Blogs

PSP IT is now offering custom, high-performance software development services. Their expert team can help businesses streamline processes, integrate systems, and build innovative software for growth.

Beyond Outdated Tech: Why and How to Modernise for Business Agility

Beyond Generic: Tailoring CRM for Your Unique Business Needs

Tough times demand smarter strategies. This guide reveals how modernizing legacy systems isn't just an IT upgrade, but a powerful lever for gaining competitive advantage

Legacy systems pose a major cybersecurity risk due to outdated infrastructure and vulnerabilities. With 16+ years of experience, this guide details these weaknesses and offers strategies to protect your business's data and operations.

Legacy developers are scarce as new talent focuses on modern tech. If your business relies on outdated systems (e.g., PHP 8.1, .Net 5.0, Node.js 18), safeguard them now—finding support later will be tough.

Rapid tech evolution, with tools like ChatGPT, pressures businesses. Legacy systems risk future viability. Update now to stay competitive and adaptable.

Enjoying a festive rest, PSP reflects on a landmark 15th year: record employees, customer care award, new contracts, and memorable staff moments.

Like Santa's tight ship, efficient business operations rely on well-structured data management. System integration is key to transforming inefficient processes into streamlined successes.

To boost customer experience, cut costs, and improve efficiency, your business needs the right tech. Explore COTS, out-of-the-box, bespoke, and tailor-made software solutions.

Outdated business systems frustrate managers & directors alike. Despite limited tech knowledge or resistance to change, the urge for digital transformation to replace old systems is strong. Don't feel powerless—modernising can boost efficiency&morale

Bespoke software is tailored to your business, while off-the-shelf is "one-size-fits-all" with little customization.

IT and digital infrastructure are major investments. The ONS reports UK businesses spent £1,080/employee on IT in 2022. To ensure huge returns outweigh costs, regularly review project performance, whether your IT is fully or partially outsourced.

Your old ERP, once innovative, now struggles with scaling, speed, missing features, security, integration, and high costs due to lack of updates. If facing these issues, consider upgrading for better reliability and performance.

31% of orgs use outdated 'legacy systems'—critical yet old tech. Gartner defines them as essential info systems on outdated tech. Beyond visible issues like slow performance & errors, hidden dangers exist, significantly impacting your company.

Membership CRMs automate tasks, offer member insights, & streamline communication. While off-the-shelf provides basics, customized CRMs boost member experience & efficiency. PSP develops advanced features, adding significant value for diverse teams.

As UK recession risk rises, businesses face cost-cutting pressures and potential collapse. Falling consumer demand, debt interest, and rising operating costs are key factors in a business's downfall during a financial crisis.

We're celebrating 15 years! We've enjoyed amazing projects and clients. We're also reminiscing about what was happening 15 years ago, from the first Android to politics, sports, and major films.

Physical paper and spreadsheet-based exam marking create operational hurdles. Efficient exam marking is crucial for organizations to maintain accreditation, support CPD, and provide vital member assessments.

Extracting data from old business systems is tough. Data can be in outdated formats or hard to locate, complicating migrations to new systems or leveraging historical data.

Connecting separate IT systems and databases via System Integration lets them share data, offering benefits like eliminating duplicate data entry, automating tasks, and standardizing information across your business.

Cross-team collaboration offers a shared vision, mutual respect, and efficiency, preventing duplicated work and project disruptions. Your teams might collaborate, but do your IT systems? They should, for the same benefits.

Legacy tech forms 31% of systems. Cost is the biggest barrier to upgrading, despite drawbacks.

Legacy systems make up 31% of an organization's tech, despite their many drawbacks for daily operations.

31% of IT is legacy, with 75% of manufacturers relying on it. Despite warnings, many companies aren't ready for a full modernization or replacement project due to cost or desire, a common challenge we see.

A Project Manager plans and executes projects. We believe a personal approach ensures desired outcomes. Learn how we tailor solutions for your project needs.

Do you need someone to analyse your business's situation and optimise your business model?

Robust software testing is crucial for any application, platform, or solution. Our rigorous testing identifies bugs early, saving your organization time and money.

