Author: Justin Hesser

Whether their business takes place in a boardroom or a cathedral, organizations looking to reach more people and increase productivity have explored custom application development for a variety of needs. The Wall Street Journal reported in late December 2011 that more than 150 American churches have had custom mobile and tablet applications developed to improve their connection to the congregation.

These religious apps are utilized to share audio and video, to send prayers and, believe it or not, to make confessions. An app developed for Redeemer Church in Utica, New York has been downloaded roughly 3,700 times, even though the average attendance at each weekend's services is about 1,700. The report states that app developers expect thousands of churches to follow the trend, thanks to the popularity of the holy apps in other communities.

Corporations and startups alike are also expected to consult software developing companies for their own custom apps. A Deloitte poll in 2011 showed that 42 percent of American households own a smartphone, so it's no surprise that 28 percent of developers expected their mobile business to grow more than 50 percent in the next three years, as shown in a recent Partnerpedia survey.

The number of applications in the Android Market has doubled in the past eight months, and with that, there are now nearly 1 million mobile apps between it and Apple's App Store. While there are plenty of useless games and utilities cluttering both app stores, the rise in the number of smartphone users brings with it many unique interests and needs. Developing a customized application for your business has more advantages than just following suit in a competitive industry. And you never know, it might even bring you a little bit closer to heaven.

Businesses in a number of industries and sectors have turned to FileMaker Bento as a platform for their Mac-based database software since it was released in 2008. FileMaker announced that as a result of the software’s success, it has now sold more than 1 million units of Bento.

Ryan Rosenberg, vice president of marketing and services for FileMaker, noted in a press release that professionals in a variety of industries – including health, fitness and even entertainment – have made Bento their database software of choice for Mac desktops and mobile devices such as the iPad and iPhone.

Positive reviews for the software’s intuitive drag-and-drop capabilities, helpful templates and clean interface have also played a part in the decision of many companies to consult a FileMaker developer and implement the software for tasks such as project management, inventory and event coordination.

“[Bento] is simple to set up and you can do almost anything with it,” said Jessica Fonseca, a Bento user who bought her first home with help from the database software, in the release.

Though its applications are beneficial for everyday consumers as well as businesses, managers may be able to make the most of Bento database software in the workplace. Reliable FileMaker consultants can assist a client to identify his or her technology needs and craft a custom application development strategy that maximize the software’s capabilities.

It may also be beneficial to seek assistance from a FileMaker developer that is well-connected with the software’s extensive community. This way, clients can take advantage of the development knowledge and support of Bento users around the world, allowing them access to more templates and advice on how to make the most of this database software.

Database software offers benefits to retailers in the way of inventory, customer, time and asset management. These companies can get the most value out of custom application development when they use this information to better plan out the day-to-day alterations to their retail space.

Brick-and-mortar retailers rely on a targeted approach to arranging the sales floor, one in which items must be placed carefully to appeal to customers and increase the chances for a purchase. Custom application development can connect retailers with tools specifically designed to help in this process.

Space planning programs powered by database software may be able to provide retailers with the analytics information on each item they sell. Using this data, stores can then optimize their floor to enhance sales potential.

For example, retailers will be able to identify if certain items sell better in a specific location. Additionally, managers will be able to adjust inventory levels accordingly, ensuring that the prime selling locations in their store are always stocked with the most profitable items.

Such a strategy can have other benefits in addition to simply increasing sales potential. When items are in an optimal location and selling at the best possible rate, stores may be able to avoid typical markdowns or sales that are frequently used by merchants who want to eliminate unwanted or excess inventory.

Customers might also be more pleased with the shopping experience if they can be sure they will find the items they desire in a convenient location every time.

Retailers who seek custom application development for store planning purposes are best served speaking with software developing companies that take a collaborative approach to application design. Developers that seek input and approval from their clients may be more likely to produce database software that fits the needs and desires of the respective user.

In a business setting, managers frequently ask individual workers and the company as a whole to reach collectively towards certain milestones. However, many times these goals are unfulfilled because the company lacked a targeted approach and the right tools.

As René Shimada Siegel – founder of a marketing and communications consulting firm – wrote for Inc.com, achieving goals can be a challenge on a personal level because many people are not consistent in their approach. Sometimes, individuals set goals that are either too easy to reach – and therefore unfulfilling – or difficult and unrealistic.

Instead, individuals and businesses alike should set a goal that is challenging but realistic. Similarly, goal-setters should find ways to be held accountable publicly, as this will provide more of an incentive to succeed and reach these milestones.

Companies often have little trouble with accountability, as their employees, managers and stakeholders are all individuals who can publicly judge the business' success or failure. As a result, many times these corporate milestones are unmet due to certain influences or challenges, whether they be financial, operational or administrative.

To avoid falling prey to these difficulties, business owners need to consider the tools they have in place to achieve goals.  If certain inefficiencies are hampering the company's overall ability to succeed, steps should be taken to correct them.

Custom application development can play an important part in this process. Database software that is tailor-made to handle a business' specific concerns and challenges can help increase productivity, allowing owners to maximize resources and keep their team on the path to reaching a collective goal.

A number of software developing companies can connect customers with the right database software, but the best ones take a similar goal-driven approach to custom application developing. These companies keep clients in the loop throughout the development process, providing the accountability and structure that makes milestones reachable.

