Replace Spreadsheets & Access Databases with a Web App
Move the spreadsheet or Microsoft Access database your business depends on into a secure web application that the whole team can use at once, from any device, with your data migrated and checked.
When the spreadsheet has become the system
Spreadsheets and Access databases are how many good processes start: quotes, job tracking, stock, production plans, client records. Years later the same file runs a core part of the business. It is shared by email, only one person understands the formulas, two people cannot edit it at once, and nobody is sure which copy is current.
Replacing it does not mean throwing away what works. We keep the logic and the data, and put them in a proper web application with logins, permissions, validation, history and reports, so the process survives staff changes and growth.
Signs it is time
- Several versions of the same file are in circulation.
- Only one person can safely change the formulas or macros.
- Data is copied from the sheet into other systems by hand.
- People wait for each other to close the file.
- There is no record of who changed what.
- The Access database only runs on one old PC or Office version.
What you get instead
A multi-user web app
Everyone works on the same live data from a browser, at the same time, on any device.
Rules the system enforces
Required fields, dropdowns and validation replace the honour system, so bad data stops at entry.
Permissions and history
Each role sees and edits only what it should, and every change is logged.
Reports and dashboards
The reports you rebuild by hand each month, generated on demand.
Connections to other tools
Data flows to accounting, CRM or email instead of being copied.
How we migrate safely
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1
Understand the file
We map every sheet, table, formula, macro and report, and who uses what.
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2
Design the data model
Clean tables and relationships replace merged cells and duplicated columns.
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3
Build the first module
Start with the workflow that matters most, not everything at once.
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4
Migrate and run in parallel
Data is cleaned and imported, then old and new run side by side until totals and reports match.
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5
Switch over and retire the file
Training, cutover and an archived copy of the original.
What it costs
Spreadsheet and Access replacements are custom web applications. DevGlim web apps start from $1,200, and a normally scoped web application typically falls in the range of $1,200–$3,000. Larger systems with many modules, integrations or heavy data clean-up are quoted per phase.
Not sure it is worth it yet? Try the free spreadsheet replacement check.
What you always get
- You own the source code, the data and the accounts the system runs on.
- A written scope with a price and timeline per phase before work starts.
- Working software to review at every milestone, not one reveal at the end.
- Documentation, so another team could maintain the system later.
Frequently asked questions
Can you replace a Microsoft Access database with a web app?
Yes. We move the tables into a server database, rebuild the forms and reports as a web application and migrate the data, then run both side by side until the results match.
How much does it cost to replace a spreadsheet with software?
DevGlim web apps start from $1,200 and usually fall between $1,200–$3,000 for a normally scoped application. The main factors are the number of workflows, user roles, reports, integrations and how much data clean-up is needed.
Will we lose our existing data?
No. Data is cleaned and imported, and the original file is archived. Running old and new in parallel lets you confirm totals and reports match before switching over.
Can our team still export to Excel?
Yes. Exports to Excel or CSV are easy to include, so people can still analyse data in a spreadsheet without it being the system of record.
Should we use a no-code tool instead?
For simple tracking with a few users, a no-code tool can be enough. Custom makes sense when the logic is complex, several roles are involved, or you need integrations, audit history and long-term ownership.
Related guides and services
- Custom Software — We design, build and support custom software for growing businesses: web applications, CRMs, ERPs, client portals and AI automation, built around how your team actually works.
- API Integration — Connect the systems you already pay for, such as ecommerce, POS, accounting, CRM, payments and messaging, so orders, stock and customer data move on their own instead of being re-keyed.
- Signs your business has outgrown off-the-shelf software
- Migrating spreadsheets into a custom CRM
- Custom web application development
Pricing
Custom web applications from $1,200
Typical investment: $1,200–$3,000
Final pricing depends on features, integrations, design complexity and project requirements. Complex projects are quoted based on scope.
Which spreadsheet would hurt most if it broke tomorrow?
Start there. Send us a copy with sample data and we will scope a first module that replaces it.
See pricingGet a scoped estimate
Tell us what you need. We reply within 24 hours with questions, next steps and a realistic cost range.
- A clear scope and cost range before you commit
- Fixed-scope proposal or phased estimate
- You own the code and the data
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