Microsoft Access
Database Modernisation

Firstly we listen. Access modernisations can be straightforward, or they can be the tip of a more complex iceberg of business requirements. There is no one-size-fits-all approach, so the first thing we do is understand what’s driving your need for change and what the situation is on the ground in your business.

Don’t worry — we have a great track record of helping businesses get the optimal solution. We will aim to keep your modernisation process as simple as possible while delivering the end result you and your business need.

We have developed a range of tools and techniques that make it straightforward to understand what your current system does and how it does it. The great news is that with the power of AI we can move you forward quickly, with minimal expense and fuss.

Understanding your current system

When we start to work with you we will talk through your system and ask for a demo to understand how it is used in your business today. We aim to capture all the key information — where it fits into your processes, which users depend on it, what locations it is accessed from, what outputs it produces and how those are used.

We will seek to understand the key drivers for moving to a new platform — timescales, preferences and any desired enhancements. At this point we will discuss different options for how your new system can be created along with the pros and cons of each.

Technical analysis

Once we’ve had that conversation we will ask for a copy of your database (all under NDA) so that we can perform some technical analysis of how it is structured and what logic it contains. This analysis combines AI-powered code understanding with human review, and gives us a very clear picture of what the replacement needs to do.

Prototype and proposal

We will then produce a basic prototype that illustrates what your new app could look like, and present this to you alongside an idea of costs and timescales. The actual cost depends on the size and complexity of your Access database — primarily the number of screens, modules, reports and tables — but with Provanta’s cutting-edge AI-powered approach you will probably be pleasantly surprised by the numbers.

Build and go-live

If you are happy to go ahead we get to work building your new replacement system, and will typically have something for you to see in just a few days. Once you are satisfied that it covers everything you need and works correctly, we will organise to move your data across and switch to live operation on the replacement system. We stay with you through the switch and beyond.

Convert Microsoft Access database to a web application

Web applications are perhaps today’s most popular form of multi-user business system. A central database and web server — usually housed on a cloud server — are accessed by users through their web browsers. The system lives in one place so maintaining, updating and managing user access is straightforward.

Access can be restricted so that only users in certain locations can log in (for example your offices), or opened up so users can log in from wherever they need to. Anything your current MS Access database can do can be replicated in a web application.

It’s worth thinking about the differences in typical behaviour between Microsoft Access applications and web applications. Access offers default record navigation and reporting behaviours that users may rely on, which can easily be missed if not considered carefully at the outset. We’ll help you identify these up-front so nothing important gets lost in translation.

There are many technical platforms we can use — React, Node.js, Python, .NET, PHP, SQL Server, PostgreSQL, SQLite, MySQL and many more. The end result is likely to be identical from your perspective, and we’ll listen to your preferences and advise on the best option for your needs.

Convert MS Access database to a Windows desktop application

Windows desktop applications are probably the closest relatives of Microsoft Access systems. They run directly on users’ Windows desktops or laptops, with the database either running locally, on a central server or on a fileshare over the network. The data location is usually dictated by whether the system serves multiple users and by your backup and security requirements.

When you run a desktop application you take on the responsibility of distributing new versions to users’ devices and of supporting multiple devices with potentially different specifications. However there can be real benefits too, including reduced server costs and full native performance.

As with web applications, we can work with a wide range of technical platforms — MAUI, .NET WinForms, WPF, WinUI, Flutter or Electron — with a similar variety of database options. Whichever route you choose, we’ll make sure you get the best possible result.

Convert MS Access database to an Apple Mac application

Microsoft Access has never run natively on the Mac, so businesses with Mac users have often had to work around that — remote desktop into a Windows PC, keeping a dedicated Windows machine just for the database, or excluding Mac users from the system altogether. None of these is a great long-term answer.

Converting to a native Mac application brings your Mac users into the fold properly, with an experience that feels at home on macOS. We can build native apps using Swift and SwiftUI for a genuine Mac feel, or use cross-platform frameworks such as .NET MAUI, Flutter or Electron where you also need a Windows (or web) version from the same codebase. The database can live locally, on a network share or on a cloud server, depending on how many users you have and how you need them to collaborate.

If your business runs a mix of Mac and Windows, a cross-platform approach is often the sweet spot — one codebase, one set of features, both platforms supported. If your team is Mac-only, a fully native Mac app will give you the tightest, most polished experience.

Convert MS Access database to a mobile application

Mobile applications take your Access system out of the office and into your users’ hands — on a phone or tablet, at the point where the work actually happens. For many businesses this is a transformational step: data capture, lookups and approvals that used to require a trip back to a PC can now happen in the warehouse, on a job site, in front of a customer, or on the move.

We build iOS and Android apps using native tooling (Swift for iOS, Kotlin for Android) where performance, offline reliability or deep device integration is critical. Where you want both platforms at lower cost we use cross-platform frameworks like React Native, Flutter or .NET MAUI to deliver both from a single codebase. The app typically connects to a central cloud database so everyone works from the same live data, and it can sit alongside a web or desktop interface for office-based users.

Mobile also unlocks capabilities your Access database simply can’t offer — camera and barcode scanning, GPS, push notifications, signature capture and offline working — which often open up new ways of operating that weren’t possible before.

Not sure which is right?

You don’t have to decide up-front. As part of our initial conversations we’ll walk through the pros and cons of each option in the context of your business, your users and your budget — and help you make a choice you’ll be happy with for years to come. In many cases the answer is a combination: a web or desktop app for office use, with a mobile companion for people in the field.