As 2011 winds down and 2012 inches closer, more business owners may benefit from taking an internal look at their own processes and determining ways to simplify workflow in the new year. Database software can provide answers for many companies' task and management-related concerns.

Mark Strippy, an executive with a payroll services company, told Smart Business Online that payroll matters should be at the top of the list for many businesses at the start of the new year. That's because, while a majority of companies outsource this management for simplicity, relying on subpar servicers may do more to hurt productivity than help it.

The new year presents an opportune time to start a relationship with a new payroll provider, Strippy adds, because it allows businesses to start fresh and measure results as the year progresses.

However, payroll services are not the only thing worth revisiting entering the new year. For example, by researching software developing companies and turning to custom application development, companies may be able to acquire the software solutions they need to patch up other financial shortcomings.

Custom applications can allow business owners to keep track of their staff's time management responsibilities, which in turn lets managers easily track how many hours are spent on certain projects or clients. By seeing a visual representation of this data in an accessible program, owners can make better decisions to ensure that they are allocating workers in the most productive manner.

When paired with stronger payroll services, time management software can create a more holistic approach to employee relations. Vendors such as FileMaker provide the platform companies need to create this database software, but only a certified and experienced FileMaker developer can help customers maximize this resource.
 

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Business owners frequently analyze their internal systems to determine if there is anything that needs improvement. It's this type of analysis that leads many to turn to the beneficial technical advances offered by services such as custom application development.

Now, many public employment organizations might be able to lean on federal grants to turn productivity-improving concepts into reality. The Department of Labor announced $98.5 million in grants from its Workforce Innovation Fund, which would allow certain institutions the funding they need to improve their level of service.

The funds will be specifically earmarked for state and local organizations or boards that promote workforce training or public employment initiatives. Conceptually, these organizations – many of which are responsible for empowering public workers and linking the unemployed with jobs – might benefit from additional funding that can pay for important system upgrades.

These improvements may include technical tools – such as database software – or moer dramatic organizational changes, according to a DOL press release.

"The mission of the public workforce system is to find good jobs for everyone," Secretary of Labor Hilda Solis said. "These grants will significantly enhance the capacity of our public workforce system by identifying, evaluating and expanding successful programs."

Other businesses could similarly accomplish these goals by looking at internal processes and identifying potential areas of improvement. To this end, researching the best software developing companies to find one that can craft database software or other business productivity programs may yield significant benefits for businesses. These measures can tighten up part of the business that were once considered a time drain and allow managers the opportunity to better track and analyze important data.
 

Part of a manager's daily responsibilities is keeping employees on task and productive. Several tools – including business productivity programs and database software – can help these executives in that never-ending obligation, but it may also pay off to encourage a handful of strong employee habits.

In a recent piece on Inc.com, project management expert Tony Wong shared some of his tips for a more productive worker. These included a de-emphasis on multitasking, which requires individuals to stretch their capabilities too thin, ultimately hurting the quality of work they produce.

Similarly, Wong suggested that workers should expedite certain tasks by taking the quicker route – long, time-consuming email chains might be resolved more quickly with a phone conversation, for instance. In addition, productive employees should eliminate distractions – many of which are borne of multitasking – and schedule regular breaks to recharge.

While a manager may suggest their employees adopt many of these habits, developing a workplace that maximizes these strategies may be another challenge altogether. After all, short of imposing strict rules to manage workers' time and habits, it can be difficult to monitor if employees are following any of these methods.

As a result, it may be most beneficial for workers and employees to maintain a collaborative dialogue in which both sides work to increase productivity overall. While employees can work on bettering their workplace habits, employers can hold up their end of the bargain by providing employees with the tools they need to succeed.

Custom application development might help businesses plug gaps in productivity with beneficial database software. While many software developing companies offer this service, the best take a consultative approach that identifies weaknesses in existing processes and maximizes their strengths.
 

Most people find the holiday season to be stressful in some ways, not the least of which involves actually shopping for gifts for friends and family. Many working individuals take advantage of their lunch breaks to cross items off their shopping list, although a new report suggests employees may be taking more liberties with their work time than expected.

The Massachusetts-based IT company Ipswitch reported that, among the businesses that tracked their employee’s productivity, 42 percent found that employees were taking time away from important work tasks to finish their holiday shopping. While most companies did not appear to mind how employees used their lunch break, problems do arise when workers are cutting into their productivity by searching the Web for gifts.

Nearly 12 percent had policies in place to restrict online shopping in the workplace, but more than 15 percent of companies said workers spent two hours or more shopping instead of working.

“In addition to lost productivity, online shopping can put additional strain on business-critical network infrastructure, so it is imperative that network administrators are aware of what traffic is flowing around the network,” Ennio Carboni, of Ipswitch, said in a press release.

Businesses can exercise administrative power to place certain internet restrictions on their employees, and it is within their right to stress the importance of a productive workplace with workers. The best tool to limit abuse may be to monitor network traffic while also remaining communicative with workers about upholding their responsibilities during this hectic time of year.

In addition, turning to business productivity tools such as database software may ensure that when employees are working, they are able to do so at maximum efficiency. The holiday season can provide many challenges for a business even in the best of circumstances, and as such, custom application development can yield beneficial tools to ensure work is conducted at a healthy rate.