You're looking for a software development partner and need a guide on what to consider. PSP is offering insights into what that means in 2023.

Why Custom Software? Businesses seek custom software to solve unique problems. We've helped clients manage complex exam marking (Excel), automate manual product development, and link event websites to CRMs for time savings.

Biggest CRM misconception: bespoke is costly/slow. Businesses choose off-the-shelf, then spend more time/money customizing it, ending up with a less effective, more expensive solution than a custom build.

Despite cloud growth & digital transformation, many sectors (finance, law, education, gov't) still heavily use legacy IT (31% of systems!). This drives high demand for specialized legacy IT skills to support these critical systems.

PSP treated staff & families to a corporate race day at Market Rasen. They enjoyed a 3-course meal, private suite, open bar, and transport. It's one of many staff events this year, with raffles ensuring everyone gets a chance to attend.

Performing a business cyber review is an essential process to identify potential cyber risks and vulnerabilities, and to ensure that your business’s systems and data are secure. Here are six ways someone could perform a business cyber review:

A CRM system centralizes customer data to improve service, sales, and marketing. Businesses can choose off-the-shelf or bespoke solutions tailored to their needs for better customer insights and relationship management.

The Pareto Principle (80/20 rule) says 80% of outcomes stem from 20% of causes. In software development, it aids prioritization. But misapplication, like over-focusing on development, neglects other vital stages, resulting in disappointing software.

Running unsupported legacy systems is a headache. They become unreliable, costly to maintain, and finding developers familiar with outdated code is tough. This impacts directors and staff, causing headaches with outdated technology.

Still using spreadsheets? Many businesses face manual updates, errors, and wasted time managing accounting, payroll, and more via countless sheets. Though easy, they hinder automation, cause headaches, and ultimately hold your business back

PSP is a proud MemberWise recognised supplier for two years. Their Digital Excellence 2022 report, from 100+ manager/director insights, examined digital transformation in the membership sector, pinpointing successes and areas for improvement.

eCommerce is booming! With 95% of 2040 purchases expected online, a robust CMS is crucial. It'll help you meet demand, outrank competitors, and easily manage your store from anywhere in this thriving market.

Is your business held back by unsupported/unagile tech? Tired of "legacy" excuses for no modernization, or worries about new system disruption/ROI? Outdated tech stifles growth, demotivates staff, hinders adaptability, and causes IT overspending.

COVID-19 gravely impacted exam distribution and marking, causing stress and delays. UK tiers mean continued education disruption. Microsoft's CEO noted providers saw "2 years of digital transformation in 2 months" during the first lockdown.

Many companies stick with legacy systems & OS because they seem to work, or upgrades appear too costly. There's often a belief that replacement will be easy later. This common approach can lead to unforeseen issues down the line.

Outlook CheckIN's new promo video is here! Filmed by Wallbreaker in Lincoln, this 1-min clip shows a remote worker easily "checking-in." It's non-intrusive and benefits both staff and managers. Watch it now!

SMEs face 65,000 daily hack attempts, with 4,500 successful breaches. That's 1 in 3 UK small businesses hacked annually, or one every 19 seconds! Hiscox (2018) reported this, and threats rose 20% by 2020, likely due to remote work.

Manual vs. Automated Testing: What's the difference? Our blog breaks down these two main types of application testing to help you optimize project costs and time by choosing the best method for your needs.

Supply chains, hesitant before 2020, were forced into digital transformation by COVID-19. This boosted automation and agility. As Mary Long stated, businesses embraced technology to reduce "touches" in their systems and advance during the pandemic.

Five online marking trends your organisation NEEDS to follow

UI is what users see. UX, coined by Don Norman, is the total user experience with a product/service/company. Often confused, understanding UI/UX is key as UI's focus grows to boost customer experience & conversion.

Online exam marking streamlines paper distribution and tracking for qualification bodies. Yet, some software has limited functions. Can your on-screen marking tool generate custom reports for analysis quickly?

