Industrial Hypertext

Industrial Hypertext develops custom software applications for the web, desktop, cloud, and mobile devices, in Perth, Western Australia since 2002.

Microsoft Access Database Development and Migration

Industrial Hypertext has extensive experience working with Microsoft Access databases, helping businesses maintain, upgrade, and extend their existing Access solutions. While many consider Access outdated, it remains a practical choice for small to medium businesses due to its low cost, ease of use, and rapid development capabilities.

Case Study: Local Government Asset Management

We developed a comprehensive Microsoft Access database system for a large Perth local government to manage their parks, trees, and other municipal assets. This system helps them track and plan maintenance activities efficiently.

The database system includes:

• Asset inventory tracking for parks, trees, and municipal infrastructure
• Maintenance scheduling and history recording
• Work order generation and tracking
• Resource allocation and staff assignment
• Reporting tools for maintenance planning and budgeting
• Historical maintenance records for each asset

This solution demonstrates how Microsoft Access can be an effective tool for local government operations, providing:

• Easy-to-use interface for council staff
• Cost-effective implementation compared to enterprise systems
• Flexible reporting for council meetings and planning
• Simple maintenance and updates by council IT staff
• Reliable performance for day-to-day operations

Enhancing Existing Access Databases

We specialize in:

• Adding new features and reports to existing Access databases
• Fixing performance issues and optimizing queries
• Creating new forms and improving user interface
• Setting up proper backup systems
• Implementing multi-user access and security controls
• Adding data validation and business rules

Web-Enabling Access Databases

For businesses that have outgrown their Access database or need web access, we can:

• Create web interfaces for existing Access databases, allowing secure access from anywhere
• Build hybrid solutions where Access remains the desktop interface while data is stored in SQL Server or MySQL
• Develop custom web applications that replicate and enhance Access functionality
• Set up automated data synchronization between Access and web databases

Why Access Still Makes Sense for Small Business

Microsoft Access remains a viable solution for small businesses because:

• Low initial cost - included with many Microsoft Office subscriptions
• Rapid development of forms and reports
• Easy to modify and maintain by non-technical staff
• Works well for teams of 5-10 users
• Excellent reporting capabilities
• Can be used as a front-end to more powerful databases when needed

Migration Path to Modern Solutions

When businesses outgrow Access, we provide a smooth transition path:

• Gradual migration to SQL Server while maintaining the Access front-end
• Development of web applications that can run alongside Access
• Data migration to cloud databases like Azure SQL
• Training and support throughout the transition