As one of the most popular database solutions in the world, MySQL is used by numerous organizations and businesses. From its humble beginnings as an open-source project, the popularity of the platform has grown to make it a major player in the field of SQL databases. It is being employed as the solution to a wide range of problems that demand the use of a robust SQL database. In this post, we are going to take a look at some specific situations where MySQL has been instrumental in addressing specific business problems.
The organizations that chose MySQL as their solution did so for a variety of reasons. In some cases, the impetus was compatibility with the enterprise’s installed legacy infrastructure. The open-source nature of MySQL makes it attractive from a financial perspective and enables unlimited customization if that is desired. Sometimes the choice has been made simply based on the track record of reliability and functionality of MySQL. Here are some representative examples of MySQL in action.
The European Organization for Nuclear Research (CERN)
CERN enjoys a reputation as one of the world’s most prestigious and cutting-edge research centers. It is a joint European project that is housed near Geneva and currently has 20 member states. The focus of their research is on the origin of the universe and the study of the fundamental particles of matter.
The research organization needed a way to provide improved support to its scientists while allowing them to be self-reliant. There was also a desire to minimize the cost and complexity of the solution for an IT department that was challenged with supporting a growing number of MySQL instances.
CERN’s scientists are now enjoying a MySQL Database-as-a-Service solution that is hosted in the cloud and provides a self-service approach to database management. Tools are included to enable the scientists to perform many management tasks themselves, with the IT department handling basic administrative tasks such as backing up the systems.
Extenda
Extenda is the leading provider of retail solutions in the Nordic market. The company is headquartered in Sweden and its products are used in more than 27 countries. They specialize in customizable and flexible Point of Sale (POS) and self-checkout options that are employed in the fashion, grocery, and other retail markets. Their products allow retailers to quickly address fluctuations in supply and demand to improve service to their customers.
The company considered several other database options before deciding on MySQL. Customer agility in the final product was of great importance, and they had a number of requirements that needed to be met. They included the need to supply multi-platform support and the ability to perform hot, online backups. The solution also needed to be easy to install and configure as well as having a small footprint.
The results more than satisfied Extenda’s requirements and provided substantial additional benefits. Production costs were lowered by using the open-source database platform. The APIs available in MySQL enabled many administrative tasks to be automated, making the end product easier for customers to use and lowering demands on Extenda’s customer service staff. Customer satisfaction has increased with a lower-cost product that delivers enhanced functionality.
SWP-irma
SWP-irma is a leader in providing ERP and PPS solutions for manufacturing companies in the plastics industry. The company is based in Stuttgart, Germany, and its flagship product AlfaPlus is widely used by manufacturers supplying parts for the automotive and medical supply sectors. The planning tool helps small and large enterprises reduce downtime and improve production efficiency.
The goal was to develop a solution that provided the ability to manage the entire production process from material sourcing to customer delivery. It also needed to be flexible enough to dynamically adjust production schedules as well as being cost-effective for end-users. Customers did not want the extra expense of specialized IT personnel to manage the tool.
MySQL was chosen as the database solution due to its proven reliability and stability which was necessary for managing mission-critical manufacturing data and processes. SWP-irma used MySQL to develop a low-cost solution that requires minimal administration. The scalable solution can be used by large and small manufacturers to provide more effective operations.
These are just a few examples out of the many times that MySQL has been used to provide specialized solutions in business and industry. What they all have in common is that during development, these corporations needed to manage multiple MySQL instances as they refined and tested their software products.
Managing MySQL Instances
SQLyog offers an easy-to-use MySQL GUI that helps your DBAs be more productive in many ways. It’s the perfect tool for organizations working with MySQL whether for internal systems or in the development of commercial solutions. SQLyog has a rich feature set that includes the ability to schedule backups, import and export data, and perform user management functions.
Pairing MySQL with SQLyog results in a powerful combination of a versatile database solution and the right tool to manage it. If you currently use MySQL or plan on using it in the future, you need to check out SQLyog to see how it will help your database team every day. Your DBAs will thank you for making their lives easier and the company will benefit from the gains in productivity that the application provides.