Studies show nearly 90% of spreadsheets have errors, mostly human-made and avoidable. Even "thorough" Excel sheets contain significant mistakes, from incorrect data/formulas to opening the wrong file, highlighting the need for better programs.

Outdated CRM/ERPs cause data breaches, poor CX, and divided departments. To digitally transform and grow, businesses need to adapt to customer needs, cut costs, and secure data. Here are 4 steps for a seamless migration, helping you avoid old tech.

Awarding bodies, it's time to drop spreadsheets for exam tracking! They might seem easy, but they lead to long-term issues: they're manual, insecure, and prone to human error, risking lost papers and candidate data. Upgrade your system now!

Worried staff miss SLAs with no tracking? Manual spreadsheets waste time. Outlook Email Tracker, built by CEOs for CEOs, auto-tracks email response times and productivity on a real-time dashboard. Get instant oversight without interrupting workflow.

Hacked OS, stolen data, lost control – a nightmare, right? Sadly, it's today's top threat. 20 billion data breaches occurred in 2020, yet only 5% of company folders are protected. All organizations must act now.

Legacy tech gets obsolete. Like your computer needing updates for speed and features, organizations must regularly update systems. This ensures smooth operation, security, and compatibility with current tech, avoiding constant replacements.

Running your organization on an outdated computer system? You're risking your business daily. Using old computers and legacy software poses major risks.

A reporting system gives essential business information, improving processes. VISION CRM generates real-time reports on a dashboard with interactive graphs and charts.

Are you running a legacy system, using devices from before 2010, or is your CRM slow and inefficient? If any of these apply to your business, it's time for an upgrade.

Desk a disaster? Next Monday is National Clean Your Desk Day, perfect for a fresh start! A messy desk invites chaos; a clean one boosts focus and productivity. Even working from home, give your office the spring clean it deserves.

Christmas party season (virtual edition) is here! Zoom's the go-to for celebrations. Deck the halls with festive virtual backgrounds! Need to know how to set one up?

The pandemic highlighted Excel's limits in data recording. The education sector learned lessons in secure data, finance, and staff efficiency. Businesses with outdated systems often have manual processes and poor team collaboration.

38% of UK workers were remote in June 2020. Despite a dip, remote work will continue into next year due to the tier system and evolving business strategies. 2020 challenged employers and staff new to remote work.

Rapid tech forces educators to adapt. Decision-makers struggle with new vs. old tech choices. Candidates expect modern tools; 91% abandon outdated companies. Institutes must evolve or risk losing students.

McAfee reports cybercrime losses & security spending will hit $1 trillion in 2020, a 50% increase since 2018. Regular cyberattacks cause massive global financial damage, covering both direct losses and defence expenditures.

A 2018 study shows 89% of UK IT leaders keep legacy systems for data access, despite 87% recognizing security risks & 93% noting resource drain hindering digital transformation. These outdated systems pose significant challenges.

Aim for one email to fix a customer issue. Do you track your customer service responses? First Contact Resolution (FCR) is key: solving queries on first contact. Failing FCR means poor service, costing UK businesses £37 billion annually.

15 million daily users now rely on Microsoft Teams, with 1,300+ people connecting every second! Despite its power for remote work and productivity features, many businesses underutilize this corporate chat service.

Bespoke software is custom-built to client specs, fully customizable, and integrates seamlessly for automated operations. Unlike off-the-shelf apps, it's virtually limitless, designed to meet a business's evolving needs.

eLearning's impact is undeniable. 90% of corps now use it (vs. 4% in '95), boosting revenue per employee by 218%. IBM & Shell saved $200M+. It improves productivity, revenue, and engagement, with 900% industry growth since 2000.

This blog analyses customer service response times: customer expectations vs. actual business speeds. We'll explore how timely replies impact customer experience and identify areas for businesses to optimise performance.

Student demands are growing. Technology is key for the best student experience, from inquiry to graduation. 2020 saw a huge rise in online learning as awarding bodies embraced tech to maintain high student experience despite challenging circumstances

Consumer phone contact is shrinking. By 2021, over a third of interactions will be via email, social, and chat, making omnichannel service vital. Gartner warns more channels increase complexity & cost, averaging $8.01 per live resolution.

