Author: Justin Hesser

The ability to process information and store it in a virtual environment is certainly a benefit to any company that relies heavily on its data. However, as volumes continue to grow, the challenges pertaining to its storage and impact on the business network must be considered.

The issue of storage is being alleviated with cloud computing. For example, if a company initiated a FileMaker development project to build a database, it could then host that system in the cloud. The virtual nature of this storage system makes it easier for businesses to implement additional space, as they don’t have to concern themselves with physical servers. However, even if a company has a strong cloud storage solution, it must be able to properly maintain the amount of data managed in the cloud.

Bandwidth becomes a concern when large quantities of information are being processed through the network. If an organization is managing its data in a cloud system, it must have enough bandwidth to ensure information can transfer quickly without compromising other areas of the business.

In today’s offices, we are more connected than ever before. In addition to traditional desktops, many organizations issue smartphones or tablets to their employees. Others manage a bring-your-own-device (BYOD) strategy that allows workers to bring their own gadgets to the office for work. With so many machines being connected to the network, data is flowing constantly, which could put a strain on network strength if it is not properly managed.

The key is data efficiency. Companies need to get the most out of the bandwidth they have, which means they cannot afford to run into issues such as data duplication. If the organization is processing more information than it needs to, it is taking up more bandwidth than necessary. Mitigating this issue is crucial. A system must be in place that properly manages information in the most efficient way possible.

FileMaker development can help with this need as well, as this process can be used to build a custom database software system. This program can be constructed to fit with an organization’s specific data needs, which will go a long way toward ensuring that information flows quickly without slowing down any other processes.

In the era of big data, marketers have come to learn one thing: information can help companies enhance their marketing efforts. This is a valid point and this blog has discussed this topic in the past, but one thing marketers need to understand is the number of challenges that can accompany a big data strategy.

Building larger volumes of data can ultimately help marketers gather the information they need to reach a more responsive audience with a more targeted message, but just having the information without any system in place to analyze it and provide context won't offer much assistance. In fact, when marketers have more information to sift through to find what they are looking for, they will likely find it more difficult to effectively do their jobs.

A recent survey adds credence to this thought, determining if marketers aren't aware of big data challenges and don't prepare for them accordingly, they could find themselves trapped under mountains of information. The Teradata Data Driven Marketing Survey 2013 states that marketers are increasing their reliance on data, although many of them are still trying to determine the best possible way to manage their information. 

According to the results, the most popular way for marketers to deal with big data challenges is to implement new technology used to increase analytics and build efficiency into information processing operations. The study projects a 60 percent increase in analytics spending over the next three years. In fact, Chief Marketing Officers (CMOs) are starting to take over Chief Information Officers (CIOs) as the top executives when it comes to relying on technology to process information. The study suggests CMOs will outspend CIOs on technology by 2017.

While it's crucial for marketing departments to understand the importance of technology and how it can help alleviate big data challenges, implementing a new system for the sake of doing so may not be the best solution. Companies need the right technology to process their information. One that can scale as data volumes continue to grow is ideal, considering the fact we don't know how massive big data will get in the coming years.

FileMaker development allows companies to build custom database software systems designed to collect, process and store information. Marketers can meet the challenges of big data if they build the right system to fit their needs, which will ultimately improve the company's overall marketing efforts. 

There are many factors that go into determining the quality of an organization's information. In addition to following best practices in regards to acquiring data, systems must be designed properly so that users have easier access to it, thus enhancing their ability to report on it and make smart business decisions.

However, many companies have failed in this area, according to a new report titled "Global Risk Management Survey, Eighth Edition: Setting a Higher Bar." The study was conducted by Deloitte and found that only 25 percent of companies feel they have either extremely or very effective solutions in place to process information.

This is an alarming number in industries such as finance, where the ability to manage risk is crucial. Failure to properly assess data and determine any risks can lead to serious problems, as this was one factor that ultimately led to the financial crisis of 2008. To properly report data and make smart business decisions, information must be processed in a system that can give companies the best view of their information.

FileMaker development is an ideal solution in this case because it can give companies the ability build flexible and scalable solutions to manage their data. As volumes of information continue to grow, it's important to have a system in place that can grow as well. This will give organizations a custom database software solution that they can use to improve the manner in which they collect, process, report on and store valuable information. This will go a long way toward helping identify key risks and managing them appropriately.

While technology advancements have helped launch new communication methods such as social media and SMS communication, email remains one of the most effective ways for companies to interact with their customers. Email marketing is still a valuable business practice, mainly because of its ability to adapt to new processes.

For example, while we have moved from traditional PCs to mobile devices like smartphones and tablets as our primary computer, businesses have managed to adjust email messages so they can be optimized for smaller screen displays. Today, people all over the globe prefer to check email on their mobile gadgets instead of a desktop or laptop computer, and those tasked with sending emails have capitalized on this fact. 

Additionally, big data has become a major component of modern email marketing campaigns. Businesses are able to use the information they collect from other customer interactions and utilize it to send higher quality and more focused emails to a more eager buying group. Using big data can make email marketing campaigns that much stronger.

