Question about which database software to use

[Leendert1985]

Hi, I work for a company that designs buildings using modules (like sea containers but from wood). We're looking for software that can help us connect and manage large amounts of data in a clear and structured way. There are many factors in the composition of a building that influence other data in various ways. We'd like to be able to process all of this in a program that keeps everything organized and very visual.

Please see the attachment to get an general idea ? I'm imagining something where you can input various details via drop-down menus and see how that data relates to other information. Ideally, it would support different layers of complexity, so for example, a Salesperson would see a simplified version compared to a Building Engineer. It should also be possible to link to source documents.

Does anyone know what kind of software would be most suitable for this?

[jenst]

This sounds like a really interesting use case, and you're right to look for something that handles complex, relational data in a visual and structured way. Based on your needs?modular input (like dropdowns), layered user access (Sales vs. Engineers), and linking documents?I?d recommend exploring a few types of tools:

Airtable ? Great for creating visual, relational databases with dropdowns, file attachments, and different views (like Kanban, Grid, Gallery). It?s user-friendly and supports different permissions per user role. It?s a nice middle ground between a spreadsheet and a full database.

Notion (with database features) ? Very flexible and supports linking databases, documents, and structured data. While not a traditional database, it can work well for collaboration-heavy teams.

Coda ? Similar to Notion but with more powerful logic and visual interactivity. You can build layered interfaces for different users and have smart tables with interdependencies.

Microsoft Power Apps or Google AppSheet ? If you want to build a custom internal app without deep coding, these let you create forms, dropdowns, relational logic, and even integrate with other tools (like Excel, SharePoint, or a SQL backend).

Graph Database (like Neo4j) ? If relationships between components are very complex and you want to visually map connections (e.g. Module A affects Component B, which limits Option C), graph databases are worth exploring. However, they may require more technical setup.

If you?re working with a development team or are open to low-code/no-code platforms, combining a backend database (like PostgreSQL or Firebase) with a custom UI (built in Retool or Bubble.io) might also be an option.

Would love to see the attachment you mentioned, as that might help narrow down a more tailored solution!