I am looking to update information in real time on my backend panel through my website. My designer has been telling me integrating AJAX is very expensive task to do and implement on the backend of the site.

I am looking for AJAX like updates to take control at certain points during a process. All i would need it to do is update my database and show the change on the front end of the website.

For example, when a customer rates a provider I would like the rating to automatically occur without having the user needing to refresh the website page.

Any assistance is greatly appreciated. Does it really cost alot to have this designed?