Database Design and Development
How much can I save?
A database system can save you a significant amount of time and money. That saved time can be spend on more productive tasks such as generating income, working with clients more, providing improved customer or member services, or identifying further ways to cut costs.
Whichever way you look at it, once you have your database you will have a lot more time on your hands to spend on other things.
Calculation
Work out how many hours a week you could save if you were able to automate tasks in a database. Tasks may be automated billing, mail merges, pressing a button and having a report printed in seconds rather than taking you all morning (every week).
Also think about the time the database would save for other people at work. Admin staff may no longer have to work on a report or double-enter data in Excel as it's all in your database at the click of a button.
Now multiply all your and others hours by hourly pay rates. This is your savings! It should be quite significant and is usually easy to justify spending that money on a database development. In your 1st year the cost of the system is usually paid for. The savings can also cover ongoing development and support costs.
Example Savings - Small Business - for 4 people
This is a very conservative estimate, so at the very least you would expect to save just $1,040 a week ($54,000 a year).
12 hours a week spend following up with clients
8 hours spent entering time or billing information
16 hours a week entering the same data into Excel or Word
12 hours a week spent emailing contacts manually
4 hours a week updating contacts details in systems
15 hours a week saved x $20/hour = $1,040 saved every week
Example Savings - Small NGO Organisation
A small not-for-profit providing member services and information to members. Activities to manage include member details, invoices, event and workshop bookings, annual conferences and training.
To provide these services manually the following time is currently spent per week by a small team:
24 hours for entering and managing new and existing memberships
36 hours for generating invoices for membership, events and training
12 processing training bookings and information for members
10 hours a week emailing members from Outlook
16 hours creating reports for management
4 hours creating board report
2 hours looking for information in files and documents
6 hours reentering information on the web site
110 hours a week saved x $20/hour = $2,200 saved every week
$2,200 saved a week = $114,400 a year. Add to this savings by not having to employ a staff member (or contractor) to manage the annual conference as the database can do it (an additional $40-60,000 a year) - $154,400 every year!
We don't want to do anyone out of a job but typically at the very least, every client saves at least one full salary a year - minimum.
If you would like further information or to meet and discuss how we can help you please contact us.