SQL for Startups – Do You Need It?

If you’ve been wondering whether to use SQL in your startup, it’s probably high time to do so.

SQL can be an amazing tool for small, fast-growing businesses. But don’t worry if you’re unfamiliar with SQL for startups. Maybe you are not sure what SQL is all about. Don’t worry; you don’t have to make any decisions this second! First, answer these questions:

• Can you think of any data related to your business – prices, clients, details about clients, production details, budget, costs, strategy, or anything else?
• Do you need to analyze any of this data?
• Do you use Excel?
• Would you like to have a tool that can help you organize your data and grow your startup?

If you’ve answered “yes” to at least one of these questions, keep reading – SQL may be able to help you.

Source: imgflip.com

SQ… What?

SQL stands for Structured Query Language. Using it, you can “talk” to your database to get the answers you and your business need. You can combine different data and see it in one place. Thanks to database technology and SQL, you can freely work with different datasets and data sources. How convenient!

For example, suppose you want to check how many of your clients 1) live in cities with more than 20,000 inhabitants and 2) use Excel on a daily basis. You know that you have that information somewhere, but you would have to spend hours going through the files. With SQL, you can query your database and get the answer right away.

If you think about it, you will quickly notice that data is everywhere; we can become overwhelmed by the amount of information. And then, think of the number of data sources that are available! Managing your own business requires you to be able to sort out the trustworthy, valuable, and relevant data from all the rest.

One of the biggest advantages of SQL is that it allows working with big databases. When a traditional Excel file is not enough, SQL comes in handy. To get an idea of what this language can do, it’s good to try an online course. Starting with the basics will give you an overview of how SQL works and why you should use it. You don’t need to have any IT background to begin; just pick a course that’s interactive and intuitive and you will quickly understand the idea behind SQL.

Source; memegenerator.net

Want a Data-Driven Company? You’ll Need SQL.

If you are still not sure why your startup needs SQL, let’s move on to a hot topic: data-driven companies. Corporations as well as small companies are increasingly aware of the importance of this subject. But why? Every company collects a lot of data. The difference is how they manage that data.

Even if your startup is still a small company or if it’s just beginning, you’ve probably already noticed how important data analysis is. Competent data management can be key to growing your business and achieving success.

In a small organization, it is easier to control the structure of data. Take advantage of this fact to get started right. Begin today, when your startup is in its development. Think about how data is circulated and processed in your organization. Then plan and implement the data structure. It will guide you and your employees on the path to becoming a data-driven startup.

For startups, SQL is equally important as for big corporations.  It’s a way to get information fast.

SQL also helps employees be more effective. Maybe some of them will become data analysts. They will be able to understand the data and find trends and insights that can help you determine which decisions to make. Sometimes through appropriate data analysis, a new and surprising solution will emerge.

Perhaps other employees will generate SQL reports. That will help everyone work more efficiently. You can get a project summary or yearly revenue report fast. SQL for business can be like a guide in a dark forest.

Thus, you should encourage your employees to learn SQL. This is the way to democratize the data in your startup. The goal of data democratization is to provide access to the data so employees can gather and analyze it without outside support. There are many interesting examples of how data democratization helped to develop companies. You can read about them in How SQL Can Help You Democratize Data in Your Company.

Which Database Should You Use?

If you decide to use SQL, you need a place where you will manage your data – a relational database. There are many databases to choose from and few that are very common.

Among the most popular and most commonly used database management systems (DBMS) are MySQL, PostgreSQL, Microsoft SQL Server, and many more. You can check current DBMS trends in Stack Overflow Survey 2021.

Learn about each of the systems and choose the one that’s right for you. Some (like PostgreSQL) are free! And don’t be afraid – installing DBMS is not much different than any other software. You can check our articles on PostgreSQL or SQL Server installation to learn more.

If you want to learn SQL but you’re not ready to commit to a database yet, learn standard SQL. It’s what all the SQL variants (called ‘dialects’) are based on. Each database uses its own dialect, but standard SQL will get you started. And you’ll still be able to use what you've learned.

Learn SQL For Startups!

A well-planned data ecosystem will last for years and help the business grow. Analyzing the data flowing into your startup allows you to make better strategic decisions and plan your next steps. So, don’t hesitate! Take your first step toward a data-driven, smart company.

The best way is to start with yourself. Try one of LearnSQL.com’s basic courses. You can easily practice online with support of the SQL community. Learning online lets you choose your own path – the timeframes, days, and methods that work for you. Whether you have no previous experience or you already started to learn, online courses are flexible and tailored to your needs. Pick the level that’s right for you.

Inspire your employees to learn SQL, too. You can start at the very beginning. As a startup, you probably recruit a lot of people. You already know that it is not an easy process. To make it more efficient, you can introduce SQL training as part of the onboarding process. It’s more efficient, cheaper and faster. Your future employee will be trained well and skilled the way you need. They can also learn how to use data in your business ecosystem right away!

Online interactive courses are more interesting than boring lectures in a classroom. Employees will get up to date knowledge, and you will be able to track the progress. This is another part of building a successful, fast-growing, data-driven company.

For your business to grow, you need to give yourself a chance to develop! So learn SQL for startups and start on the path to being data-driven.