General FAQs
My isimSoftware Project Design & Development Team?
Every isimSoftware client is assigned a Project Manager (PM) who is responsible for leading you through each step of our standard design-build process. The PM is your primary day-to-day contact at isimSoftware to coordinate project planning and execution. Client teams are also comprised of a principal engineer who directs isimSoftware engineering resources, and staff engineers who are assigned to your project.
Your PM and principal engineer remain constant throughout the entire project. Staff engineers may change from time to time, depending upon the resources required and specific technical needs of your application e.g. design, architecture, security, report development, etc.
Does isimSoftware Outsource Any Development Tasks?
No. we do not outsource any aspect of our design process or development tasks — every service is performed by full-time isimSoftware software engineering professionals.
Who Owns The Application?
You do. isimSoftware Smart Client applications are owned by our clients, and are license-free and royalty-free. The cost is the same whether you have 5 users or 500 users. We utilize a generic web-service and component library built on Microsoft technologies to make all of our Smart Client applications highly functional, standardized and scalable, and this component is proprietary to isimSoftware.
How Does isimSoftware Handle ‘Feature Creep’?
Feature creep aka scope creep is a term used to describe a software project that over-emphasizes new, additional features at the expense of simplicity, stability, cost, and / or schedules. We take a disciplined approach to constraining project scope. Our consultants will challenge you to separate must-haves from nice-to-haves capabilities that are necessary to meet your minimum, essential business needs. It oftentimes makes more sense to defer a new capability to keep the project budget and schedule on track.
In addition to resulting in a more manageable project budget and schedule, this keep-it-simple approach results in a more manageable budget and schedule, allows isimSoftware to focus on building a strong foundation of known application essentials, and avoids reinvesting in items that are likely to change as the new application evolves and takes shape.
How Does isimSoftware Manage Change Requests?
We anticipate a certain level of changes and refinements throughout the design / development process, and this is factored into our project estimates. Project budgets and schedules can however be adversely impacted by requests for new substantial items or extensive changes to existing capabilities, especially when the timing of a significant change request occurs late in the development process. Significant changes become increasingly expensive the further we get into application development.
Why Not Packaged Software?
At isimSoftware Solutions (isimSoftware) we find that one of the first questions asked by most clients is “Why Not Use Packaged Software?” The truth is that if you have a truly industry standard operation and that you can find a software package that offers everything you need, buy it. The fact that you are researching alternatives means that you are already unsure of that answer.
In making this determination, some of the key issues that you want to explore include:
Functional Fit — Does the software package offer the core capabilities that you need? Are you paying for a lot of features that don’t need?
Customization — What is the additional cost to configure or customize the package to suit your specific data management needs?
Robustness — Is it a commercial-grade offering built on a real database (e.g., Microsoft SQL Server or Oracle), or is it simply a user interface built atop MS Access or something else?
Integration — What is the additional cost to integrate the software with your existing business applications (accounting, manufacturing, inventory, etc)?
Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) — What is the actual cost to own and use the system over time, taking into account all the factors, including licensing, training, data conversion, configuration, integration, annual maintenance, and support?
When you take into consideration the software licensing costs, the professional service fees necessary to customize and integrate the software, and the annual maintenance and support fees, our clients often discover that it is far more cost-effective to build a custom solution from scratch. The results are far more superior and relevant to your business needs.
A typical outcome of licensing:
You pay a lot more than you originally anticipate to “fit” the software to your specific business needs.
You are saddled with ongoing licensing, subscription, maintenance and support fees (fees which grow in proportion to your use).
You are locked into with a single vendor solution, with a significant cost-to-switch.
isimSoftware believes there is a better way. Smart Clients provide an ASP-like approach to centralized, repeatable application deployment and security, with ZERO ongoing licensing fees. End-users get a highly-functional, high performance, easy-to-use and reliable application powered by industry standard MS SQL Servers.
Why Not Offshore Development?
Today, it is well understood that “off-shoring” is appropriate and can offer significant cost-advantages for certain types of projects. However, for many other projects, off-shoring turns out to be a significant mistake. Some of the problems include:
Engineering Quality — The quality of most off-shore engineering practices is hit-and-miss. Expect to receive what they know how to do, not best practices that are developed and applied through years of experience and project management rigor.
Project Communication — Effective communication is the most critical factor to the success of custom development initiatives, yet this is where most off-shore efforts fail. Does it take ten (or more) attempts to get something right, due to disconnects in communication?
Business Continuity — Where is that small team half way around the globe going to be in six months or a year from now?
