So, why do people use FileMaker?

FileMaker is the #1 tool used my more business owners than any other when it comes to automating their processes. In most cases, business owners cannot find a software package that has been customized enough to fix their business requirements. So, they do their research attempting to find/buy a canned software package to run their business but fail to locate anything in terms of functionality and price that meets their prerequisites. So, they embark on a journey to build it themselves using FileMaker. But given their limited time to devote to learning and then creating the necessary applications, they come to a point where they realize they need help. In comes the FileMaker Developer to assist them in completing their stated endeavor

The FileMaker developer community includes many folk who have been developing solutions to business problems in FileMaker for up to 31 years — evidence of a very strong platform loyalty, unusual in a rapidly evolving software development environment.

So it is interesting to consider why that is? What is it about the FileMaker Platform that keeps developers coming back when there are so many newer products around that may claim to offer a similar range of features, or better?

Why do developers and business owners continued to use FileMaker?

• Because it was a powerful method of developing solutions

• It is quick method of developing solutions

• Is is was flexible and/or has a range possibilities

• Most people first use FileMaker as a normal person/business owner

• Wanting to solve a business problem

• Simplicity of use remains easy because FileMaker has stayed true to its roots in maintaining true ease of use

What is FileMaker?

It is a rapid development software platform comprising of FileMaker Server, FileMaker Advanced and FileMaker Pro, with versions of each which run on either OS X or Windows, and FileMaker Go (free from Apple App Store)er Pro but without the ability to create or edit a solution file.

The FileMaker Platform

FileMaker's range of functionality is extremely wide but at its heart, it is a database, the Draco engine, a means of handling records.

FileMaker Server includes a web service called FileMaker WebDirect which simulates much of the user functionality of FileMaker Pro, but delivered to modern browsers. Hence users can access FileMaker solutions through their browser with WebDirect.

FileMaker Developers can automatically create FileMaker Solutions/Applications using the FileMaker Software Development Kit.

What is a FileMaker Solution or App?

These are different names for the same thing because exactly the same software file(s) can be used on a normal computer, a mobile device or indeed shared across multiple devices over a local or Wide Area Network.

• Precisely the same file runs natively on OS X, iOS and Windows, amazing but true.

• Solutions comprise one or more files, each file containing

• Database tables of records

• Layouts to display data

• Scripts to automate processes

• Value lists to display options

• A security system

• Custom functions

• Developer defined expressions

• Custom menus — developer added menus

• Themes that control appearance

• Third Party Plugins can be used to add features

• Communications, data exchange via APIs

An Apple Subsidiary

FileMaker Inc., headquartered in Santa Clara in California, was carved out of Claris, the company that Apple used to develop software for Macs in the 1980/90s and it remains a subsidiary of Apple.

Here are some reasons developers continued to use Filemaker

• These products work. They allow me to create markets for vast number of services

• There is no other tool like it

• In terms of the all-encompassing capabilities of it, and that continues to expand

• There are many exciting things on the FileMaker horizon

• Continued upgrade so that we’ll be able to deliver to our customers in the future

• The flexibility and the breadth of the platform

• Always learning something new with the product which allows me to help my clients more

• It frequently hits the sweet spot of capability & design, along with speed of development & deployment

• The main reason that I use FileMaker is that I can prototype quickly

• Can get a fully functional 3 dimensional model up and running fairly quickly

• Helps deliver quality solutions to my clients

• For me it’s really about adding value to the client

• You shouldn’t underestimate the importance of cross-platform

• The reason why I like FileMaker above all is it’s flexibility

• Rapid Application development

• Plays nice with others, AKA integration possibilities

• Deploy to multiple platforms from a single development environment

• I develop in FileMaker because it makes sense

• "IT" adds more value than it costs for the problem at hand

• ("IT" = the total cost, licensing + development + deployment + support)

• FileMaker has grown into an amazing platform with incredible flexibility

• Limited only by our own imagination and creativity

• FileMaker is a tool that is so powerful that I create things that other development platforms could not do in time, price and without having to learn many different programming languages

Finally, I have used FileMaker for 16 years because I really enjoy using it every day, it has changed my life....