10 Ingenious E-Learning Marketing Strategies The shift to online learning is here. Need to market your e-learning courses effectively? Discover 10 ingenious strategies to attract and enrol more students!

The Future of Work: Hybrid & Remote Remote work is here to stay! A survey of 1,000 firms shows 74% plan to continue increased home working, with over half reducing office space. 44% of those already cutting workplace use find WFH more effective.

PSP-IT's Outlook Email Tracker is gaining global interest from major enterprises. This software monitors customer service email performance, providing insights into response promptness and root causes to boost communication efficiency.

EdTech Cyber Risk PWC warns: EdTech's tech reluctance causes cyber threats, costs, & downtime. Despite 81% of CEOs foreseeing tech changes, education leaders delay crucial digital updates, accelerating disruption.

Software Bolt-Ons Bolt-on modules add supplementary features (CRM, SCM) to core systems. Perfect for those avoiding a full overhaul of outdated legacy software, they provide customization and enhanced functionality.

For over a decade, PSP has provided innovative IT solutions to top UK educators. Our VISION CRM/MIS centralizes data, integrating quality, project, and finance management to boost efficiency and automate processes.

Sticking with a legacy system? Don't replace it! An automated central interface can integrate your functions, modernizing your IT, boosting productivity, and letting you sweat your assets without a full overhaul.

With 35+ years experience, our business analysts offer specialist IT solutions to education and awarding bodies. We combine strong IT skills and deep sector knowledge for reliable, effective solutions that enhance operations and user experience.

PSP offers senior IT management support to major UK awarding bodies, blending software expertise with deep education sector knowledge. We partner with professional bodies, integrating our IT management to optimize their IT functions.

A successful eCommerce site needs a great user experience, not just looks. Easy navigation and a pleasant feel boost conversions & brand reputation. New customers judge your reliability by site quality; typos or bugs send them to click the X button.

From humble beginnings 13 years ago, we've grown into a strong team of IT professionals. Our vast expertise in IT support and development, covering all major frameworks, means clients get one point of contact for all their needs.

UK businesses heavily outsource IT (34%), a YouGov poll shows. This trend, driven by high in-house tech costs and staffing gaps, makes managed IT services a budget-friendly, high-performance solution for tech needs.

With mobile traffic consistently surpassing desktop, optimising your website for mobile devices is crucial to meet the substantial rise in internet traffic over the last two decades.

Most UK businesses risk financial loss, customer damage, & closure without a disaster recovery plan. A robust strategy is crucial for protection & rapid recovery after any significant incident.

COVID-19 underscored digital transformation's urgency. Evaluate your legacy system now: outdated tech risks security issues, incompatibility, and negative perception. Replacing or updating is crucial for your business.

A recent survey indicates that 85% of decision-makers believe they have just two years to integrate digital processes before lagging behind competitors. Consequently, digital transformation is now a top business priority.

Need an efficient, cost-effective, automated e-marking process? eMark is a smart online assessment tool that manages exam grading, offering automatic paper distribution, real-time dashboards, and customizable reports.

Since 2008, PSP's growth has necessitated robust and resilient systems. Recent accelerated expansion and new hires prompted an infrastructure overhaul to support increased capacity, with enhancements specifically designed for business continuity.

Beyond profitability, PSP is committed to social responsibility. We proudly support four charities year-round, contributing through both regular donations and active fundraising initiatives.

PSP, founded in 2008, tackles IT system integration issues. We collaborate closely with clients, offering fixed-price, on-time delivery of tailored, high-quality IT solutions that truly integrate people, systems, and processes.

We deliver complex, successful e-commerce stores. Unlike many, we provide exceptional added value that benefits both our clients and their customers, setting us apart in web design and development.

Company blogs offer many benefits. This post focuses on crafting SEO-friendly blog posts with the sole aim of enhancing search engine optimization, helping you get found online.

PSP-IT's Vision Data Warehouse centralizes everything: CRM, finance, project, task, and HR management, plus QMS. It keeps all info in one place, instantly logging every contact detail.