Critical Thinking — Most foreign cultures simply do not challenge the status quo or offer the critical thinking that is necessary for most projects to succeed (they do what you ask for, not what you need!)
If you have very well-defined need, with super-clear, detailed requirements, and you have a project manager who is dedicated to riding herd on the off-shore development effort, then you may have a project that is a good candidate for off-shore engineering.
If on the other hand any of these conditions are not true, you will very likely end of paying more in the long run. The result is likely to be a solution that misses the mark.
Here we compare factors for off-shore development versus development by isimSoftware Solutions (isimSoftware):
isimSoftware believes there is a better way. We provide experienced engineering, coupled with transparent project communication, and Smart Client solutions that provide an ASP-like approach to centralized, repeatable application deployment and security, with ZERO ongoing Licensing fees. End-users get a highly-functional, high performance, easy-to-use and reliable application powered by industry standard MS SQL Servers.
No License Fees
isimSoftware Solutions (isimSoftware) does not charge any licensing fees involved. You will own an exclusive, license-free and royalty-free rights to the application.
Instead, we charge professional fees for consulting and engineering services based upon the following factors:
Scope and complexity of your business application
Functional gaps that exist between your current application and what you actually need
Experience with clients in the same industry and with similar types of applications
A bottom-up engineering assessment of your existing business application
Knowledge of your key business needs and priorities
With custom development, recognizing what we do not know is just as important as recognizing what we do. Depending upon your situation and needs, incremental steps may be required to develop the right approach and a reliable project estimate. With any project, our goal is to establish a high degree of confidence that your business needs and any special considerations are fully understood and reflected in our estimate.
Why Not In-House Development
Most in-house programmers lack the business experience to insure that your needs and ideas are compatible with your business objectives and budget. Many programmers lack the real-world project management experience needed to meet critical business objectives. Because many in-house programmers tend to recommend only what they know, it’s hit or miss as to whether the solution is actually coded properly, and maintainable over time.
With isimSoftware Solutions (isimSoftware), you get an experienced team, and a higher quality outcome with less investment and lower risk.
If you have already invested considerable time and money with internal developers, and lost confidence in their ability to deliver a critical business application, we specialize in picking up complex and heavily customized database projects, and quickly figuring out what needs to be done to get the project back on track.
isimSoftware is frequently called on to take over internal application development or SQL development efforts that are stuck, failing, or just growing over budget and schedule. We know how to rescue a custom application development project, and get the project back on budget and schedule.
Database Services FAQs
Database Services FAQs
What industries can benefit from a custom database?
Virtually all industries can benefit from custom databases. Whether you are in retail, healthcare, manufacturing, financial services, or education, isimSoftware can design and create a custom database that perfectly suits your data management needs.
What is the process of creating a custom database?
The process involves a detailed analysis of your business needs, designing the database structure, development, testing, deployment, and maintenance. At isimSoftware, we follow a meticulous disciplined process to ensure the custom database aligns perfectly with your business requirements.
How can a custom database enhance my business productivity?
Custom databases streamline and automate data management, reducing manual data entry and minimizing errors. With a custom database from isimSoftware, data can be easily accessed, updated, and analyzed, saving you time and increasing productivity.
What are the benefits of a custom database?
Custom databases offer numerous benefits including improved efficiency, flexibility, scalability, data integrity, and security. They can be tailor-made to match your business model and can evolve with your business growth. Custom databases from isimSoftware are designed to provide valuable insights to support strategic decision-making.
How does a custom database differ from off-the-shelf databases?
While off-the-shelf databases offer generic functionalities and structures, custom databases are designed and built to accommodate the unique requirements of your business. isimSoftware customizes the database architecture, functionality, and user interface to suit your business model, workflow, and data needs, offering better efficiency and productivity.
What is a custom database?
A custom database is a specialized database that is designed and created to meet the specific needs and requirements of a business or organization. At isimSoftware, we understand that every business is unique, and so are their data needs. Therefore, we tailor each database to perfectly match our client’s requirements.
Can my custom database scale as my business grows?
Absolutely. Custom databases are designed with scalability in mind. isimSoftware can easily modify your database or simply increase the hardware footprint to accommodate business growth or changes in business strategy.
How long does it take to build a custom database?
The timeline for building a custom database depends on the complexity and specific requirements of the project. isimSoftware ensures to deliver your custom database, usually in bite-size phases, within a reasonable timeframe without compromising quality.
Can a custom database integrate with my existing systems?
