Database for the People

IKEA revolutionised the way we think about furniture.

Today, if your problem is: “where do I store my stuff?” all you need is a flat pack, your car, an allen key, and an instruction booklet.

Before IKEA you needed lots of time and money, or you had to make do with second-hand furniture and boxes.

Databases are a bit like furniture for data: places where people can store and share their ‘stuff’.

Like furniture, we need databases to keep things organised. Unlike furniture, databases are still the preserve of experts: sysadmins, DBAs, programmers… And bringing in a team of experts takes too much time and too much money.

So… how do people make do? In most organisations, they use spreadsheets as the glue to fill all of the data management gaps.

Though great and ultra-flexible for individuals use, shared spreadsheets can quickly turn into a nightmare.

Let’s compare what it takes to go from a spreadsheet → a ‘proper system’ versus replacing a box → a chest of drawers. When the database craftspeople take over, they need to take care of a number of things, such as:

	System	Chest of Drawers
1	Data model definition	Blueprint drawings & cabinet-making tools
2	Login & authentication	Locks & keys
3	Role-based access to subsets of data	Personal keys for people’s own drawers and a master key
4	Interfaces for reading, editing, approving, importing, & exporting data	Veneer, polish, & smooth drawer runners
5	Auditable change logs	Notebook with inventory and list of items added / removed
6	Hardware and hosting, including security, contingency, & disaster recovery	Fixing chest of drawers to wall, having a spare available if needed

With IKEA so long as you have the room, anything you want comes in a choice of flat packs – a solution for the real-world. Surely it is not too far-fetched to imagine an equivalent solution for databases in the digital world. This was our thinking when we created LiveDataset.

With LiveDataset, you can deliver a ‘proper system’ independently, quickly, and cost-effectively.

LiveDataset makes it easy for you every step of the way. And if you want our team can help you as much as you want.

Let’s look at each of the items in our shortlist.

1. Data model definition

Whether it’s budgets and forecasts, regulatory checklists, operational data, skills inventories… you need some structure
In LiveDataset data is organized into datasets that look like a grid of data, where you make 2 configuration changes
1. For each column, enter a name and select what type of data belongs there (text, dates, numbers, formulae, or file attachments)
2. Select relationships between datasets e.g. the “project” column in a milestones dataset is a link to the projects dataset
If you already have the data in structured spreadsheets, LiveDataset can import and create the datasets for you.

2. Login & authentication

It’s just there. One less thing to worry about.

3. Role-based access to subsets of data

LiveDataset allows you to create ‘views’ of the data so you can invite people to work with different subsets of the same dataset.
You can easily configure views to control what data people can access and what they can do with it.

4. Interfaces

for reading, editing, approving, importing, & exporting data

LiveDataset instantly comes to life. As soon as you have defined your datasets and views, they’re ready to use through a familiar, spreadsheet-like user experience.

5. Change Logs

Whenever anyone changes any data, it is logged.
You can see the history of updates for a particular record, and even answer questions like “what changes did Jane make from 1-3pm last tuesday across all datasets”.

6. Hardware and hosting

including security, contingency, and disaster recovery

LiveDataset is a cloud service, certified under the stringent ISO-27001 Information Security standard.

A true database for the people. With all of technical hurdles taken care of – collecting, storing and sharing data is a problem solved. LiveDataset is a simple solution that saves tons of time and effort.

This not only means lower costs, but better use of time and greater productivity.

Lower costs
Better use of your time
Greater productivity
Independence – the freedom to build systems yourself without needing a team of experts

LiveDataset: revolutionise the way YOU think about databases