Author: Justin Hesser

"Organizations are increasingly data led. If the data is poor, they will be led in the wrong direction."

That's according to Mike Healy, a senior consultant at Innovative Systems Incorporated. His insightful opinion was shared in a recent conversation with IT Web, and it speaks to many of the problems companies face when trying to implement and manage a big data strategy.

Big data strategies are designed to offer businesses numerous advantages. Information is supposed to give decision makers the answers they look for prior to their actions. For example, marketing executives reorganize entire campaigns based off of customer data. If a group of targeted customers start behaving in a particular way, that knowledge is obtained and processed and outreach tactics are adjusted accordingly.

But what if that information is wrong? What if a company's efforts only put the organization in a worse place than it was in before it implemented a big data strategy? Collecting, reviewing, storing and reporting on data requires a great deal of effort, and if it were all based on inaccuracies, the consequences could be devastating. 

Suppose that same marketing executive was looking at old information, or examined the wrong demographic. The data thought to be up-to-date and accurate could have been from a previous year, which would cause their subsequent marketing strategy to create more harm than good. 

To combat this, the key is to ensure that all information is timely, accurate and that those who process data always have a solid understanding of what it is they are looking at.

"In recent years, we have seen the advent of big data, with the accompanying processing power, disk availability and tools to do very clever analysis to chart current and future customer behavior," Healy said. "Everything can be analyzed now. The challenge is that, the more sophisticated your data use, and the more data you're using, the more important it is to get the data quality right."

The best way to ensure data quality is to obtain the best possible management solutions. Building a custom database software system in FileMaker can help alleviate some of the risks pertaining to inaccurate information. 

When it comes to big data, businesses cannot afford to get things wrong. That's why investing in the right management software is the best possible decision.

The internet is becoming a more centralized resource for businesses of all sizes. Two major issues, though, are storage and security. How can a company keep large amounts of data safe, and ensure access to that information whenever necessary?

The Federal Times explained in a recent piece how cloud technology gives businesses the opportunity to store large amounts of data, but only use a few data centers. The news source used the CIA's recent $600 million agreement with Amazon Web Services as an example. With large government agencies willing to invest in such innovations, smaller companies could be more willing to follow suit.

An organization like the CIA relies on secure data storage, and will need large amounts of information to be kept safe.

Accelera Solutions president Joe Brown explained to the news source that cloud technology is a great way for companies to handle big data.

"Customers have a much more dynamic way to store, retrieve and operate in cloud environments," Brown told the Federal Times. "They don't have to call someone and say, 'Retrieve data, bring it to my office and let me reconstitute it on my server,' or format the data to be analyzed."

Brown added how cloud computing could eliminate the need for businesses to rely on local hardware constraints.

As more organizations work toward implementing cloud technology into daily operations, it is important that they have the necessary tools to make the process as smooth as possible. Having a custom database software system in place will help businesses better incorporate the cloud and big data into daily operations. When companies are able to develop in FileMaker, it guarantees that they have flexible solutions for numerous situations.

At Kyo Logic, we believe gaining a better understanding of our customers and how they manage data will ultimately lead to improved services and make us better at what we do. That's why we recently issued a survey that asked people their views about using shared databases at work.

As proponents of FileMaker development and its benefits, we were curious as to who uses FileMaker in their everyday work and how it compares to other systems that they use.

The overall purpose of this survey is to launch an on-going effort to understand what is most important when using databases in the work place. This research will tell us about FileMaker as well as many other systems found in offices today. As creators of custom database software systems, we want to make sure that we are focusing on the features and benefits that users find most valuable.

Many of our questions centered around our users, because it gives us a better sense of how FileMaker-based platforms are used. We want to know the industries our customers reside in and the size of their respective companies. We want to know which types of jobs our recipients have and how FileMaker helps them with their various daily tasks. Additionally, we want to know how their needs change as the size of their business changes.

We are also curious about the user experience. We want to know how easy their systems are to operate, which issues they encounter, how they collaborate and share information, and how they feel about the look of their interface. Understanding different types of people's preferences allow us to get a better sense of the interfaces they use and prefer.

One of the things that Kyo Logic prides itself on is the fact that we are constantly trying to learn more about our business and customers. For us, creating a survey wasn't just about finding out about a few users' preferences, but also opening a dialogue with people so that we can learn and innovate. This information will ultimately help Kyo Logic not only promote the advantages of custom software development, but also formulate strategies geared towards making our systems better overall for users.

Kyo Logic is always expanding and this summer we are opening an office right in the heart of Boston's financial district. This office will allow us to work closely with clients in the area and improve our relationship with all Boston-based customers.

President John Mathewson recently gave a statement regarding the move, expressing his optimism pertaining to its potential.

"We are thrilled to open our new Boston office to support our clients in the Boston metro area," he said. "We see Boston as a bright future for us and look forward to becoming more active in the Massachusetts software development community."

Boston's involvement in major industries such as healthcare, finance and business technology means that numerous local organizations have extensive data needs. Boston is home to some of the world's best medical facilities, financial firms and technology providers, but without proper resources to effectively manage pertinent information, many of these companies would not be able to live up to their potential.