The online publication Marketing Profs offered a seminar to visitors on the use of big data in email marketing initiatives, and in its introduction article the site offered some keen insights regarding the practice. 

"Every day brings another chance to deliver timely, memorable experiences for potential buyers," the article said. "Whether they're long-time customers or fresh new prospects, our job as marketers is to optimize their experience with our brand so that they'll choose our products [and come back for more]. But optimizing those experiences takes more than guess work; to achieve email marketing success, we must rely on the data our marketing programs generate every day."

To successfully use data to fuel an email marketing campaign, it's important for companies to collect that information in a system that can both integrate with its outreach applications while also presenting data in an easy-to-understand format. A custom database software system will have to enable the marketer to make smart decisions based on its data without having to slow their processes by waiting for information to update or spending a prolonged period of time searching for it.

FileMaker development can allow businesses to create powerful systems that can assist with any email marketing strategy.

Storing data in the cloud provides companies with numerous crucial benefits, chief among them being the ability to access information from a remote location. Instead of having to come inside the office to obtain data from an internal server or even a desktop hard drive, workers can view and report on information from a smartphone if they are across town, in another state of even on the other side of the globe.

By receiving access to information stored in the cloud, users can yield a number of benefits. They will be given the flexibility to perform their duties on the go, which can increase overall operational efficiency. They also can work from home, provided that option is available at their organization. If it is, an incident that prevents them from coming to work—an issue with the car, for example—won’t limit their ability to do their job because they’ll be able to access the information they need to be productive.

An article recently featured in the business service directory Manta discusses the best ways to manage a work-from-home policy. While giving workers access to company data via the cloud will provide them with the resources they need to do their jobs, author Rieva Lesonsky suggested keeping the communication lines open is equally as important.

“When you can’t pop your head into someone’s office to see how their work is coming along, you need to be in frequent communication,” Lesonsky wrote.

Doing this is not just a way for managers to check on their employees to make sure they aren’t slacking off just because they aren’t in the office. It gives workers a chance to collaborate and ensure everyone is on the same page when it comes to analyzing data and using it to complete business tasks.

Having the right software running in the cloud can go a long way toward enchaining communication and collaboration, and mitigating the risks associated with remote connectivity. Building a custom database software system will help with this process because it will be able to handle multiple users, will update information in real time, and contain the functionality needed to help each party complete tasks in a timely manner.

Of course, this is only possible if the solution is properly created. FileMaker development will ensure that the system responds correctly and can be adjusted accordingly to meet any changes in operations.

An organization is only as strong as the quality of the information is possesses. This has become increasingly clear as data has become digitized and companies have utilized a massive amount of resources to manage big data strategies and protect the integrity of their information.

Businesses decisions based off of poor data likely won't be the right choices. If companies want to succeed, they have to ensure that the information they capture, manage, store and use to generate reports is not only accurate, but is presented in a way that leaves little room for error.

Data cannot be misinterpreted

That's one aspect of data quality that must be understood. Just because all the information is there and it's correct doesn't mean it will be used correctly. A company's financial data could be correct and up-to-date, but if it's stored or presented in a way that's difficult to understand, decision makers, analysts or any other professional tasked with utilizing that information could have the wrong impression of it, thus compromising the integrity of that decision.

Ultimately, user-friendliness is a valuable component of a big data strategy. The easier it is for users to understand, the better the chances are that it will be managed properly. This is different than data security, as information should be impenetrable by outside forces. However, when appropriate parties do access data, they shouldn't have to question its meaning.

Data quality requires collaboration

An article in the online publication Diginomica addresses the issue of data quality and provides a number of tips to help promote the value of business information. One important fact for companies to understand is that data quality requires a collaborative effort from both the IT and business management side.

"Don't label data quality as an IT issue and not a business issue," writes Nigel Turner, the article's author. "It is both. While the technology of data quality is often implemented and maintained by IT staff, it is the business user that benefits most. Just consider the example of clean, well-managed customer records. The business user also understands the meaning and usage of the data in the context of each application."

All of these factors can go a long way toward ensuring the quality of information, but it must be managed with the right technology. Building a custom database software system will allow companies to enhance data quality, which will ultimately help them become more successful and profitable organizations.

Going green is one of the key initiatives at many organizations, even those that aren't in environment-related industries. New regulations are being written each day that mandate environmentally friendly operations, so it's up to companies to find new ways to reduce their carbon footprint. 

Strategies range from installing high-end solar and wind energy solutions to implementing simple changes to office policies, like requiring employees to shut down all computers at the end of the day. Phasing paper out of the daily workflow is one tactic that has received universal adoption, as it offers numerous advantages.

The removal of paper in the office can reduce the risk of lost information in the event of a fire or natural disaster, it can improve operational efficiency and it can help with environmental initiatives. Rather than using large quantities of paper to record information, businesses that go strictly digital will likely see an improvement in these areas of their operations.

