Because the smaller, non-enterprise databases that proliferate on users’ desktops are inexpensive to create and meet a specific need, their ROI are generally high.  However, since they are often developed by users for a single purpose, they may not be able to evolve into a broader, more flexible, or multi-user system.  Usually these systems expand from ‘demand pull’ as more users want to use their functionality to improve their own productivity.  A system’s productivity may decrease and could even become counterproductive as its fundamental structure cannot support the demands of more users and/or more data.  When people complain about Access databases being ‘lightweight’ it’s often in response to a ‘homegrown’ database developed by a user but pushed beyond its original capabilities.

 An organization can continue to maximize its ROI in these non-enterprise databases by having professional Access analysts and developers ‘move’ them to the next level.  Because Access is a Rapid Application Development (RAD) tool, custom Access applications are less expensive and faster to develop than other platforms.  Experienced Access developers can create applications much faster than in-house enterprise systems staff because of the learning curve (Access has many more DBMS features than Visual Basic).  And an experienced Access developer will help you explore other ways to maximize your investment in the custom solution. 

 A savvy manager knows when it’s time to move a home-grown system to the next level.  She knows that, to protect the initial ROI in non-enterprise databases that proliferate in an organization, she needs to explore the cost and effort to convert a homegrown system into a scalable and reliable productivity system available to more people.