Database consulting
Databases designed to last, not just to launch.
I design, migrate and clean up MongoDB, PostgreSQL, Neo4j and Elasticsearch databases for SMEs, institutions and startups. First I understand how your data is read and written, then I choose the model and the technology.
When you need it
Does any of this sound familiar?
Queries get slower with every new customer, product or year of data.
Your data lives in spreadsheets and systems that don’t talk to each other.
You chose MongoDB, but the schema grew without a design and every change feels risky.
You need to migrate from an old database without stopping the people who use it every day.
What I do
From data model to production.
- Data model design: conceptual, logical and physical, relational or document-based, with MongoDB patterns (embedding, referencing, bucket, subset) chosen on real access patterns.
- Migration and integration: from Access, Excel or legacy databases to PostgreSQL or MongoDB, with repeatable scripts and checks on the migrated data.
- Optimisation: indexes, aggregation pipelines, slow queries, replica sets, backups and monitoring.
- Multi-database architectures: when you need full-text search (Elasticsearch), relationships (Neo4j) or time series (InfluxDB), and how to keep them in sync.
- Review of an existing project: an independent opinion before you invest in development or a migration.
I have been teaching database design at Politecnico di Torino for almost twenty years and I am the author of the books Database designer and Design with MongoDB.
How I work
A four-step method.
01
Analysis
Interviews, data access and measurement of the real problems: slow queries, duplicates, missing data.
02
Model
A documented schema, with the reasons behind each choice and the alternatives discarded.
03
Delivery
Migration, development and testing in phases, without stopping your team.
04
Handover
Documentation and training, so your team stays autonomous.
Case studies
Some data projects.
CivicArc
The first digital survey of Italian town halls: MongoDB data model and web platform for a national research project.
LAS, Candiolo Cancer Institute
A modular laboratory data management system, designed for research protocols that change over time.
Museum of Oriental Art, Turin
A database to catalogue almost 2,000 archaeological artefacts, later merged into the museum’s official database.
Frequently asked questions
FAQ
Do you only work with MongoDB?
No. I choose the technology based on how the data is used: PostgreSQL is often the right answer, sometimes you need a document, graph or search database next to the main one.
Can you work on a database already in production?
Yes. We start from a copy of the data and an analysis of the most expensive operations; changes are applied in phases, with a rollback plan if needed.
How much does database consulting cost?
It depends on size and goals. The starting point is the fixed-price data and AI audit, from €299 + VAT, which also estimates the follow-up work.
Do you work remotely?
Yes, most projects run online. For kick-offs and workshops I can be on site, especially in northern Italy.
Is your database slowing you down?
Start with an audit: within a few days you know what to fix, in which order and at what cost.