The proliferation of mobile devices in the corporate environment has helped increase the usefulness of a paperless office. Instead of carrying around stacks of physical documents, employees can pull them up on their smartphones or tablets, giving them access to the same information. This is both an efficient and environmentally friendly practice, but it requires strong data management.

An article in the online publication Smart Data Collective lists a number of advantages companies can enjoy by implementing a big data strategy. Chief among them is a reduced reliance on paper.

"There is no need to continue the use of shipment forms or other paper documents when filing information," the article says. "Business data management in 2013 should be based around the advanced IT and data management systems that are available. All shipping documents, client portfolios and stock inventory should be kept within a centralized data server, whether it is a mainframe computer system or an outsourced cloud service."

Of course, having the right data solutions in place is imperative. If companies are going to be successful in their efforts to ditch physical documentation for digital information sharing, data must pass through a system that can collect, process and store information quickly and efficiently. Using FileMaker development to build a custom database software system will give businesses this advantage.

Ultimately, enhancing data management processes allows companies to move forward and implement innovative new strategies that boost efficiency and reduce environmental impact.

Highlighting another great session from this year’s FileMaker Developer Conference (DevCon).

Advanced Charting and Reporting Techniques with ExecuteSQL
Presenter:   Greg Lane (Skeleton Key)
Time:          Thurs. August 15, 2013 3:45 pm
Track:         Develop
Skill Level:   Advanced

This session will explore statistical forecasting models that you can implement in FileMaker Pro to help your users analyze data, reduce uncertainty, and plan for the future.

What you will learn:

• How to make your data more valuable with forecasting and statistical modeling techniques
• Use the ExecuteSQL function to easily calculate sums, averages, and counts within data sets
• Implement trend lines, moving averages, weighted averages, seasonal forecasts, and more
• Ways to improve the performance of complex charts and reports that use ExecuteSQL

Proper data management is crucial in business for a myriad of reasons. While efficiency, productivity and smarter insights into customer behavior are some strong examples of the benefits companies can receive by implementing a big data strategy, regulatory compliance is just as crucial, even if it's often overlooked.

Regardless of the industry, regulations are constantly changing and new mandates are always being developed. Compliance requires a company-wide effort, which can be attained through staff training and education of new regulatory measures, but these initiatives can also be assisted by managing business data.

Consider the financial industry. Regulations such as Dodd-Frank require organizations to improve transparency, which means information has to be organized. Businesses must discover a way to share an appropriate amount of information without subjecting themselves to security risks. There is a fine line between the two, and staying on the right side requires information to be organized. 

An article in Computer Weekly recently discussed the role of data management in a company's compliance efforts. Clive Longbottom, the article's author, suggested that businesses with the most control over their information will be more successful complying with new regulations.

"Ensuring data flows are efficient and transparent will keep an organization's costs under control while ensuring they can show compliance to data rules and laws that apply to them," Longbottom wrote.

The primary rule to follow is that organized information will ultimately result in a better-run company. If data is either missing, fragmented or duplicated, not only will businesses struggle to maintain efficient operations, they will have difficulty complying with regulations, particularly those related to transparency. It may have nothing to do with a company's motives either. Even the most noble organization would have a hard time proving it if its information were all over the place.

Therefore, finding a way to control data is crucial. Creating a custom database software system will give businesses an opportunity to correctly capture, process, report on and store pertinent information, alleviating the risks related to disorganization. FileMaker development is an ideal solution for a number of reasons.

First, it allows companies to build the best possible solution for data management. Second, FileMaker's functionality makes it easier to scale and customize database systems, which ultimately will allow businesses to make necessary changes to their solutions should new regulations come into play.

Of the numerous areas of business affected by the growth of big data, pricing may be the most important.

The prices manufacturers and distributors give to their products can have a seismic impact on the retail sector and consumer spending. For example, 67 percent of revenue in the U.S. wine market is affected by pricing, according to an article from the North Bay Business Journal. Because of this, implementing big data strategies to improve the pricing process is crucial. However, not all organizations have obtained the right tools to manage pricing data.

Last week, roughly 200 industry professionals congregated at the Wine Industry Technology Symposium in Napa. Speakers discussed the use of data to improve operations, particularly pricing, and many expressed concern over the fact that most wineries are still utilizing old and inefficient systems.

“I’m shocked how many distributors are still using Excel for pricing and the system of record,” said Chris Spear, vice president of business solutions for Novato-based depletion data service TradePulse.

Others offered suggestions on how to improve pricing operations.

“Before you do price-sensitivity analysis, you need to create a central database, so all who need to can see the information and there’s less redundancy,” said panelist Steven Cuellar, a chairman in the economics department at Sonoma State University.

Like any other operation that requires data processing, it’s imperative that organizations are able to successfully manage and view their information in real-time. If pertinent information regarding pricing changes quickly, those tasked with processing that data have to be able to view it in real time.

Using FileMaker to build a custom database software system will allow businesses to accurately process data, which ultimately will put them in the best position to properly determine wine pricing.