Abstract

The rapid increase in the digitization of data has changed the manner in which Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) interact and perceive information. Effective database systems are critical in establishing efficacy in operations, scalability and management of information with secure information management. The given paper is a comparative analysis of relational (SQL-based) and non-relational (NoSQL-based) database management systems focusing on MySQL and MongoDB, two of the most popular solutions in the SMEs. MySQL is a good example of relational databases that have gained popularity due to their maturity, ACID compliance, organized schema handling, and community support features, which have made relational databases appropriate in financial, transactional and inventory-based applications. MongoDB, the most popular NoSQL database, by contrast, is flexible in its schema, horizontally scaled, and high-performing when it comes to handling unstructured and semi-structured data, and is thus especially useful with dynamic, data-intensive apps, like those of social networks, forums, and IoT. In addition, the research paper evaluates database selection criteria used in SMEs such as cost-effectiveness, scalability, readily integrates, transaction integrity, and security. The conclusions highlight that MySQL is more reliable and consistent in structured data applications, whereas MongoDB is more flexible and adaptable in user-driven and fast-evolving environments. Finally, the database selection determined by the character of SME functioning, availability of resources, and future possibilities of scaling.

Keywords

MySQL, MongoDB, Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs), Database Management Systems, Relational Database, NoSQL Database.

Conclusion and Future Work

MySQL and MongoDB highlight complementary strengths in meeting the diverse needs of SMEs. MySQL, as a mature relational database, offers reliability, ACID-compliant transaction processing, and strong community support, making it highly effective for structured data applications such as financial systems, e-commerce, and customer relationship management. In contrast, MongoDB, a document-oriented NoSQL database, provides superior flexibility, horizontal scalability, and efficiency in handling semi-structured and unstructured data, which is vital for dynamic use cases like forums, social networks, and IoT platforms. Various considerations, including data type, scalability needs, transaction integrity, cost, and connection with current systems, influence SMEs' decisions between the two. MySQL ensures stability and consistency in transactional contexts, whereas MongoDB enables innovation in rapidly evolving, data-driven environments. Together, they represent complementary tools rather than competitors, allowing SMEs to align database selection with business priorities. A careful evaluation of long-term goals can guide SMEs in adopting the most effective database strategy.

Future research may explore hybrid architectures that combine relational and non-relational features, supporting both structured and unstructured data in unified systems. The rise of NewSQL databases, which merge NoSQL scalability with SQL’s transactional guarantees, offers a promising direction. Additionally, with increasing reliance on cloud-native applications, further work should assess the cost, performance, and security trade-offs of deploying MySQL and MongoDB in managed cloud environments.

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