Yes, one of the advantages of a custom database is that it can be designed to integrate seamlessly with your existing software and systems. isimSoftware ensures your custom database works in harmony with your existing IT infrastructure. Generally, existing software has fixed database structures and can only accommodate a limited scope of requests, whereas adding/integrating a custom database application allows for bolting on the flexibility that a business may desire.
How secure are custom databases?
Security is a top priority in custom database development. At isimSoftware, we ensure your data is secure by implementing industry-standard security measures such as encryption, secure user authentication, and regular security audits.
How does isimSoftware ensure data integrity in custom databases?
isimSoftware implements several measures like data validation, referential integrity constraints, and transaction controls to ensure data integrity in custom databases.
What kind of support does isimSoftware provide after the database is launched?
isimSoftware provides round-the-clockcomprehensive technical support to address any issues you may encounter. We also offer training to your team to use the database effectively.
Can isimSoftware create a custom database that supports remote access?
Yes, isimSoftware can create a custom database that supports remote access, web based access, access through a VPN or through remote desktops, depending on business requirements, allowing you and your team to access data from anywhere and at any time.
How much does a custom database cost?
The cost of a custom database depends on the complexity of the project, the number of users, required features, and the level of customization needed. isimSoftware provides a detailed quote after understanding your specific requirements.
What database technologies does isimSoftware specialize in?
isimSoftware specializes in various database technologies, including but not limited to SQL, NoSQL, Oracle, MySQL, PostgreSQL, and MongoDB. We choose the most suitable technology based on your business needs.
How do costs of a custom database application compare to an Off-the-Shelf application?
Well, that depends! It depends on what is available in the marketplace, and how well it suits your needs. For example, we cannot compete with QuickBooks and it’s comprehensive accounting system for small businesses. They’ve put hundreds of thousands of man-hours into QB and made it a great product – isimSoftware would be much more expensive to try to duplicate that. However, for many, many products, the cost of the product and subsequent licensing, support and customization costs are vastly higher than what it would cost to build what you need. For example, SAP is a very expensive, high-end product, that nearly always needs significant customization on top of the original costs. While we cannot compete re-developing the entire SAP suite, most businesses do not need that. We have been very successful building custom ERP/MRP/Inventory systems that do just what your business wants/needs, using just the workflow your business finds most effecient – no more and not less – without having all the excess features extant in SAP that you may not need. And we have done these custom applications at a fraction of the cost of the equivalent SAP system. I’m picking on SAP here, but we have had significant success building out extensive applications in many domains.
Can a custom database handle large volumes of data?
Yes, custom databases can be designed to handle large volumes of data (Big Data) efficiently. isimSoftware ensures that your database is robust and capable of handling your data needs, regardless of scale.
Can a custom database be migrated to another platform?
Yes, custom databases can be migrated to another platform. isimSoftware provides comprehensive database migration services ensuring minimal downtime and data loss.
Does isimSoftware provide data backup and recovery solutions?
Yes, isimSoftware provides robust data backup and recovery solutions. We implement measures to ensure your data is always secure and retrievable in case of any unforeseen circumstances.
Can isimSoftware build a custom database for mobile applications?
Yes, isimSoftware can design and create custom databases that support mobile applications, ensuring a seamless user experience across devices.
How is user accessibility managed in a custom database?
User accessibility in a custom database is managed through user roles and permissions. isimSoftware ensures that access to data is controlled and can be customized based on the user roles within your organization.
Can I transfer my existing data to the new custom database?
Yes, isimSoftware can facilitate the seamless transfer of your existing data to the new custom database. We ensure that your data is migrated without loss or corruption.
What is the role of a custom database in business analytics?
A custom database plays a crucial role in business analytics by providing accurate, up-to-date data that can be analyzed for insights. isimSoftware can design your custom database to support various analytics tools (Power BI, Power Pivot, MS Excel, Cognos, Tableau, QlikView, Amazon Redshift, etc), helping you make informed business decisions.
Can a custom database support multiple users?
Yes, a custom database can support multiple users. isimSoftware ensures that your database can handle multiple concurrent users without compromising performance or security.
Does isimSoftware provide training on how to use the custom database?
Yes, isimSoftware provides comprehensive training to your team on how to effectively use the custom database. We ensure your team is confident and capable of managing and using the database efficiently.
What measures does isimSoftware take to ensure the reliability of the custom database?
isimSoftware implements robust error-handling and data validation methods to ensure the reliability of your custom database. Regular testing and updates are also performed to maintain its efficiency and reliability.
