tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35863816.post6211652261063535595..comments2024-03-14T12:20:07.845+00:00Comments on Databases For Charities: Database Options: Packages, Bespoke and Generic CRM (part 1)Ivan Wainewrighthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12680581084263166735noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-35863816.post-37832109657643434862010-08-10T10:29:23.647+01:002010-08-10T10:29:23.647+01:00I would add that even if you are a small charity a...I would add that even if you are a small charity and a very simple Access database is sufficient, there will inevitably become a time when you will grow out of your bespoke database. At which point you have a choice. Do you try to add on to it, increase its functionality or do you migrate to an out of the box package? <br /><br />Unless the changes are really small it would be unwise to continually build upon your existing solution. The reason for this is that, however well documented a bespoke solution is, and even if you are in the fortunate position that you are able to use the same programmer, it is unlikely that the program they originally wrote was designed for for such changes. This can lead to software integrity issues and more than likely a lot more errors. You can see this in commercial packages that have grown. The difference is that they have the resources to overcome these issues whereas smaller charities will not.<br /><br />So in the long run it will almost always be cheaper to buy an off the shelf product or possibly a hybrid product.David Zeidmanhttp://www.zeidman.infonoreply@blogger.com