1. You can easily assign who has access to what data with user permissions in a database.
2. You can search a database like the Internet.
3. There are more ways to collect data with a database: website forms, email collection, excel import.
4. There is no software to download with an online database. Access data anywhere, anytime without the need to email files or worry whether or not you have the latest version.
5. You have the ability to store multiple data types in a database: music files, images, documents, etc.
6. With a database, you have the ability to publish dynamic real-time reports to the web.
7. Multiple team members can access and edit data in a database at the same time. Automatic change tracking lets you know who changed what/when. No longer worry about version control issues experienced with spreadsheets.
8. An online database is continually backed up minimizing the fear of losing changes made to your spreadsheet.
9. When you change a field type in a database, you receive a warning of the impact the change will have before the conversion occurs.
10. Databases allow you to set up email alerts or distribution schedules so you can stay informed of changes/updates to records in your database.
BONUS: If you are using a spreadsheet to track data, you can easily convert your spreadsheet into an online database within minutes via an excel import. You can even update an existing database with an excel import by mapping spreadsheet columns to database fields.
