Benefits of Using Microsoft Access

By G. keith Evans

Microsoft Access is known throughout the worlds of information technology and database administration as a powerful, robust and affordable application that can drive virtually any development requiring the services of a relational database. More powerful than an Excel spreadsheet but not overly complicated, Access is an ideal choice for busy corporate professionals.

Easy to Administer

Microsoft Access was developed to fit seamlessly into the Microsoft Office family of applications. Designed for easy, intuitive graphical user interface operation, Access is far easier to administer than larger, more complex databases such as Oracle, Sybase and even MySQL.

Relatively Inexpensive

Although casual users may balk at the initial price tag of Access, the $399 cost is significantly less than larger enterprise-level applications such as Oracle and Sybase. What's more, the built-in administration and reporting tools that come bundled with Access are add-ons that cost hundreds or even thousands of dollars for the larger database systems. To further exemplify the price benefit, student versions of Access can be found for less than $100.

Short Learning Curve

Users who are not familiar with relational databases often require some form of training, and this fact remains true with Access. Unlike the extensive training required for other database systems, users can often reach proficiency in Access after only a few sessions.

Reasonably Powerful

Although it is sometimes billed as a "learner's database" or "relational database for dummies," Access is robust enough to power most small-office or departmental functions. Basic database applications such as trouble ticket systems and customer records are easy to set up and run with Access, and even more comprehensive deployments, such as point of sale systems in a retail environment, are well within the capabilities of Access.

Works With the Web

While it is not specifically designed to work with web-based applications, Access does offer the ability to create and publish pages and databases to the web. As increasingly more users look to the web for important information, this functionality is a significant benefit.