Having ledgers for various activities, whether internal or customer-facing, is crucial for a business to run smoothly, making operations tidier and more organized by using tools like a relational database — a software for inputting, storing, and extracting information. Consequently, being organized can make all the difference regarding daily tasks, filing taxes, checking inventory, and connecting with suppliers.
Modern companies, big and small, are aware of this, integrating relational databases to improve how they handle business data. In fact, 93% of large enterprises and 57% of small ones use a relational database, with 70% saying they’re doing somewhat or extremely well with database reliability.
These services are usually acquired via SaaS companies or built in-house by IT professionals. However, not everyone can afford these options or would prefer to take a more customized route. Thankfully, they’re not the only options available in the market.
Fairly recent technologies, such as low-code/no-code (LCNC) platforms, allow beginners, citizen developers, and seasoned developers to create their own relational databases. The magic of LCNC options lies in allowing users to tailor their apps as they see fit, including a database with relational principles.
If you’re still unsure about the advantages of building one for your business, let’s dive into the three main advantages of this tool with handy examples
Enhanced Data Consistency and Accuracy in a Relational Database
Imagine you’ve just become the manager of a public library and are trying to put together an inventory of all the books you have — we’ve posed a similar example in one of our blog tutorials on building relational databases. Before this, all logs were made on paper or a digital spreadsheet. With LCNC platforms, you can create it yourself for any business case.
While a spreadsheet might do the job with the simplest tools available, it might make it difficult to maintain data integrity (that it remains accurate, consistent, and unchanged during its entire lifecycle). Plus, tasks as simple as filtering information, dramatically expanding entry numbers, or making new entries with existing variables might become complex.
On the other hand, a relational database ensures each new record is unique while maintaining relationships between new and existing variables. In the case of a library database, these variables could be book author, genre, publisher, and so on.
Additionally, it prevents invalid data entries, such as misspelling an author’s name or logging a book in the wrong section.
So, when it’s time to add a new book to the database, there won’t be any duplicates, new entries will be easy to input, and all data will remain consistent across the app regardless of new entries or changes made.
Scalability and Flexibility in Data Management
But, alas, a library collection never stays the same. Books come and go, and sometimes the collection expands or contracts. Your ledger should take these ebbs and flows like no problem, and that’s what relational databases are also for.
When building with a LCNC platform, a database should become highly customizable as time goes by, including scalability and flexibility that adapt to its changing data needs. For example, in the context of a library, it should be able to take book collections, books by many authors, volumes, and more.
A database should also stay as organized and modular as possible to avoid redundancy and allow for new relationships between tables. This is where many-to-many relationships enable more options for recording entries while keeping data consistent.
All in all, growth shouldn’t mean complexity for your business, only more success and accomplishments!
Streamlined User Interfaces and Efficient Data Entry
On top of improving data integrity and being scalable, your database should be easy to handle by you or any employee — this increases efficiency and creates a pleasant experience for app users overall.
A relational database shouldn’t be confined to just removing complexity in data management; it should also be a frictionless tool that presents, takes, and stores information in a visual way. And, while this might sound overwhelming, it isn’t difficult to achieve on your own these days.
LCNC platforms like Appli make it easy for non-designers to build an aesthetically pleasing app that checks all boxes, from functionality to intuitive design (we’ve also written on the topic of UI principles to make your app more appealing without needing to code it).
For a library app, design improvements could include dropdown menus that minimize entry misspelling, binding form fields to filter book data easily, and so on. As a result, this database will be quick and simple to use, store accurate data, and keep it intact despite updates or changes in the app.
But relational databases shouldn’t stop at libraries. How about a logistics company’s inventory? Or the sales for a local grocery store? The use cases are endless, as every business could use a functional database that can bear complex relationships and any amount of data. Now, it’s your turn to get started on your app — thankfully, you don’t need to be an expert to build the best one!
Get started on your app-building journey with Appli’s free low-code/no-code capabilities. Download the Appli Player today!
