Vital Tasks That You Can Improve and Streamline with SQL Training

Business intelligence (BI) and database management is increasingly becoming an operational skillset, not a specialist skillset that sits in the IT department for many companies. As a result companies are increasingly seeking to fill managerial positions with prospects who are knowledgeable in database management. In general this means people that have a working knowledge of SQL (‘Structured Query Language’).

Despite its intimidating name, SQL is actually one of the more beginner-friendly programming languages that you can learn.  This is why knowing it can help you do a lot of important tasks, land a job, and impress your new bosses. Here are just 3 vital tasks that are made much easier with the right SQL training:

Data Analysis

Knowing how to work with SQL and compatible database applications is easier than having to pore through different or oversized Excel files. Compared to how data in spreadsheet tools are programmed, SQL offers more functions that will allow you to analyze data in a more consistent and replicable manner. Errors and discrepancies are also much easier to spot, minimizing the risks of simple formula errors that lead to incorrect conclusions.

Indeed, having a working knowledge of SQL allows users to easily combine multiple sets of data through plenty of useful statements. This involves the use of different extract, transform, and load (ETL) tasks that Excel just can’t do. But by simply converting your Excel file into Microsoft Access or any other SQL-compatible database program, you’ll find it a breeze to combine, summarize, and analyze data. By extension, this also makes it easier to finish up on reports that will enable you or your superiors to make important decisions for your business.

Database Administration

As companies grow bigger and bigger, they collect more and more data, bringing up the demand for dedicated database administrators. As a matter of fact, in the U.S. alone, the Bureau of Labor Statistics expects the demand to grow by 11% by 2024—faster than the average job.

Thankfully, database administration is another task where you’ll find that SQL can give you a leg up over the competition. Just some of the crucial functions that can help you out include data modeling, merging old databases with new ones, backing up and restoring data, and securing sensitive organizational data.

Though the responsibilities may seem heavy, database administrators are also handsomely paid to the tune of between £35,000 and £65,000 annually in the U.K. With a line of work this rewarding, it might just be worth it to go through a specialized course on SQL and Access to make sure you learn it properly.

Web Maintenance and Development

You can’t deny SQL’s massive potential in database management. So don’t be surprised that it can help with one of the most work-intensive and time-consuming fields of work: web development.

Particularly, this applies to the backend aspect of development, which is responsible for making websites and web application as fast and efficient as possible. Because of the amount of information these things tend to store, the database is a highly crucial part of all these web applications. Just some of the included data in this application include those of users, comments, posts, and other content.

Here, SQL happens to be a highly important language that can help a backend developer with website maintenance. When you’re working on an online shopping site, as an example, functions like union queries and select statements in Microsoft Access can make it easier to reliably sort through members and suppliers.

SQL is a highly versatile yet easy-to-learn programming language that can help boost your career prospects or help you run your business. After all, most relational database management systems use SQL as their standard database language. This includes programs like MySQL, MS Access, SQL Server, Oracle, and many others. It doesn’t matter if you decide to read up online on your own or seek the help of a professional. Even basic SQL knowledge is a must-have for managing today’s fast-paced data-driven businesses.