Author: Justin Hesser

Citibank is continuing to grow as a global financial leader and, according to CEO Michael Corbat, progress is satisfactory, but it could be better.

Corbat spoke with CNBC at the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, this week and indicated that overall, he is pleased with the way things are going.

“Our fundamental business is heading in the right direction,” he said, but he suggested his company’s situation could be improved overseas. “Europe remains challenging. Global growth is slowing.”

Corbat said that to ensure domestic growth continues on its impressive path and to give global growth the kickstart it needs, he is taking 2013 to focus on improving business efficiency. By getting workers across departments, branches and even continents on the same page, everyone can work toward the same ultimate goal. 

This can be done by implementing new technology or by partaking in custom application development. Installing a system that performs on a global scale and allows for easier access to data and content from across the globe, Citibank can provide its employees with the ability to improve their daily tasks, which in turn benefits the organization as a whole. 

For example, a system designed to identify financial risk will only reach its potential if all relevant personnel have access to pertinent, real-time data. By implementing a custom database software system built in FileMaker, employees will be able to examine information and make important decisions based off of that information quickly while alleviating the risk for error. 

Ultimately, growth is only attained if organizations can discover ways to increase profits without having to overspend on new systems or processes. By working with a custom development firm, companies such as Citibank can obtain a solution designed to improve efficiency while staying within budget constraints and without having to wait an extended period of time for their new software. 

Earlier this month, this blog examined the fact that a number of companies are looking to decrease their carbon footprint as a 2013 initiative and discussed the strategies that can assist in that action. Custom application development can help increase the usefulness of mobile devices in the workplace, which in turn limits the amount of traditional energy used in a standard office space. However, simply suggesting that these plans will go into effect is not enough, as companies must ensure they have implemented a system designed to track any energy-saving project.

Any organized plan should be properly managed with the right database software. If a company is truly committed to reducing energy consumption, it is crucial to develop a system that tracks energy usage while allowing organizations to map out energy-related goals and strategies.

More companies expected to focus on energy efficiency in 2013

Power quality professional Michael Mallia spoke recently with the online publication ARN Net about the energy efficiency trend that has taken over a number of industries. He indicated that the trend’s growth will continue on its steady path in the coming year.

“It will be more of the same and we don’t foresee anything too significant taking place,” Mallia said, although he agreed that space consolidation is a trend that should continue to grow. “Businesses may decide to consolidate facilities, and that will become more prominent this year.”

Mallia went on to say that energy efficiency will be driven by a number of needs. While saving the planet is a good idea in theory and it does wonders for public relations, what’s really fueling the need to cut down on energy usage is the rising costs of heat and electricity.

Developing a program in FileMaker will give companies the resources needed to properly focus on cost-effective energy management programs.

Businesses need the flexibility to change processes whenever doing so is required. Oftentimes, any delay in making operational adjustments could cause irreparable damage to an organization. Whether internal processes change or customer behavior requires companies to amend their product lines and marketing strategies, they have to be made efficiently.

Take the retailer Borders Group, Inc., owners of the once-popular book, movie and music retailer. The company was once one of the prominent sellers of media, but it failed to adjust to changing times and in 2011, it filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy. There were many reasons why the company went out of business, but one of the main theories is that it didn’t adjust to consumer reading habits.

A couple of years before Borders closed, the e-reader exploded on the scene and many readers ditched their paperbacks for tablet-sized devices. Amazon’s Kindle began the trend, which was later picked up by Barnes & Noble – Borders’ closest competitor. Borders, however, did not incorporate a tremendous amount of resources into developing its own e-reader. This half-hearted effort was recognized by consumers and the device did not sell well.

Had Borders been able to view pertinent consumer data, it may have been able to adjust its offerings with greater success. Instead, the company is now closed.

Companies need to be able to view information and make necessary changes when their data suggests that doing so is required for future viability. Jason Whitehead, a contributor with the online publication Customer Think, suggests that necessary changes vary in how easy they are to identify.

“While some changes are harder to map out and recognize [e.g., organizational culture change] other changes [e.g., adopting a new system or adhering to new policies] can be mapped out with clarity,” Whitehead writes.

By implementing a FileMaker-built custom database software system, organizations should be able to identify and organize all important information and make proper changes accordingly.

Business is constantly changing, regardless of the industry. Technological advancements have improved hardware functionality, which has benefited business operations. However, it has increased expectations and companies must ensure they can adjust and cater to new customer needs.

Since the development of the first software applications, businesses have been using them to improve operations. However, many apps are limited in functionality, which can hinder their usefulness. It’s up to businesses to optimize their application usage and get the most out of their solutions.

Custom application development can give organizations the flexibility and scalability needed to grow and adjust as needed. Companies that develop apps this way will not be confined by the restrictions of standard development and they will break through traditional barriers to achieve new levels of efficiency and productivity.

An article in ITWeb addresses the importance of application optimization and lists a number of benefits the practice can offer. One of them is the added value of new technological investments. Instead of holding back on new procurements due to software limitations, organizations can have the confidence to acquire new tools to really better their businesses.

