Gathering Data for Access

[maximizeredb]

I am setting up a data base to track pluming service orders. I have my basic tables made and am trying to find a way to gather the data in the most efficent means possible. The catch is the evening employees work from home and will not have access to the database directly. How can they send the information to access.



Currently we track the information manually on paper forms. My goal is to replace the forms with the database. Orders come in via email (by plain text, screenshots and pdfs) I have a access form made so i can do the data entry, but i need a way for the employees without direct access to the database can enter the info for the orders.

[June7]

Brainstorming options:

1. internet and users send info by email and you extract from email body - this is what the Collect Data utility was for but I think eliminated with Access2013

2. internet and users input into a 'remote user' copy of db and send the db by email attachment (in zip archive) and you merge files - I have done this

3. internet and SharePoint

4. internet and Office360

5. internet and VPN connection to your server - I am a customer service teleworker and this is how my employer enables connection to server and the database

Detecting a theme here - need internet.