Technical Consultancy

Assystem was asked by the DTI to look at several old and existing Databases of contacts for the National Measurement Programme. The databases were in several different formats and involved some 3000 records.

We firstly migrated and cleaned up the data on the ACCESS database and then started a campaign to mail all the names on the database with a simple confirmation/ change form.

Recipients could fax, email or post their revised data.

We tried other methods in parallel, including email but found that many records were more than 8 years old. The best method we found, was mail as we had enclosed a prepaid envelope. Recipients found it easy to fill in the form and post it back. Over a period of 2/3 months we received all the new information and entered this on the ACCESS database.

One important requirement on this project was to identify the clients' SIC code and also to identify their Area of interest. This was also recorded on the database and we established a number of query routines, which allowed data to be filtered. For example the DTI may want to know how many companies in the Chemical sector were aware of the latest legislation on quality measurement.