What is SQL Server? and in what situation do I need it for my small business?

Answer 1

SQL is a data retrieval language. It forms the foundation for most popular database systems on the market today. Microsoft's SQL Server is what replaced Microsoft Access.

Answer 2

An SQL (Structured Query Language ) server is a server that manages databases. I guess Microsoft has the best known SQL server software. Microsoft and other software vendors provide a number of software development tools designed to allow business applications to be developed using data stored by Microsoft SQL server.

Hope this helps a bit !

Answer 3

It is a database server that accepts commands in the SQL language. It is capable of holding very large databases but it doesn't really do anything on its own (i.e. that's it's main job). You'll be using it in conjunction with other programs or business applications, such as web sites, customer service, inventory, etc. that are written to speak SQL.

Answer 4

hie Zee Z,
I don't think I should tell you again what SQL Server means, those guys up there have done it very well.

If you're saying SQL Server, that means you're referring to one of Microsoft's products for Server System. It's called Server System, because you're going to need a server which you must install the main SQL Server in order to host for all of your datas.
I believe it's good to have SQL Server (not that I'm a Microsoft fans, I fancy DB2 from IBM too), because for two main reasons:
1.) It's Microsoft's product, so it'll compatible with all of other Microsoft's product such as Windows; which populate most of our PCs and laptops nowadays.
2.) Because there are so many people using Microsoft's products, there also many programs and softwares available. And you can find programmers who are fluent with Microsoft's language program (called C# and VB), so you'll have plenty of out-sourcing in your palm.

When and in what situation you're going to need a database server like SQL Server? When you're feeling that you're being overloaded with your small business' activity.
For example: you can't barely keep up of stock informations, how many sales you've made, do you need more or less stocks to order, how much money you earn and spent, etc. You felt that those activity above are just keep on coming and coming even though you're doing like always, heck you even sometimes done an overtime late at night just to finish them.
That's when you feel more burden put on your shoulder and you're loosing control of your growing small business.

Before all are too late, it's best you think of put some investment on a database server. At first it'll feel like you're spending more money and time, but the database server actually can save more of those in the future.
Plenty of traditional small business, who still uses paperworks and stand alone PCs, have the same old obstacle before they really leap into a database server: "I think I can still manage by myself to do these, save my money on spending on those expensive machines & programs...".
And one day, they realize that their competitors are getting bigger and faster than them to catch anymore; but it's too late to change because age do shrink your guts too >_< (ouch!)

So in the end, it'll take you as the owner of your own small business to make that decision. Are you ready for this?
After that, you'll need to find first a good IT resources for the programs and maintenance of the database server.

Good luck on your small business!