Ways FileMaker Can Streamline Business Processes

Your company’s profitability is tied to your efficiency. The more productive your business is, the more you’ll be able to do with the same amount of resources. Streamlining business processes is something that all successful companies are focused on right now. Thanks to advances in technology, companies can automate and reduce costs, simultaneously freeing employees from spending time on manual processes to focus on more significant tasks that utilize their skills.

Having created solutions to help businesses of all size streamline their processes and workflow, we’ll explore four ways you can streamline your business processes for greater profitability using FileMaker.

Automate Your Business Processes

Because of FileMaker’s flexibility, your ability to integrate and automate gives you the power to improve each of your processes. FileMaker’s flexibility is one of the main reasons that companies choose FileMaker. 81 percent of FileMaker’s customers report that flexibility was the top reason they decided in favor of the platform.

Nearly limitless integrations allow you to connect your databases and other software programs for seamless automation. A variety of plugins and integrations are available, and powerful APIs make it possible to connect to external SQL data and integrate with other popular apps and web services.

What are some of the things you can do with FileMaker? Generate barcodes for use in warehousing. Send and receive emails directly from your business application without having to pull up your email program. Create PDFs automatically from any document. Automate legally-binding signature capture for contracts. Easily generate invoices and receipts. Send local alerts based on device information using geofencing (like meeting reminders). And much more!

Note that many new features are added to each new version ofo FileMaker, so you’ll want to be sure you have a current version of FileMaker. The Annual subscription option includes free updates to the latest version, so you won’t have to deal with upgrading or additional costs when the time comes to move up to a new version. The Annual license will also keep your applications secure with the latest security features.

Identify Productivity Bottlenecks

Productivity gains are one of the main reasons businesses are using FileMaker to build custom applications. According to FileMaker’s research, 93 percent of businesses who built a custom app with FileMaker saw a reduction in inefficient tasks, while 91 percent saw an increase in team productivity.

When your systems and processes are all functioning disparately, it’s difficult to see where slowdowns are happening. You may know that a problem exists somewhere, but without a dashboard that allows you to look at projects or processes in detail, it’s difficult to know where the bottlenecks are. With FileMaker, you can quickly build dashboards that allow you to drill down and see exactly what’s happening where.

Enjoy Better Communication

Today’s teams are located across the country, and even across the globe. Dispersed teams may find it difficult to communicate due to the challenges that come with working remotely. With FileMaker, you can integrate communication tools directly into your application, making it easy for your team to collaborate.

Lack of communication organization is one of the key problems that drag down productivity. Streamlining your communication will allow your team to be more productive. Not only is collaboration easy with FileMaker, but messages are also able to be organized by project or team to be easily found. Team members will no longer need to track data and communications across multiple spreadsheets. Your team will spend more time getting the job done and less time working with the software tools you’re using.

Access Anywhere With FileMaker Go

In a variety of industries, team members are working out the office. Whether it’s the sales team traveling, project managers out in the field, or consultants working off site, your team needs to be able to access your business application anywhere. FileMaker Go allows you to easily share access with your team when they’re away from their desks. Team members can access the application on their smartphones and tablets in an easy-to-use, fully-responsive interface.

The tasks your team can perform while on the go are nearly limitless, thanks to FileMaker’s flexibility. For example, your team can:

• Upload signed contracts at a client’s office

• Create invoices during client visits

• Check inventory in a warehouse

• Log research results in the field

• Perform inspections on site

• Upload photos, videos, and audio files from your mobile devices to your database

• And much more

Because of FileMaker, companies and organizations of all sizes can benefit from the productivity increases that come from streamlining business processes. Begin taking advantage of all that automation has to offer, without waiting years for development, without the high cost of traditional enterprise-level software.

According to a recent FileMaker report, companies are using custom apps to solve a variety of business challenges, including reliance on paper processes, scattered sources of information, reliance on complex spreadsheets, and significant manual data entry.