, SQL is designed solely to manage databases. That’s arguably the most significant benefit you can get from using the language in your company. It is a common knowledge that SQL can run complex queries that are used to search for specific pieces of information based on listed criteria. For instance, in a workplace divided into departments, a manager can query the system to retrieve specific information about a particular department, say the amount of money paid to employees in the marketing department.

You need basic coding skills to use SQL effectively

You may encounter some basic challenges when setting up SQL for the first time, but the language is rather easy to work with. Compared to most high-level languages with lots of commands, SQL has only seven different commands, making it a rather simple language when compared to other languages. SQL is one of the least code dependent high-level languages compared to others.

SQL is used by large companies

Perhaps the fact that most large companies such as Microsoft use SQL will convince you to think about using it too. Microsoft employs SQL in Open Database Connectivity, SQL Server, and ActiveX Data Objects. It is also important to note that most software development companies prefer using SQL with their programs because of their effectiveness in managing databases.

Should you use SQL?

It goes without saying that SQL has many advantages that cannot be exhausted in a single post, but one thing is certain; you should definitely use SQL if you are interested in using data to solve complex business problems effectively. It does make your life a little heaven on earth, and one great take away is that SQL doesn’t take much of your programmer’s time to setup. One last thing is that SQL is easy to maintain and you can always sort out things through SQL forums when they get a little bit complex.

In conclusion, you already know database management is vital to your business, and sometimes things get complicated, and you may easily mess up your data. SQL is your refuge since it keeps things organized and simple. This way, your data is protected from accidental manipulation. SQL is also useful in speeding up the process of data management. SQL is your best bet because it’s quick, efficient, and will save your company a lot of money.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Germar Reed, Senior Manager, Analytics Advisory Services – at Merkle and Principle at District Analytics, bringing more than ten years of data-driven marketing and advanced analytics experience to the team. He has extensive experience in developing and applying database marketing strategies for many Fortune 500 companies across a variety of industries, including financial services, technology, retail, automotive and healthcare. Throughout his career, he has been associated with the development of many well-known relationship marketing brands and customer loyalty strategies.

5 Steps to Getting Started With Big Data for Small Businesses

So, you must have heard something about big data. The information you received may have made it seem as though big data is only for large corporations.

Big data is large amounts of data sourced from a business’ activities. It is not normal data hence; it cannot be analyzed so directly. It is true that big data is more suited to large companies. However, this is because big data analytics are known to be costly and time-consuming.

Thankfully, times have changed and developments in business now make it possible for everyone to benefit from big data. As a small business owner, it is essential to take part in its great benefits. This is made possible by the application of suitable tools and techniques.

Read on to learn 5 effective steps to getting started with big data for your small business.

1. Know your customers’ preferences

Data analytics starts by gathering the data acquired from customer activities also known as transactional data. With big data, you can develop highly customer oriented services because you know what they want. Start by gathering data on their experiences and behavior from any device such as laptops or phones.

2. Create a system that can identify trends

Trends in business tell you what is going on with sales, satisfaction, and so on. To benefit from big data, you must create a system that displays important information also known Key Performance Indicators (KPI’s). The system should be efficient enough to identify trends which occur in the market. A business analyst can be of great help in this area.

3. Invest in data solutions

Yes, the cost is the primary reason business owners avoid using big data, but that is hardly necessary seeing as every business requires a good investment to be successful. Invest in some data solutions to enhance your methods of acquiring, analyzing, and interpreting your data. Suitable examples for small businesses are SAS, Google Analytics, IBM Watson Analytics, and much more.

4. Know what your needs are

The tricky thing about big data is that it can provide accurate information but can also be misinterpreted. If your needs or questions for the data are not defined, the information may become useless or part of bad decisions. Take the time to review every department in your business and determine their needs. This will help you with proper analysis and interpretation. Some questions you may develop include:

• Who are our best customers?

• What do customers want?

• What brands get the most attention and why?

5. Take action

The reason why you should use big data is to get results. Results do not come from inaction. After acquiring, analyzing, and interpreting your data, the next steps should be geared toward achievement. What do you do with the information provided by the data?

Big corporations, who use big data, take action to enjoy the following benefits:

• To gain a competitive advantage by tailoring services to customer’s needs.

• To make effective business decisions

• To mitigate risks.

• To monitor business performance