A computer implemented method (300, 700, 900), comprising: receiving, by one or more processors of a server via a user interface, a selection of a search type; receiving, via the user interface, a selection of two or more data sources, the two or more data sources comprising a server data source and a set of external data sources; based on selection of the search type and the two or more data sources, generating, by the one or more processors of the server, a search template, associated with the selection of the search type and the two or more data sources, having a set of data entry fields for display within the user interface; receiving, by one or more processors of the server, a search query comprising a set of query elements populating at least some of the set of data entry fields; accessing the server data source to query the server data source with one or more search query elements of the set of query elements, the server data source associated with the server generating the search template, the server data source accessible internally without communicating via a network or a third-party server; causing presentation of a set of first search results received from the server data source; accessing a set of external data sources to query the set of external data sources with one or more search query elements of the set of search query elements, the set of external data sources external to the server data source and the server, the set of external data sources accessible via the network; receiving a set of second results from the set of external data sources; causing presentation of a consolidated result set including the set of first results and the set of second results; receiving a selection of a new record icon; generating a record shell for a new record and populating the record shell with one or more portions of the first set of search results; and storing the new record in the data source. receiving, by one or more processors of a server via a user interface, a selection of a search type; receiving, via the user interface, a selection of two or more data sources, the two or more data sources comprising a server data source and a set of external data sources; based on selection of the search type and the two or more data sources, generating, by the one or more processors of the server, a search template, associated with the selection of the search type and the two or more data sources, having a set of data entry fields for display within the user interface; receiving, by one or more processors of the server, a search query comprising a set of query elements populating at least some of the set of data entry fields; accessing the server data source to query the server data source with one or more search query elements of the set of query elements, the server data source associated with the server generating the search template, the server data source accessible internally without communicating via a network or a third-party server; causing presentation of a set of first search results received from the server data source; accessing a set of external data sources to query the set of external data sources with one or more search query elements of the set of search query elements, the set of external data sources external to the server data source and the server, the set of external data sources accessible via the network; receiving a set of second results from the set of external data sources; causing presentation of a consolidated result set including the set of first results and the set of second results; receiving a selection of a new record icon; generating a record shell for a new record and populating the record shell with one or more portions of the first set of search results; and storing the new record in the data source.