The verdict in three sentences
An MS Access database used for 15 years by a single person is an operational risk, not just an ageing tool. For a Zurich SME, migrating to a web application costs 30,000 to 55,000 CHF and takes 10 to 12 weeks, data migration included. The budget is justified as soon as you price what a single week without access to your contracts would cost.
The real cost of an Access database in 2026
Access is still common in Swiss SMEs (trading, building services, facility management), but its functional end of life is visible: .accdb files capped at 2 GB, frequent corruption above 5 concurrent users on a network share, no mobile access, and full dependence on VBA macros written by an employee who is sometimes close to retirement.
| Risk | Estimated probability over 3 years | Cost impact (2026 order of magnitude) |
|---|---|---|
| Departure of the only employee who knows the database | High | 25,000 to 60,000 CHF for an emergency rebuild |
| File corruption without a recent backup | Medium | 1 to 3 weeks of re-entry, 8,000 to 20,000 CHF |
| Incompatibility after a Microsoft 365 update | Medium | 2 to 5 days without contract access |
| Data leak (file copied to a USB stick) | Low to medium | Liability under the revised Swiss FADP and loss of client trust |
| Cannot view a contract on the road | Certain | 30 to 60 min lost per technician per week |
The maths is simple: one major incident often costs more than the full migration.
What an Access to web migration includes
For a typical database of 12 tables and 40,000 records (clients, sites, contracts, due dates, interventions, invoices), the project splits into clear work packages.
| Work package | Content | Duration | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Database audit | Schema, queries, VBA macros, printed reports, hidden business rules | 1 to 2 weeks | 3,500 to 6,500 CHF |
| Data model | PostgreSQL normalisation, integrity constraints, change history | 1 week | 2,500 to 5,000 CHF |
| Web application | Entry screens, search, dashboards, user roles | 5 to 6 weeks | 15,000 to 28,000 CHF |
| Data migration | Migration scripts, deduplication, row-by-row checks | 1 to 2 weeks | 4,000 to 8,000 CHF |
| Testing and training | User testing, 2 training sessions | 1 week | 2,500 to 4,000 CHF |
| Go-live | Swiss hosting, daily backups, Microsoft 365 SSO | 2 to 3 days | 2,500 to 3,500 CHF |
Total: 30,000 to 55,000 CHF depending on the number of reports, macros and integrations (Bexio or Abacus accounting, emailing, e-signature).
Custom application, Power Apps or off-the-shelf software
| Option | Upfront cost | Annual cost | Main limitation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Custom web application | 30,000 to 55,000 CHF | 4,000 to 9,000 CHF (hosting + maintenance) | 10 to 12-week project |
| Power Apps + Dataverse | 12,000 to 30,000 CHF | 20 to 40 CHF per user per month | Microsoft lock-in, complex logic is hard |
| Off-the-shelf contract software | 3,000 to 9,000 CHF | 45 to 100 CHF per user per month | Business rules must fit the software |
| Keep Access and add backups | 800 CHF | 0 | Fixes neither the people risk nor remote access |
For 15 users over 5 years, Power Apps and market software often reach 45,000 to 100,000 CHF in total. Custom sits between 50,000 and 100,000 CHF, with full code ownership and no per-user fee as the team grows.
Mini case study
Need a professional website?
Kolonell builds websites that attract clients, optimized for the Sénégalese market. Free quote in 2 minutes.
Lukas, managing director of a heating maintenance SME in Zurich (32 employees, 1,400 active contracts), depends on an Access database built in 2009 by his office manager, who retires in 18 months. His 12 technicians call the office 3 times a day to check a contract, about 45 minutes lost per technician per week. The migration costs 44,000 CHF. The time recovered, 9 hours a week at 85 CHF loaded hourly cost over 46 weeks, is worth about 35,200 CHF a year. The project pays back in 15 months, before counting the risk avoided when the office manager leaves.
FAQ
How much does migrating an Access database to a web app cost in Zurich?
Budget 30,000 to 55,000 CHF for a 10 to 15-table database with full data migration. Databases with many VBA macros or printed reports sit at the top of the range.
Will we lose data during the migration?
Not if the migration is controlled: record counts and totals per table are compared before and after, then users validate 50 records. Access stays available read-only for 1 to 2 months.
Where is the data hosted?
With a Swiss provider (Infomaniak, Exoscale, Swisscom), with daily backups kept for 30 days, for 120 to 400 CHF a month depending on volume.
Does the application work on smartphones?
Yes, the interface is responsive: technicians view contracts and history on mobile, and an offline PWA version costs about 5,000 to 8,000 CHF more.
Can development be done nearshore to cut costs?
Yes: a nearshore team with a Swiss-based or German-speaking project lead typically lowers the build cost by 30 to 45%, while hosting and data stay in Switzerland.
Let's scope your project. Number of tables, users and reports, an indicative budget of 30,000 to 55,000 CHF, delivery in 10 to 12 weeks: we audit your Access database and price the migration at a fixed fee. Detailed quote within 48 h. WhatsApp +221 77 596 93 33.
Mohamed Bah
Fondateur, Kolonell
Passionate about digital and entrepreneurship in Africa, Mohamed has been helping Sénégalese businesses with their digital transformation since 2020. Founder of Kolonell, he believes every SME deserves a professional and accessible online présence.
