How We Do It
How We Do It
Your database may be custom built, but your development process shouldn’t be.
You want a partner with a database development plan that has been proven time after time to work for organizations large and small. Those standards ensure no detail is missed and that you end up with a database that can do what you need.
But you also want a partner that can answer your questions without tech-y jargon. One that cares more about your project or initiative outcomes than upsells or billable hours. And you want a partner that understands and fits your company so well that it feels like they’re part of your team.
Our database development process involves exacting technical standards, but every step of the way we’re thinking about how to make life easier for the people we’re working with and who will be using what we build.
Here’s what that process looks like.
Phase One: Database Consulting, Technical Architecture and Design
Phase One is all about getting to know your team and understanding your data needs. Before we generate a single line of code, we need to know the answer to five questions:
- What do you need your data to do?
- How can we make your life easier?
- How should you be able to access your data?
- Who should be able to access what data?
- What should you be able to learn from it?
Once we’ve defined and agreed on the goals for your custom database, we determine which technologies will allow us to leverage the data and processes you currently have, and where data gaps or software obstacles exist. We work with you to identify the best path for building a custom database that fits your requirements and document how people will access the new platform.
Next, we design a framework for your database so your team can review, provide feedback, and know exactly how the new system will work before development begins. This ensures there have been no miscommunications, and all the custom functions and business rules you need are fully integrated into the database design. After the framework is approved, our creative designers build the look and feel of the database, making it easy to understand and use. Once you approve the proposed look, your database moves into the second phase.
Phase Two: Build
Phase Two is the build phase. This is where we start coding to develop the database and build the software that
will allow you to access your data. We incorporate everything we learned and agreed upon in Phase One, and then have our quality assurance team test the system to make sure it meets your requirements and is bug-free. When testing is complete, we provide a final walkthrough so you can confirm everything works the way you envisioned.
Phase Three: Deployment
When we reach Phase Three, it means we’re ready to launch your custom database! If needed, this is where our team can provide user training and create help documentation. We will also set up, configure and secure your server so the database has appropriate security and firewalls, and point a domain name to the new system.
Our goal is to solve your data challenges, not make them more difficult with a convoluted and jargon-filled database development process. We’ve helped hundreds of other clients, and would be happy to help you, too.
“We aim to build things right the first time. You deserve peace of mind, so we guarantee our work. Period.”
- Dan Reynolds, Founder We Build Databases -
Before we write a single line of code, we make sure we understand your data challenges so we can build a solution that meets your specific needs. From the software look and layout to the coding and the framework that supports it.