Can a custom database facilitate automation in my business processes?
Yes, a custom database can streamline and automate various business processes, reducing manual work, and improving efficiency. isimSoftware works closely with you to understand your processes and build automation wherever possible.
Can a custom database be cloud-based?
Yes, isimSoftware can create cloud-based custom databases (either Private Cloud or Public Cloud) that provide the benefits of flexibility, scalability, and remote accessibility.
How does a custom database improve customer relations?
Custom databases allow businesses to maintain detailed customer profiles, track interactions and provide personalized services. isimSoftware can build a database that helps you understand your customers better, thereby improving customer satisfaction.
Does isimSoftware provide custom reporting in their databases?
Yes, isimSoftware provides custom reporting and BI Dashboards in databases. Reports can be designed to provide insights that are most relevant to your business, enabling you to make data-driven decisions.
Can a custom database from isimSoftware handle real-time data?
Yes, isimSoftware can build databases capable of handling real-time data. These databases can capture, process, and present real-time data efficiently, enabling you to make timely decisions.
What’s the difference between SQL and NoSQL databases? Which one should I choose?
SQL databases are relational databases that use structured query language (SQL) for defining and manipulating the data. On the other hand, NoSQL databases are non-relational and can store and process a wide variety of data models, including key-value, document, columnar, and graph formats. The choice between SQL and NoSQL depends on the specific requirements of your project. isimSoftware will help you decide based on factors like the type of data you deal with, the scalability required, and the complexity of your queries.
How does isimSoftware handle database versioning?
Database versioning is handled carefully at isimSoftware. We keep a record of all database changes in a version control system. This ensures that we can revert to a previous state if needed and allows us to track changes over time.
How do I know if my business needs a custom database?
If your business deals with a large volume of data, has unique data needs, requires seamless integration with other systems, or if off-the-shelf database solutions don’t offer the functionality you need, then a custom database is a good fit. isimSoftware can provide a consultation to assess your business needs.
What post-deployment services does isimSoftware provide?
After deployment, isimSoftware continues to offer support and maintenance services, including database updates, adding new features, ensuring security, database optimization, and training your staff. We are dedicated to ensuring your database remains efficient and up to date.
What are some common features of custom databases built by isimSoftware?
Common features include user-friendly interfaces, robust search capabilities, data backup and recovery, secure user authentication, automated data validation, custom reporting, and seamless integration with other systems. The exact features depend on your unique business needs.
Can isimSoftware help transition from an old database system to a new custom database?
Yes, isimSoftware can manage the entire transition process from your old database system to the new custom database, including data migration, system integration, and user training, ensuring a smooth transition with minimal downtime. We can teach an old dog some new tricks!
How does isimSoftware handle sensitive data in a custom database?
isimSoftware takes data privacy very seriously. We implement stringent security measures such as data encryption, secure user authentication, and regular security audits to ensure the privacy and safety of your sensitive data.
Can isimSoftware create a database that supports multiple languages?
Yes, isimSoftware can create multilingual databases that support various languages, ensuring your database is accessible to users from different linguistic backgrounds.
AIs it possible to restrict access to certain data within the custom database?
Yes, one of the advantages of a custom database is that you can define user roles and permissions, which allows you to control access to certain data based on user roles.
Can isimSoftware create a custom database that supports e-commerce functionalities?
Absolutely, isimSoftware has experience in creating databases that support various e-commerce functionalities, such as inventory management, customer relationship management (CRM), risk management, Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP), Manufacturing Resource Planning (MRP), sales tracking, and more.
Does isimSoftware work with startups to develop custom databases?
Yes, isimSoftware works with businesses of all sizes, including startups. We can create a scalable custom database that can grow as your startup expands.
How does isimSoftware test the performance and reliability of a custom database?
isimSoftware employs various testing methods to ensure the performance and reliability of your custom database. This includes stress testing, performance testing, security testing, and functionality testing.
How is data redundancy handled in a custom database developed by isimSoftware?
isimSoftware uses normalization techniques and unique identifiers to prevent data redundancy in the custom databases we develop. This enhances data efficiency and minimizes storage needs.
Who will maintain and update the custom database?
isimSoftware offers comprehensive maintenance and support services to ensure your custom database remains up-to-date and efficient.
Can isimSoftware help with data modeling for my custom database?
Yes, data modeling is a crucial part of the custom database development process at isimSoftware. We work with you to define how data should be structured and related, creating a data model that accurately reflects your business needs.