Vision CRM/MIS is a flexible, customizable data warehouse beyond traditional systems. It's a robust platform for project, task, finance management, & QMS. Even our Outlook Email Tracker leverages its power.

Amid economic uncertainty, many organizations retain legacy software for critical operations, delaying new platforms. Outdated systems, even in finance, remain vital for daily functions like transfers, proving their continued relevance.

Cyber-attacks are a top CEO concern (4th most likely), yet most UK businesses aren't prepared. Can your IT infrastructure adequately protect you? Failing to take precautions puts your organisation at significant risk.

Employees are overwhelmed by constant work emails, leading to burnout and health issues. Two-thirds check emails off-hours, unable to disconnect. Do you know if your team is affected?

British Chamber of Commerce Awards Finalist Time flies! After winning Regional Small Business of the Year for the second time in 2018, we're excited and preparing for the national final this Thursday evening at Tobacco Dock, London. Wish us luck!

Your employees spend a shocking amount of time on email! On average, each employee spends 4.1 hours daily, 20.5 hours weekly, and 1,000 hours annually just checking work emails. Are you aware of the true cost this has on your business?

South Holland Business Awards-Today is the Day!

Halloween at PSP.

The Macmillan Coffee Morning is an annual fundraising event for Macmillan Cancer Support, where people across the UK host gatherings over coffee and cake to raise money for individuals living with cancer.Macmillan Coffee Morning.

Cut Email Time, Boost Productivity Workers spend a third of their day on email, confirmed by Carleton University (2017). Our Outlook Email Tracker dramatically cuts that figure, boosting your team's productivity.

Umbraco is a free and open-source Content Management System (CMS) built on Microsoft's .NET framework. Known as "The Friendly CMS," it's highly flexible, scalable, and customizable

The #GoDigital Conference 2018 in Lincoln featured a fascinating session on how local Lincolnshire businesses use apps in their daily work. We'll be highlighting some key examples.

PSP-IT recently participated in #GoDigital conference hosted by Business Lincolnshire at the University of Lincoln.

A Holbeach Academy student completed a week's work experience, observing company operations, communication, and project development. At week's end, he shared his learnings.

Bespoke software snags cost time, productivity, and customers. Avoid this by planning software testing before Go Live. At PSP-IT, our dedicated customer service team, separate from development, handles all project testing and management.

How do you value your brand and website? Is your site a true "shopfront" reflecting your quality, or just an online presence? Ensure it showcases the excellence of your work, service, or product to prospective clients.

Targeted marketing, when supported by meticulously prepared company data, enables precise message delivery to specific markets, maximizing value.

Excel 2013 Chart Mastery Excel 2013 makes creating compelling charts intuitive. This guide offers a concise overview of using the Chart Wizard for effective data visualization.

Effectively managing your brand involves selecting marketing vehicles that align with your brand's value and ensure consistent message delivery, boosting awareness.

Excellent customer service, especially active listening, builds trust. Understanding client needs, rather than assuming, ensures you offer the best solutions, not just what you want to sell. This approach benefits everyone involved.

How often do you refresh your website copy? It's not a one-time thing! For top SEO and engagement, regular updates are key. This could mean minor weekly tweaks, quarterly re-writes, or annual overhauls, depending on your business goals.

ISNULL: Fills blanks with ONE backup. COALESCE: Fills blanks, trying a list of backups until it finds one. COALESCE is more flexible and works everywhere.

Google Search Console is a free tool for website owners to monitor their site's performance in Google Search. It helps track visibility, fix errors, submit sitemaps, and understand how users find your content. It's vital for SEO.

DevExpress is a company that provides a comprehensive suite of software development tools and components for .NET and Visual Studio developers.

jQuery Form Validator simplifies client-side form validation. It provides many built-in rules (like email, required), is easy to customize, and helps display error messages to users, making forms more user-friendly.

PSP's customer service stands out! Our team prides itself on delivering exceptional support to all clients, new and existing, handling every interaction with a helpful attitude and a smile.

