CMIS 320
Brynne Garver
March 8, 2015
Professor Baird

A relational data solution can improve business by maximizing sales and efficiently improving planning and inventory control. A relational database is a consistent storage structure that allows you to both store data and optimally improve performance. A relational database stores data in tables and the tables are organized into columns. Each column then stores only one type of data and the data for a single instance of a table is stored in a row. Using an index will allow for you to quickly look up the data stored in each column. A relational database provides accurate recording, updating and tracking of data on a real time basis. Employees can use the relational database for accounting reports, calculating sales invoices, inventory, and invoicing customers. A relational database solution allows different tables to relate to each other. You can setup a table for different aspects of the company and they will all relate to each other. You can setup one table on the sales staff and another on the product sales for example. When the two tables relate you will be able to see who your top sales person is and the product that sold the most. It will also allow you to see which products are not selling and which sales representatives that could use more training. A relational database solution will allow you to update new information and remove old data. When a salesperson sells 50 products, you would enter that into the database. You would enter the sales reps name, customer information, product sold, and quantity. You would then have this customer information in your database. The database would also update the inventory table and you would be able to see if you need to order additional stock. A relational database solution also allows for an extensive search tool. You can search for a customer by name, phone number, address, or any feature you may need to. The same goes with products you can search by name, brand, and price or even by color. You can also look up a customer’s previous record if they need to know what they ordered previously. Relational database solutions allow for redundancy. A relational database allows you to spread data storage across multiple servers, which will provide you with extra safety and security. A relational database comes with its own interface but also allows and third party interfaces that use SQL to be compatible with it. This opens up the ability to broaden the database and functionality based on your business needs and improvements. Many companies use relational database solutions. Facebook uses relational database solutions for operational analysis (Laskowski 2007-2015, Tech Target). They can use relational database solutions for trending analysis over days, months, and years. They use this to find what topics are trending on the social media network for example is the dress blue and black or white and gold. When you