Month: April 2014

Every business considering a partnership with a FileMaker developer is going to have questions. In this series we will address the frequently asked questions that our customers have about our services.

Answer: In today’s business landscape, having a website is crucial for business success.The increasing use of mobile devices and the always connected consumer base has made it a necessity for organizations to have some form of an online presence, and the more engaging it is, the better.

Despite being a database solution, FileMaker is designed in such a way that it is perfect for integrating or even hosting with a website. By partnering with Kyo Logic, we can help take FileMaker and add it to your business’s website.

There are two ways that this can happen. The first is by building a traditional website with FileMaker as the web server. This is the more popular option, and one that was are highly skilled at. FileMaker has evolved to become an excellent front end for websites.

The database is capable of PHP libraries to support any website. It can handle services like SOAP, WISDL and more. Sometimes, there may be an additional plug-in required for success.

The second is through the use of the new WebDirect feature that is a part of FileMaker 13. We profiled the new direct feature back at the beginning of March and covered what the critics thought of the solution. It helps add FileMaker features to a web browser and is recommended for a site that would have up to 50 concurrent users.

Many new software solutions seem like they would require individuals to receive a certification just to be able to speak intelligently about them. This is not surprising, as software systems have been evolving and require individuals to have a deeper knowledge in order for them to be successful.

This week, FileMaker announced that it has made a certification program for the FileMaker 13 Platform available immediately. This is an official credential offered through the company and is a key qualification for developing professional FileMaker solutions for iPad, iPhone, Windows, Mac and the web.

"Certification is now more important than ever," said Ryan Rosenberg, vice president of marketing and services for FileMaker, Inc. "The FileMaker Platform is expanding, and platform-based business continues to grow. Hiring organizations see certification as a clear differentiator and we have seen strong demand for the services of FileMaker certified developers both as in-house developers and as consultants."

To become certified, FileMaker developers must pass an exam that is available through the website. It tests those taking it on knowledge and skills for developing and deploying customer solutions using FileMaker 13. It can also be taken by those looking to further their careers in the industry.

There are no prerequisites for taking the exam and individuals are able to self train themselves through programs offered by FileMaker.

Companies that are FileMaker certified are able to confirm their value to customers who are looking for a helping hand when it comes to FileMaker support. This adds a level of confidence that every organization is looking for in a third party solution provider.

While New York City is trying to stake a claim as the Silicon Valley of the east, with varying levels of success, there are surrounding areas that want a piece of that title. While Boston has long been the title holder, Connecticut is starting to make some waves.

According to a recent article from The New Haven Courant, despite only being a few months into 2014, Connecticut has already experienced more venture capital poured into the IT landscape than it has in years. So far there have been three major investments that tally $189 million.

The piece cites a MoneyTree Report that found the first quarter of 2014 was more than three times as large as any quarter in the previous two years. While the focal point is on the three major deals, there are several other partnerships that total an additional $12 million.

"The large quarter for tech investments does not necessarily mark a trend, as venture capital deals don't follow a clear pattern from quarter to quarter," the article reads. "But the New York metro region, which includes Fairfield and New Haven counties, has had two straight quarters with deal levels not seen since 2001."

The article adds that so far in 2014, $9.5 billion has been invested in tech firms. That is the highest number since early 2001.

The Connecticut technology landscape is of to a stellar 2014. This is the perfect time for local companies that were considering investing in new hardware and software to start doing so by partnering with a local IT solution provide or specialty companies like a Connecticut FileMaker developer.

Every business considering a partnership with a FileMaker developer is going to have questions. In this series we will address the frequently asked questions that our customers have about our services.

Answer: April is the month of taxes and businesses across the world will be using QuickBooks accounting software when they file their yearly report. It has been on the market since 1983.

The Inuit software has several features that helps organizations run their business. This includes remote access capabilities, remote payroll assistance and outsourcing, electronic payment functions, online banking and reconciliation. It can also be incorporated with Excel spreadsheets and additional employee tracking options. There is also an online portion and a specific point of sale solution that can be used to replace a cash register, track inventory, sales and customer information.

Because the software has become so popular, many other software solutions that are used to help manage a business need to be incorporated with it. One of these is FileMaker, and with the help of Kyo Logic, these two solutions can be paired together to improve overall operations.

There are two different ways that this can be accomplished, depending on how advanced of a solution you want to use. The first is a plug-in that provides true integration between FileMaker and QuickBooks, though this is a more advanced approach.

IIF files provide a more convenient and accurate way to get info from one system to another in a quick batch process. While, IIF files many now be fully integrated, but are simpler.

The business technology landscape is constantly evolving. For organizations, it is becoming increasingly important to keep an ear to the ground and make sure they are keeping up with the times. Organizations that fail to do that could find themselves outdated and suddenly scrambling to catch-up.

One area of business that has been evolving quickly over the last few years is the database. With more solutions becoming digital, the amount of information that is suddenly available is growing. However, managing all of this data has become increasingly difficult.

A recent article from Database Trends and Applications spoke with Anne Buff, a Thought Leader for SAS Best Practices at SAS Institute. The interview was held in preparation of the upcoming Data Summit that will be held in New York from May 12 through 14. Buff will be one of the keynote speakers delivering a speech called "Oh, Shift! How Big Data Is Calling for an Enterprise Data Rethink."

