If you have a standard requirement and are prepared to modify the way that you work then you can probably use a standard off-the-shelf program.
However, if you have unique database requirements or don’t want to change the way that you work, then you need one of our bespoke solutions.
Can we develop an application that fits you exactly? We think we can, and to give you an idea about our range of expertise, here are some examples of other people's problems and the solutions that we supplied.

Activity Database
The building managers of an organisation with a large number of sites needed to be more in touch with the work being done on their buildings.
In addition, the different FM departments often arranged for repairs and maintenance to be done without being aware that another facilities section had arranged for conflicting work to be done on the same building.
This had serious Health and Safety implications and control issues whenever there was a problem with contractors or untidy working

The solution
Prior to the installation of the database the facilities managers created a Safety sign with contact information and details of the work to be done and issued it to the contractors. This process was done manually within a word processing program.

The activity database application now produces the Safety signs. The data entry consists of a single form requiring the same information that was entered onto the safety sign. The process requires no additional administration work and in addition the user is able to see other work being planned by other facilities managers on the same day.

Any authorised individual can now search and find information under various headings about the work to be done on single buildings or to get an overall picture of specific types of work being done within the whole organisation.

Work Done
A repairs and maintenance company does a variety of work for different clients. The work done by the operative is recorded on Job sheets. Until the development of the Work Done database, invoicing information was taken directly from the Job sheets.

This meant that there was no accessible history about the work done for different clients. In addition, when a client wanted a report about the work done on their buildings this had to be manually extracted from the Job sheets and word processed.

The solution
Details from the Job sheets are entered into a database which produces monthly reports of the work done. This is supplied to the clients who regard these reports as a value added aspect of using the company. Clients can also request special reports covering time periods or types of work carried out on their buildings. They cannot get this degree of information from competitors and the database has substantially increased the company’s leverage.


Building Information
A facilities management department were constantly needing to check the original paper based building specifications to find paint colours and the details of fixtures used within the buildings under their control. There was often no recorded information that gave suppliers address details.

The solution
Whenever an area needs painting, or replacement fixtures are needed then the Building Information database is searched. The search can be done on a single building or across all buildings and the database has developed into a valuable resource. It is possible to search for door furniture for example and then drill down to door handles and find all the different types, together with their suppliers and the price at the last supply date.
Paint colours are also stored and are searched in the same way.

This application now saves valuable time in finding replacement items and in addition it is helping to rationalise supply and save costs.



The organisation runs several international seminars every year and the requirement was to enable better control of the whole process, from mailing through to invoicing.

The solution
Mailing lists of potential attendees are held and labels produced when a conference is being planned. The mailing list is built by a combination of manual entry and direct import from external sources and also contains potential Guest speakers.
When a booking is made the source of the lead is recorded and response statistics are generated.

In addition to attending the seminar, delegates can take part in special trips and dinners and all of these additional requirements are stored and included in the invoice generated.

The application now produces the customised letters that go out with the documentation, prints the handouts, badges and various delegate reports and creates the invoices.


Subscription Manager
The client needed a complete solution to marketing and distributing a monthly journal. This included mailing potential subscribers, tracking when subscriptions are due, issuing invoices and sending out reminders.

The Solution
The database application includes a module which generates direct mailing letters and supplies statistics on the source of leads. The mailing list is generated by importing data from other sources and mailings can be made based upon various criteria.

The subscription module produces reminders and invoices at the appropriate time and keeps long term information about subscribers.

Analysis of product test data
Large amounts of data, generated from testing the performance of competitors products, was stored in spreadsheets.
The information within this data was only accessible to the laboratory technicians who had tested the products.
There was no formal method of comparison and there were inconsistencies in recording the results of tests

The Solution
The Product Analysis Database system now produces a range of reports and charts which present product comparisons in an easy to understand way.

The existing data was imported and immediately became useful information. The simple entry form has enabled quicker input and helped to rationalise the new test data.

The system is designed to be used without any user training and has been made available to sales personnel who are able to show comprehensive comparisons between products.


Project Administrator
The consulting and projects department required a software solution that could be used to increase their efficiency in dealing with the administration of projects.

The application needed to handle all aspects of project management, including setting milestones, comparing forecast costs with actual and producing regular update reports.

The solution
The application was designed from the onset to allow organic growth . Initially the central module was developed and enabled the project managers to control milestones and produce update reports about their projects.

The cost comparison module was then developed and allowed the entry of forecast monthly costs. The actual costs are included via an import routine that collects them from the organisation's accounting system.

Reporting options are extensive, including exports to Excel and the creation of Word documents which can be edited and e-mailed as required. The user can also choose data items from a pick list and generate an export file that can be used by other systems.

The application also includes a contact module within which people in a global address list are associated with a particular project.


Product ordering and supply system
A wholesaler needed to computerise their sales, ordering and distribution system.
On a daily basis they received large numbers of orders and each customer required quantities of various products, none of which are stocked. These orders must be consolidated and placed with the appropriate supplier. Once received the products are sent to the customer and an invoice is raised. There are various invoice layouts, dictated by the customer requirements.

The solution
The application enables the input of sales orders, establishing which manufacturer the items need to be ordered from at entry time. The system then consolidates the individual orders and a purchase order for the manufacturer is produced when the minimum order quantity has been reached.

As goods are received from the manufacturer they are checked into the database and the system generates a despatch note which is used to make up the customer order. The system then produces a customised invoice based upon the cost price and the appropriate margin for that customer.

Temporary Staff Booking
This application which books occasional staff and then records the time to be charged out for those personnel was an existing Open Access (OA) application (OA is a DOS product).

This application needed to be converted to a windows database and MS Access was chosen. The users wanted to transfer seamlessly to a windows database and have exactly the same functionality. All data had to be converted and be available in exactly the same format.

The Solution
We examined the OA application and developed the functional specification.
An efficient new system was then developed within MS Access which could be controlled with the same function keys or used with a mouse for new users.
Import routines were also supplied that enabled the existing data to be transferred without loss.