That's why Kyo Logic has taken such a keen interest in the Bay State's capital. There are a number of prestigious colleges and universities in the area, so we know there are extremely smart people working throughout the city with a willingness to learn. This is why we have taken the opportunity to work with a number of local industry professionals and developers to improve the way they manage information. As FileMaker development continues to emerge as an ideal solution for creating custom database software solutions, we have spent a considerable amount of time working with Bostonians to enhance their FileMaker skills.

Now it will be even easier to do so. 

Our office will be at:

60 State Street
Suite 700
Boston, Massachusetts 02109

The benefits of big data are felt across the corporate landscape, but the nature of processing large quantities of information should, in theory, have the biggest positive impact on marketers. However, not enough professionals in the industry are taking advantage of it.

According to a study conducted by digital marketing technology company Silverpop Systems, only 45 percent of marketers are collecting behavioral data and using it to refine their marketing strategies. Considering the numerous benefits this type of information has to offer and the myriad ways marketers have access to it—through social media, for example—there is no real excuse as to why information isn’t being used to improve marketing efforts unless they lack adequate software to manage their data.

The advent of the information age has given businesses numerous new ways to connect with customers and, more importantly, monitor their behavior. Because of this, information flows from the consumer to the organization at a rapid pace. So if the collection of data isn’t the problem, the reason why over half of the marketing industry doesn’t capitalize on this valuable data must be their inability to properly process it within the organization.

A custom database software system is an ideal solution because it can allow companies to properly organize a data management strategy. This system can give users a real-time view of their information, which ultimately allows them to make smart decisions based on its merits. Developing a system in FileMaker can give companies a flexible solutions that properly fits all of their needs.

In the Information Age, the general thought has been that initiating a big data strategy is the be-all and end-all component of a successful business plan. The ability to collect large volumes of information allows companies to successfully improve the way they manage internal operations and interact with customers. However, it doesn’t exactly work like that.

An article in The Canadian recently examined a number of popular misconceptions about big data, one of them being that big data itself was a miracle worker. That’s not entirely true. An unnamed executive spoke with the news source about the important aspects pertaining to big data management, explaining that the way information is analyzed is much more important than simply possessing the ability to collect data.

“You must have technology and mathematical models,” he said. “That is, the biggest difference is in the analysis of [this] data.”

Simply put, if businesses lack adequate technology or other resources required to process and manage their information, they will fail to find success from their big data efforts. Organizations today can easily absorb tremendous volumes of data with very little effort. Advantages are gained based on what companies do with that particular information.

Having the best solutions in place to monitor data, store it and analyze its value and meaning is what will set a business apart from its competitors. FileMaker development can help. Using the platform to build a scalable custom database software system will allow organizations to accurately report on their information by viewing it in real time. This is what will truly assist companies with their big data initiatives.

The growth of big data has been spurred by a need for faster, more efficient operations that allow companies to better service their customers. So it's no surprise that big data has become such a hot topic in the travel industry.

Think of the pains you typically encounter when you travel. The long lines at the airport, the confusing nature of the baggage claim process and, once you finally get to their destination, simply checking into your hotel can be a hassle. Most people find the amount of time it takes to get from their homes to their destinations unnecessarily long. However, in today's age where security is of the utmost importance, the long wait comes with the territory.

Not all organizations are willing to accept this, which is why many are incorporating big data into their strategies as a way to alleviate some of the common travel pains.  

A recent study conducted by Harvard Business School professor Thomas H. Davenport gives credence to this trend. The results indicate that numerous organizations associated with travel are using social information among other valuable pieces of data to improve efficiency and decision making. Davenport said in a statement that this is a great opportunity for these companies.

"The travel industry stands at a big data crossroads today, with new technologies and techniques offering the potential to translate increasing volumes of data into higher profits and more efficient operations," he said. "Some leading companies are pioneering the use of big data and already seeing a huge impact. Airlines, airports, hotels, rail companies and travel sellers need to ask themselves if they have a big data strategy in place, and if it will allow them to be at the forefront of this opportunity."

Companies in the industry can improve their big data operations by building a custom database software system designed to collect, store and report on pertinent information.

We may be three years away from election season, but that doesn't mean it's too early to start thinking about the next President of the United States. More importantly, it's a good time to think about how the election will be covered, analyzed, predicted and ultimately won. Now more than ever, big data analytics will be a driving force behind elections . 

During the 2008 and 2012 elections , Nate Silver became a household name due to his ability to predict the outcome of the Presidential election with incredible accuracy. The professional statistician used a number of big data formulas to correctly project how each state would vote en route to Barack Obama's victory. While data played a massive role on the media side of the election, the politicians themselves were implementing their own strategies to gain an edge over their opponent.

In 2008, President Obama was praised for his innovative use of social media to fuel his campaign efforts. It helped him reach a new demographic of voters and some analysts say it may have proved to be the difference in the election. In 2012, Obama took his social media strategy to a new level, according to a report from All Things D, by implementing a big data strategy based off of his social information.