Her biggest point is that data strategies are evolving and many organizations need to take some time to re-evaluate what they do.

"Big data is still in its early stages. A lot of that is because people don't quite know what they are going to do with it yet," said Buff. "They know what it is, they know where they can get it but they have not quite figured out what they are going to do with it. Right now one of the biggest things is just trying to define what big data means to an organization."

With the help of a managed IT services software provider, any company can start revamping its strategies and improve how it uses data.

Every business considering a partnership with a FileMaker developer is going to have questions. In this series we will address the frequently asked questions that our customers have about our services.

Answer: When it comes to the latest technology solutions, everyone is going to learn at their own pace. For those who consider themselves tech savvy, it can be easy to purchase a popular system like FileMaker, read the basics, play with it and get a good handle on what it is capable of.

Through hands-on trial and error it is possible to take a new piece of software and develop some simple solutions that can be used to help improve overall business operations. While this is a great way to start, many organizations are not tapping into the full potential of their software.

While it is possible to find YouTube walkthroughs or take a class on a particular piece of software, it can be difficult to turn these broad overviews of the software into something that will help your specific business as well as fill in the knowledge gaps that you have without wasting time on processes that you already know how to do.

At Kyo Logic, we offer one-to-one coaching and learning that is supported by development. Instead of trying to learn in a group setting using random data, we use your own work, which is the most targeted way to learn FileMaker. This process is far more effective than generalized class and is economical for those that are on a budget.

If I were to tell you that recent movies like "Skyfall," "Gravity" and "The Dark Knight" were successful because of the special effects that were used on them, you would not be surprised. However, if I told you that FileMaker played a major role in this, that might.

According to a recent article from CBR, London-based Framestore was the company behind the visual effects of these movies and many more. They employ over 600 artists, computer scientists and developers. However, keeping everyone on the same page when you are dealing with single frames of a multi-million dollar movie can be extremely difficult.

This is where FileMaker came into play. According to Alex Jackson, a software developer at the company, on every movie shoot there are piles of data produced including camera shots, lens height and color space. With FileMaker, the company is able to use the rapid development platform to allow staff to initiate and make changes to projects quicker, saving the company thousands of dollars in the process.

"The fact that many film and TV production companies use FileMaker means data shared with and from clients is often in this format, making projects seamless," Jackson said. "The flexibility provided by FileMaker is also vital for us to effectively manage constantly evolving projects and allows hundreds of people from inside and outside our business access to the data."

This means the visual effects artist can access things that are shot that day on a smart device or desktop, make suggestions if a reshooting is needed to improve an effect and those can be put to film almost immediately.

This is just one real world example of how a FileMaker developer can help a company save money and improve operations.

Every business considering a partnership with a FileMaker developer is going to have questions. In this series we will address the frequently asked questions that our customers have about our services.

Answer: One of the most important things for every software solution is keeping it upgraded. While it may seem easy to stay with a solution that has been effective in the past, newer versions of software are often evolved, bring new features and are more secure.

The downfall of not upgrading has been a major topic in the tech world and has been front and center in 2014 because of the Microsoft operating system Windows XP. For 13 years it has been an effective piece of software running computer systems, point of sale terminals and even ATMs. However, this year the company announced that it will no longer be issuing security and support upgrades for XP.

This is because Microsoft has already released several new versions of its core operating system and continuing to support an outdated version, even is some users prefer it, is no longer cost effective. The April deadline has come and gone, leaving some users struggling to catch up.

FileMaker is no different. New versions of the software are being designed to take advantage of the latest technologies like mobile devices, the cloud and web-access. Many of these features have been updated in last years FileMaker 13 upgrade.

If your company is looking to upgrade, Kyo Logic can help. We are experienced in this process, completing more than 100 upgrades for our customers. Not only can we help with the easy move from FileMaker 11 to 13 but also the more complicated two stage process of moving from FileMaker 6 to 13. We also can provide a short white paper outlining the steps that will need to be taken.

Every business considering a partnership with a FileMaker developer is going to have questions. In this series we will address the frequently asked questions that our customers have about our services.

Answer: In today's business technology landscape, the cloud has become one of the most in demand services that is currently available. By using it as part of a company's infrastructure, organizations allow their employees to access data remotely. This trend has also been boosted by the rise in popularity of mobile devices, which thrive in a cloud-based solution.

Because of this, many organizations are looking to add this element to multiple aspects of their business and databases are no exception.

At Kyo Logic, we understand the importance of the cloud and offer FileMaker hosting and separately, Website and email hosting services. However, the benefits don't stop at just offering the cloud as we also maintain the servers and monitor their logs daily. This allows us to ensure that they remain active and efficient, as well as making sure any potential problems are caught earlier on and rectified before they grow.

By using this kind of approach, businesses are able to have users simultaneously access data from both the mobile and desktop platforms. Developers are also able to access the database if support is needed.

At Kyo Logic, our cloud  services are reliable and high speed. Our system is faster than can be achieved by hosting a cloud from a typical office. Our rack space is also secure and redundant, ensuring information is safe and backed-up.