How to Win a Database Optimization Contract from a Fortune 500 Company

At the Farber Consulting Group, we provide various custom software solutions, including database optimization, remote DBA work, warehouse management ERP software, web scraping, MS Access Cloud enablement, and more.

A multi-billion-dollar Fortune 500 company just signed us up to perform database optimization for one of their main applications.

We were up against five other firms.

The manager who conducted the interview knew his stuff. He had been a DBA for over 30 years.

He was very candid about why he chose FCG. It gave us some valuable insights into how large enterprises choose their software teams:

1.  Be clear on what’s possible:

Our client told us, 

"You had an amazing knowledge of database optimization. Many of your solutions were no-brainer simple; some were complex, but you convinced us you could manage them. When it came to some things nobody could know off the top of their head; you didn’t try to bluff. You said you needed clarification on precisely what we needed and time to formulate the right solution."

It’s essential to be very clear about expectations. When you cannot do something, it’s necessary to be honest about the timetable you have to:

a.  Understand the project and ask thorough questions so your client is confident you have everything you need to know to proceed.

b.  Formulate a strategy to determine what needs to be done and how to do it efficiently.

c.  Execute it successfully within a reasonable deadline the client is satisfied with.

2.  Their Deadline was for a Final Version:

 For software development, deadlines are often touted as starting points. It’s when you are supposed to see something but not necessarily the finished version.

It’s essential to set a deadline for the final product. You have to be on the same page as your client regarding what is expected when the project is due.

3.  99.999% High Availability:

Then came subsequent questions. There were a lot. We continued our open-door policy, always making ourselves available via face-to-face remote meetings, email, and live chat. When they had a question, we made sure to give a clear answer right away.

For developers, it’s hard to stop coding when you are in the zone. If the phone rings or the chat app flashes a message from a client that needs an immediate response, the knee-jerk reaction is to finish what you are doing and then reply.

We prioritized our clients, even at the cost of a break in concentration. They appreciated the ongoing gesture.

4.  An Informative Website:

Our company is a one-stop shop for custom software. Some of our clients hire us for database optimization and Remote DBA Services. Others want their MS Access databases turned into web applications and put into the cloud. We also have ERP Solutions that take Inventory Management to the next level.

When we connect our web scrapers to inventory software, enabling our clients to choose between several suppliers and find the best deal in real time, they are thrilled to flatten their supply chain costs in the face of inflation.

We work very hard to make our website easy to navigate so you know how we can create, update, and optimize your software applications and digital infrastructure.

It made this client very happy to know that the information he needed was right at his fingertips.

5. Deliver on what You Promise:

Database optimization is like a trip to the dentist. The longer you wait between visits, the more work there is. Fortunately, in the case of improving performance for your data layer , the process is painless.

Most companies will opt for database optimization as performance degrades. When a company invests in state-of-the-art hardware, it takes a lot of problems to slow down the database to the point that you need optimization.

That’s an opportunity for everyone. The database usually has many parts that were optimal years ago but can be caught up pretty quickly.

We were able to find a lot of areas for improvement. As a result, our client was able to ramp up his performance significantly.

He was so happy with the work he plans to use us again.

Saving your business time and money constantly as a remote DBA, providing database optimization to your systems, or with a Real-Time Inventory Management System customized to your business is what we specialize in. I am happy to talk with you about it at your convenience, so please give us a call.