Managing patient data is a very important process for all practices, because if you don’t do it, you will face several problems: how will you offer after-sales service, send promotions, retain your patients? in an environment, where those who manage and analyze their patient data are 23 times more effective at acquiring new users and 6 times more able to retain them.
A company without a database will face various difficulties in accessing all the information of its users. With a database you can:
1. Quick access to information. This will improve the productivity of the customer service area.
2. Save unlimited number of data. Unlike storing physical information, in a digital database, you can gather and retrieve it quickly.
3. Multiple users can access the same information. There are many programs that save it in the cloud, so multiple users can get it at the same time, from anywhere.
4. It is easy to maintain. Database programs have easy options to clean data, add data, or remove repetitions.
5. The information is structured. All the data you enter will have the same structure, so there will be no difficulty in searching for it.
The database is so important for a company, because it allows you to store, in a dynamic and smooth way, all the information.
Many companies consider Microsoft Excel as one of the alternatives to create databases. But how good an idea is it? Here are some advantages:
- If you already have Office, you don’t have to buy a program and spend extra money.
- When you save your Excel workbook to OneDrive, multiple people can view and edit it, from different computers, at the same time.
- Excel has several tools that allow you to sort information alphabetically, by number, etc. which will make it easier to find the data you need.
It is also important to consider some disadvantages of databases in Excel:
- Creating a database in Excel can be complicated, if you don’t have knowledge of the program, there could even be errors that alter the information and make it unusable.
- The processes to manage information are not automated, that is, you have to do everything manually.
- Even if you have deep knowledge of the program, human error will always be an important factor when capturing or linking data (which you must also verify one by one). In fact, a Hawaii University study indicates that 88% of spreadsheets have errors.
Many times Excel is not the best alternative to manage our database in an agile way and with the least possible number of errors, since as our business grows, also the amount of information that we have to manage and in these cases, The recommendation is always to use a CRM program (Customer Relationships Manager) or customer management program.
This type of software allows you to manage your current customers and leads, as well as increase your sales in an easy and organized way. A CRM can create automatic reports, include notifications and import or export customer information to spreadsheets.
So a CRM will always be essential for companies that are investing in capturing leads and looking to build brand loyalty.
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