DevExpress XAF is a .NET framework for rapidly building cross-platform (Windows, Web, Blazor) business apps. It uses a model-driven approach to generate UI, with built-in modules for security and reporting, speeding up development.

Jing (now TechSmith Capture) was a free, lightweight screen capture tool. It let users quickly take screenshots or 5-min videos, add annotations, and share online. Ideal for quick visual communication.

DevExpress Dashboards let you create interactive, data-rich dashboards for desktop, web, and mobile. They offer diverse widgets (charts, grids), self-service design, and analysis features for powerful business intelligence.

In today's fast-paced digital world, proofreading is often skipped, leading to errors. A typo on your website is just as unprofessional as one on a shop sign – it impacts your image!

DevExpress XtraReports is a .NET library for pixel-perfect, data-aware reports across WinForms, ASP.NET, & WPF. It features an intuitive designer, rich data shaping (grouping, sorting), and export options, simplifying complex report generation.

Technology now deeply intertwines with love. Dating apps spark connections, video calls bridge distances, and social media shares affection. It reshapes how we meet, connect, and express bonds, offering new ways to nurture relationships.

Protecting Word docs involves controlling access/edits. Methods include password encryption (for opening), restricting editing (e.g., comments only), or making it read-only. Digital signatures add authenticity.

Word's quirks make editing a chore. Its Styles feature can help you create professional, "good looking" documents, streamlining your day-to-day.

Do you have an important document that needs a tweak to the pre-set/used style and want to achieve this without having to go through the entire document and update it manually?

Are you bored of Standard Styles? Could you use some simple formatting tips to improve your documents?

Less & Sass are CSS pre-processors, what that means is that they add features to CSS such as the ability to add variables and functions, among other handy features.

HTML5 adds semantic tags like <header>, <nav>, <main>, <article>, <section>, <aside>, <footer>. These structure content logically, improving accessibility and SEO by defining page areas.

Legend of Grimrock (LoG) revives classic dungeon crawler memories (Dungeon Master-style). It brings back grid movement, real-time combat, puzzles, and exploration, offering veteran gamers a nostalgic, fresh challenge.

Are there just some people out there that are born to manage projects, or can we learn the tricks of the trade? Come on, we can all learn something if we want to, right?

Microsoft SQL Server is an RDBMS for storing/retrieving data. It powers transaction processing, BI, and analytics apps in corporate IT. It uses T-SQL, an SQL extension.

So, if you read the previous post in this series, by now you should be whizzing around Windows 10 like a cat chasing a laser pen.

PHP functions are reusable blocks of code that perform specific tasks. They are fundamental for writing clean, efficient, and modular applications.

ExpressionEngine updates involve a multi-step process, crucial for security and new features. This typically includes backing up files and the database, replacing core EE files, copying over config and add-on files

ExpressionEngine updates are multi-step: backup files & DB, replace core files, copy config/add-ons, then run the wizard (CP/CLI). Vital for security/features. Test locally first.

HTML5 brought new <input> types: email, url, tel, number, range, date, time, color, month, week, search. They enhance forms with native UI, built-in validation, and improve UX, reducing JavaScript needs.

SQL Server 2014 backups are vital for recovery. Use SSMS/T-SQL for Full, Differential, or Transaction Log backups. Schedule regularly, store off-site, and test restores. Recovery models dictate options for data safety.

DevExpress XtraReports can be filtered via script. Set the FilterString property in DataSourceDemanded or BeforePrint events. This enables dynamic data selection using parameters or custom logic, often optimising data retrieval at the sourc.

"Responsive websites are crucial: they adapt layouts to various screen sizes (desktop, tablet, mobile), ensuring optimal user experience & accessibility.

Life online: an evolving digital realm. From early chats to today's vast platforms, it constantly reshapes how we connect, learn, work, and express, blurring the lines between our real and virtual selves.

PowerShell excels at file management. You can copy files and delete files.

Ah, the pre-mouse era! I recall when computers were rare, alien typewriters. Mice were for tech enthusiasts or ignored, perhaps paperweights in drafty, non-AC offices. What a shift it's been!

Following on from the first post in this series, we shall look at, in my opinion, the nicest of all shortcut keys - Windows 8 shortcut key.