Now the news source is predicting that social media and big data strategies will become standard procedure for all candidates, and that the 2016 election could be won by whoever best leverages information. Gurbaksh Chahal, the CEO of intelligent advertising firm RadiumOne and author of the article, suggests that this is the same approach modern marketers take and that campaign managers and other political professionals who successfully emulate that tactic will, more often than not, ultimately represent the winning candidate.

"Social data is fundamentally changing how advertisers approach the art of marketing," he writes. "Now, we can track pretty much anything online—our campaign decisions are influenced by factors that extend far beyond the impression and conversion metrics that permeated the ad industry just five years ago. This data-centric shift in advertising has enabled political parties to hone campaign approaches toward predicting outcomes and undeniably, it is this elegant blend of social data, big data, and targeting that will determine the 2016 commander-in-chief."

These methods will likely become more refined as they become more popular. As more politicians, in addition to a greater number of marketers, see the results of these actions, it's likely that these strategies will only increase in popularity.

Of course, it should be noted that organizations and individuals that lack sufficient means to collect, manage and report on their data will not be as successful with this effort. The key to success in any big data strategy is the ability to effectively view information in real time. Politicians who are able to use a custom database software system to extract pertinent data from social media and other sources and use it as part of their campaign strategies will be more successful on election day. The same concept, when followed by marketers, can help companies improve their sales figures and overall profitability.

FileMaker development is an ideal way to make the best possible database systems for information management.

On July 17, our own Tim Neudecker will be presenting a live webinar as part of FM Academy. As proud members of the academy, this is one of the several webinars we host each year. The theme of this event will be protecting users and data in the cloud.

As businesses continue to shift from standard information management and storage systems to more innovative solutions like cloud computing, the need to enhance data security has grown drastically. The benefits of hosting and using applications in the cloud are plentiful, but the potential of this system won't be realized if it is compromised by security risks. That's why it's crucial for cloud users to understand best practices pertaining to the security of information processed and stored in the cloud.

This webinar will explore exactly that, as well as the role FileMaker can play in protecting information. Some of the key areas Tim will discuss include how to limit access to various components of a cloud application and mitigate the risk of unauthorized users viewing sensitive data, as well as the best way to ensure the integrity of company information stays in tact. 

FileMaker Pro Developers and FileMaker Server Administrators are both encouraged to attend this event. We'll cover the various roles both sides can play in building business applications and managing them in a safe cloud environment. As time goes on, the cloud will only become a bigger part of business information infrastructure, so now is the best time to obtain the knowledge and skills needed to safely operate in this virtual environment. By learning these skills and applying them to application development and management practices, companies will be able to maximize the potential of their solutions.

The webinar, titled 'Protecting your Users and Data in the Cloud' will be held on Wednesday, June 17, 2013 from 3-4 PM Eastern Standard time.         

Interested parties can register on this page. A confirmation will be sent to all registered parties after the process is complete. Please remember that access to the webinar will require specific system specs, depending on the platform used to logon.

System Requirements
PC-based attendees
Required: Windows® 7, Vista, XP or 2003 Server

Mac®-based attendees
Required: Mac OS® X 10.6 or newer

Mobile attendees
Required: iPhone®, iPad®, Android™ phone or Android tablet
Space is limited.  Click here to sign up.

The key to any successful company is the ability to provide customers with exactly what they are looking for. However, the only way an organization can actually do this is if it know what its customers want. Modern technology has increased communication between customers and the organizations they do business with, so it's up to the companies themselves to pay close attention to the nature of those conversations and use that information to shape their marketing campaigns.

Many discussions that traditionally took place in-person or on the phone have migrated to a digital format. Today, social media interaction allows consumers to quickly receive answers to their questions, and those inquiries give organizations valuable information which they can later use to fuel their engagement initiatives. 

Recently, this blog discussed the ways organizations can use data to try and cater to each specific customer. That can be done my using information pertaining to individual needs. When companies have a full grasp of their big data strategies, the possibilities are endless. 

An article in the online publication Pando Daily addressed this very issue. Veeral Rathod, the article's author, used a clothing retailer to exemplify the power of this practice.

"Let's say 65 percent of women who try on a size 6 end up buying a size smaller or taking in certain seams when shopping a particular brand," Rathod wrote. "Instead of relying on sales representatives to guide customers to 'size down,' vertically integrated retailers can take that insight and use it to adapt sizing and fit patterns to make it easier for customers to find the best fit the first time. Most importantly, the feedback loop is short enough that it becomes possible to make the change before certain expectations become ingrained among customers."

While acquiring full control of customer information is invaluable, doing so requires a tremendous amount of effort. That effort can be assisted, however, with the right software solutions. Using FileMaker development to create a system designed to better manage data will be a major help.

A custom database software system can be used to quickly enter all bits of information gleaned from online conversations with customers. Taking that data and creating custom reports from the system can give companies an idea of how to adjust their current operations. With the right data collection techniques combined with the best data management software, businesses can go a long way toward ensuring the success of this initiative.