Database Development Phases

Database software development phases - communication, planning, software development

Software Development Phases

At GI Business Database Solutions we engage closely with clients during the development of their custom Microsoft Access Database software to ensure the resulting software integrates seamlessly with their current business practices and delivers all of the functionality and performance expected. Here, for your information, we include an overview of our database software development process, and the relative progress payment events that occur during that software development.

Initial Discussions

The initial database software development meeting is to ensure we fully understand your requirements. After receiving your request, we will contact you to discuss the project and get a better insight into the purpose and functionality required in your custom database software. In preparation, it may be helpful to refer to our Database software Planning Guide that outlines more specifically the type of information we may seek from you.

Also, during our initial discussions, and if appropriate, we could suggest additional functionality you may have not yet considered, or even thought possible. Once the project has been thoroughly scoped, and we have agreement and understanding of the functional requirements of your database, we provide a written quotation outlining the estimated software development timeframes and costs involved.


Scoping Database Requirements

Database development meeting. On receiving your request, we will be in contact with you to discuss the purpose and the functionality you require in your custom database software to ensure that we fully understand your requirements. For specific details on some of the information, please refer to our Database Planning Guide.

During our initial discussions, we may suggest additional functionality that you might not have considered or even thought possible. Once the project has been thoroughly scoped, and we are sure that we understand the functional requirements of your database, we provide a written quotation outlining the likely development costs and timeframes involved.


Software Production Stages

On acceptance of our quote and payment of the deposit, we begin development on your custom software in an appropriate version of the Microsoft Access Database.

At this time you must assign a representative who has an in-depth understanding of your database requirements as your liaison. As the database development proceeds, your representative receives sample program fragments for testing, review, and feedback.

As your familiarity with the capabilities of a Microsoft Access grows, and we learn more of your business practices, minor changes to the initial database specifications may be incorporated to provide enhanced or improved capabilities. Usually, there is no additional cost for minor changes, however significant functional changes outside the original scope of the project will incur additional costs.

Towards the end of the development stage, a prototype version of the database is provided for testing. We recommend a minimum of two weeks testing to identify and notify us of any software bugs or design issues.

Database developer meeting for advice

Progress Payments

Unlike some other developers, we do not charge ongoing service fees. Instead, we provide our clients with a free twelve-month guarantee that any Access database development work that we undertake will be functional and error-free.

After scoping the work, we provide a quote setting out the agreed software development requirements and associated costs involved. Should you elect to proceed the following payment phases apply:

  • A deposit of 25% of the estimated development costs is due and payable upon acceptance of quote and prior to any development work commencing.
  • A further 50% of the estimated development costs is due and payable upon delivery of the first beta version of the software for testing.
  • The remaining 25% of the development estimate, along with the cost (if any) of additional work becomes payable upon delivery of the production version of the database.

Software Guarantee & Ongoing Support

All of our work is guarantee for a period of 12 months from delivery of the production version of the database, with any identified bugs or software errors being corrected free of charge. Our Warranty terms & conditions are supplied along with any quote we provide.

Have a questions or need some help to plan your business database, please don’t hesitate to Contact Us for advice.