“With guaranteed application performance and improved end-user experience, businesses will also have the confidence to evolve computing models by deploying other forms of technology that can positively impact on workforce productivity and business efficiency, like mobility, unified communications, software as a service and desktop virtualization,” writes Sean Nourse, the author of the article.

Improving traditional software applications can be accomplished a number of ways. However, FileMaker-based custom development can build applications that will truly deliver superb results. Organizations can benefit tremendously from their solutions created this method and many application development projects conducted in this environment are quick and cost-effective.

Social media engagement has become one of the most effective ways for companies to market themselves. Posting content on business Facebook pages or tweeting links to pertinent pages on the company website can develop an influx of new customers. However, this is a complicated process that must be properly managed.

As the digital information age took off roughly five years ago, it became apparent that having a website just wasn’t enough to develop an adequate online presence. Social media pages became increasingly crucial as networks such as Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Pinterest and Google Plus grew in popularity. However, simply having these pages is no longer enough. Companies must actively participate on them to engage online consumers.

Doing so does accomplishes a number of business goals. It shows customers that the companies they “like” or follow online care about their brand image and actively participate in customer engagement. Creating content on the company’s behalf goes a long way in building stronger relationships with consumers.

“People share content more readily than they sign up for a stream of brand chatter. Content still works as a badge,” writes Matt Rosenberg, the author of the article. “Content is happy just being shared and does not ask for anything more. You’ll have to create more solid, not-overly-promotional content and spread it with a light hand.”

This strategy can also help businesses compile pertinent consumer data, which can be used to target specific demographics or even specific individuals. Suppose a company posts a video on its Facebook page and 300 saw it through their friends without actually liking the page of the organization that posted it. Those likes are important pieces of data because it gives companies targets to further engage and turn from prospects to regular customers.

However, this data must be properly managed. A FileMaker-based database software system can capture this information and allow marketers to process it in a way that enhances their customer engagement strategies.

Productivity is the key to a successfulbusiness. When employees show up to work, they have to get tasks done in order to make their company money. While managers have been spending over 100 years trying to formulate strategies to improve their workers’ production, the key to productivity in 2013 is improved technology.

Cloud computing is a powerful solution that allows individuals to share, store and access data from a multitude of devices. Today, businesses use the cloud to let workers do their jobs either when they are on the road or in the office. It can protect companies from targeted cyber attacks and spur disaster recovery efforts, but it can also improve the day-to-day workload.

Matt Smith, a guest blogger with the online publication ERP Cloud News, shared the benefits of cloud computing in a recent article.

“One of the ways productivity has been increased of late is via the development of cloud computing,” Smith wrote. “It cannot be denied that cloud computing is having a tremendous positive effect upon integrating technology and making life easier overall. This is also true in the workplace, and more and more businesses are reaping its benefits.”

Businesses need to ensure they have the right solutions in place to capitalize on cloud capabilities so they can increase productivity. Using a FileMaker-based custom database software system, data can be stored and accessed with great ease. Oftentimes, cloud storage can hurt the efficiency of information access and slow down processes, thus diminishing productivity. If data isn’t properly organized, no organization will experience a return on their cloud investment. With this custom solution in place, users can enjoy the benefits of the cloud without slowing down their business.

Procurements allow companies to acquire the solutions needed to benefit their organization and grow. Investments into new tools, technology or services that deliver a strong return on investment can do wonders for a business, but all purchasing strategies must be properly managed.

As it is still early January, many companies are likely still finalizing their budgets for 2013. Spending has been reduced across a number of industries in recent years due to the economic downturn, but it is still a necessity. Budget plans must consider the need to procure new products and services.

Keeping this process organized can be a challenge. Requisitions are filled out from different departments, proposals are submitted, purchasing cards are issued and all actions likely have to flow to the top so they can be signed off by a CFO or CEO. Every department head likely thinks their needs supersede others, so in order to get those met, everything must be done with the utmost efficiency.

By developing a custom database software system designed to track departmental budgets, depreciate assets and organize all other pieces of pertinent financial information, the risks of improper spending can be drastically reduced. This solution can also assist in organizing the proposal process, which in turn increases the likelihood in which they will be met.

A FileMaker-based system can also accommodate a number of different user needs. For example, many companies are implementing a bring-your-own-device strategy. If users need to access or build data on a mobile device, embarking in custom application development can assist with that.

Ultimately, every financial decision must be made to benefit the company. That can only happen if decision makers have access to proper resources. A customized software system will help present them with all the information they need.

Those tasked with identifying and managing risks within their organization must be cognizant of any changes to data and address them in a timely fashion. In high stakes risk management, such as in the financial industry – where one mistake can have a rippling effect on the economy as a whole – there is very little room for error.

Risk assessors are constantly looking to implement innovative software solutions to present themselves with a better view of pertinent data. This can be done with the help of a custom database software solution, which can collect pertinent information and store it in a way that is easy to access from a multitude of devices.