DevExpress XAF lets you set default values and initialization logic for new objects. Use IXafEntityObject.OnCreated() or PersistentBase.AfterConstruction() to auto-populate properties, even linking to existing objects, streamlining admin tasks.

MVC separates app logic into three parts: Model (data/rules), View (UI), and Controller (input/orchestration). This makes applications modular, maintainable, and scalable by clearly separating concerns.

If you don’t look after your customers, someone else will! Customer Care never ends, it is paramount to give outstanding service to your customers. 

The 4 P`s of Customer Service are Promptness, Politeness, Professionalism and Personalisation

SQL Server CRUD tips focus on optimizing INSERT, SELECT, UPDATE, DELETE operations. Ensure efficient queries, proper indexing, data integrity, and secure practices for robust database management.

Expectations are shaped by previous experiences which may have been good or bad and it is these past experiences that form the basis of the perception of Customer Service an individual has. 

The saying "Never make the same mistake twice" is a common piece of advice that emphasises the importance of learning from your errors.

Indexes are crucial for fast data retrieval from tables. Nearly every table utilizes an index—be it a regular index, primary key, or foreign key—to quickly locate the data you need.

As a Customer Service manager I pride myself on ensuring that the experience of dealing with our company for our customers is professional, enjoyable and above all efficient.

VISION is PSP’s very own off-the-shelf Customer Relationship Management System (CRM), designed and built to enable businesses to display, process, manipulate, and control all of your business information in one place.  

SQL databases store structured data in tables (rows/columns). They use SQL for efficient management and querying, ensuring data integrity (ACID). Widely used for apps needing reliable, consistent data.

SQL Server table and column tips focus on efficient design: choose correct data types, use indexes wisely for performance, enforce data integrity with constraints (PK, FK, CHECK), and follow consistent naming for clarity.

SQL Server manages security via a structured hierarchy, configurable at both server and database levels.

Efficient online helpdesk management is crucial. Meeting Service Level Agreements (SLAs) is paramount for customer satisfaction, demonstrating timely, effective support, and ensuring operational excellence.

XML (eXtensible Markup Language) is a markup language and file format for storing, transmitting, and reconstructing arbitrary data. It defines a set of rules for encoding documents in a format that is both human-readable & machine-readable. Part Four

SQL Server as a managed service (e.g., Azure SQL DB) offloads infrastructure, patching, and backups. Focus on data/apps, gaining scalability and high availability.

An External Quality Audit is how your Quality Awarding Body examines the quality management system that has been put in place within your company, and is a key element to the ISO standard.

IT/Web project success relies on a structured flow: Specification (what to build), Development (building it), Testing (verifying it), continuous Quality, and managing Expectations for smooth delivery.

"Data Warehousing – The SME Legacy" refers to how Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) often face unique challenges in data warehousing

A good case study tells a compelling story of a problem, a solution, and the positive results achieved.

XML (eXtensible Markup Language) is a markup language and file format for storing, transmitting, and reconstructing arbitrary data. It defines a set of rules for encoding documents in a format that is both human-readable & machine-readable Part Three

XML (eXtensible Markup Language) is a markup language and file format for storing, transmitting, and reconstructing arbitrary data. It defines a set of rules for encoding documents in a format that is both human-readable & machine-readable.Part two.

SQL Profiler captures and displays database events, including executed SQL commands. To retrieve them:

XML (eXtensible Markup Language) is a markup language and file format for storing, transmitting, and reconstructing arbitrary data. It defines a set of rules for encoding documents in a format that is both human-readable & machine-readable. Part One

Optimizing website images involves reducing file sizes for faster loading without sacrificing quality.

There's only one master settings record for an app. Users can find and change it instantly without searching.

In Sharepoint, I had trouble creating views as they can be created in different ways. Here are some generic examples which I arrived at through trial and error. Note that the field internal name and field title name are used to set up these views.

Imagine a secret box (your app pool). This trick lets you peek inside that box and see the username and password it uses, sometimes even in plain sight! You use a special command (appcmd) to do it.