Risk management benefited by innovation in the insurance industry

An article in the online publication Business Insurance talks about the innovative measures being taken in the risk management field. Insurance companies are benefiting from technological advancements and are using new tools and systems to provide a better service to their clients.

Kathy Burns is a provider of technical solutions for insurance companies. She told the news source that while risk managers are starting to find better ways to collect data, they are becoming increasingly interested in how they can use their collected information.

“Historically, risk mangers have thought more about technology to help them with the efficiency of their processes,” she said. “Now that the process-oriented tools are more firmly in place, they want to spend more time evaluating and understanding data that they can use to drive down their total cost of risk. It’s becoming more about what you can do with data.”

A database developed in FileMaker can give risk assessors an accurate view of their data and custom developed software can provide them with the tools needed to harness that information for their advantage.

On paper, mergers and acquisitions are excellent business opportunities. The acquiring organization is able to obtain a new list of customers, diversify its offerings and, at times, market to new demographics. However, doing so isn’t easy, particularly if it involves departmental consolidation and the shuffling of personnel. Oftentimes, custom application development may be needed in order to create a system capable of managing congregated data.

Data is a key component of business operations. When companies come together, two completely different data sets must be merged, which can present a number of complications pertaining to duplicate, or even worse, lost information. It takes skilled professionals and quality business systems to manage acquisitions properly.

Take, for example, Google’s acquisition of Motorola, which was confirmed this past summer. On paper, this is a great move for the search giant turned tech provider because it allows Google to develop its own mobile devices the way Apple has.David Balto, a former FTC antitrust official and senior fellow at the Center for American Progress, told the Associated Press that the move should only benefit Google’s position in the mobile technology market.

“If anything, antitrust regulators may see the deal as a boost to competition,” Balto said. “Android is such a crucial competitor to the iPhone in particular, that allowing Google to buy Motorola Mobility will likely produce even more innovation in smartphones and other devices.”

However, the move could be extremely risky because there is a significant risk of data being mismanaged – whether it is duplicated or lost – during the process. Should Google lose pertinent information, the cost to the organization could wipe out any financial benefit of such a merger. Business ventures must be managed with pristine efficiency. In these cases, a FileMaker-based database software system is ideal, because it lets organizations control their information and consolidate it to its simplest format.

For many businesses, organizations and institutions, custom application development can go a long way towards increasing productivity, improving management systems and streamlining database processes. Many have relied on FileMaker, a sturdy and reliable provider of database software and solutions.

Though FileMaker is often a favorite choice among consumers for its functionality and interface, it’s not much use to inexperienced users without the proper development and customization. For that reason, most require the help of a FileMaker developer to implement the software into their current systems.

For years, KyoLogic has been a leading provider of FileMaker development and consultation. The company’s decades of experience in creating database software, coupled with their certifications and partnerships with FileMaker, make it an obvious choice for businesses in need of a capable FileMaker developer.

FileMaker developers must understand nuances of clients, software

When companies work with a FileMaker developer, they have to communicate their requirements and hardware capabilities effectively to ensure that the database software they are buying is suitable for their needs. However, a lot can be lost in translation when working with a less experienced or adept FileMaker developer.

Colleges and universities, for instance, may want separate database software that can handle complex course registration duties, staff administration and student population data. Each database may call for starkly different demands and requirements, but without the background in applications development, clients may find it a challenge to communicate these points.

In addition, those same colleges and universities may not understand what it takes to upgrade their database from an older system to FileMaker software. In instances like this, it can be valuable to have a FileMaker consultant on hand to explain the process and work with clients on a one-to-one level during the developmental stage.

Experienced consultation and development a step towards database solutions

FileMaker software has been able to help a number of organizations manage their database applications more efficiently. In fact, on its website, the software company describes the case of one major university that decreased its online class enrollment process from 75 minutes to 30 seconds by adopting FileMaker software.

At the same time, the transition process can be simplified with the right FileMaker developer on hand to handle coordination and implementation. The best Filemaker consultants and developers help clients organize a project plan, maintain constant communication to guarantee satisfaction and rely on statistical metrics and analysis to ensure success.

Not all FileMaker developers take this approach, but it’s one embraced by the experts at Kyo Logic. This effective strategy distinguishes Kyo Logic from other software developing companies, particularly in its implementation of FileMaker software.

Superior credentials, experience separate Kyo Logic from competition

Kyo Logic’s solution-focused approach to custom application development helps clients meet challenges with data security and accuracy, network health and software relevancy. To help clients achieve their goals and solve these problems, Kyo Logic relies on its fount of industry experience and knowledge.

Kyo Logic has been a leading presence in the FileMaker community, particularly in New York in Connecticut. Kyo Logic principals have helped spread awareness and education regarding this software in these areas, but the company’s intimate understanding of this software is what helped it achieve membership in the exclusive FileMaker Business Alliance.

Kyo Logic experts have also achieved certification in a number of FileMaker applications, which assures clients that the developers and consultants they are working with understand the intricacies of this software. With a Kyo Logic FileMaker developer at their side, companies can enjoy a fruitful custom application development experience and obtain the database they need to increase workplace productivity and functionality.