Category: Custom Applications

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.

The advantages of building mobile business solutions have been discussed at great length in this blog, but much of the benefits of implementing a mobile strategy have been geared toward those who conduct business on the go. The ability to process information and build reports during the course of a business road trip, for example, is a strong driver of mobile adoption. However, while this benefit will always attract companies to go this route, there are many advantages that can be felt in-house.

FileMaker recently published a study that found that 59 percent of respondents connect their mobile devices to their company’s wireless networks and servers. These individuals are using their gadgets – whether they are deployed by the organization or brought from home as part of a BYOD strategy – inside the walls of the facility as a way to automate internal processes.

Ryan Rosenberg, vice president of marketing and services for FileMaker, Inc., released a statement in which he referred to those who use mobility inside the office as productivity warriors and indicated that they are fueling the rise in these devices in the business market.

“The next wave of business mobility, fuelled by iPad and iPhone-equipped ‘productivity warriors,’ is delivering real ROI by automating processes in the building and on the company campus,” Rosenberg said. “Of course we see many traditional road warriors using FileMaker, but we were surprised to find how much use was actually occurring inside the building. We were also impressed at how frequently businesses are replacing paper-based processes with iPads and iPhones, thus automating areas of their business not practical before.”

FileMaker can help with custom application development so those who use their devices in the office can improve the way they manage data and improve their own processes.

The proliferation of the bring-your-own-device (BYOD) model is possibly the biggest business technology story this year. This blog touched on the concept of BYOD earlier this month, but some of the strengths and weaknesses of the strategy are becoming more apparent.

The shift from traditional desktop to PCs to modernized mobile devices began to take place a couple of years ago, but as the technology continued to evolve, many corporations began to realize something – consumer technology was outpacing business solutions.

Today, people stand outside for hours in line just to get their hands on the latest iPhone, Android or, if the folks at the company formerly known as Research in Motion have anything to say about it, the BlackBerry. The features and functionality of these devices have caused price tags to skyrocket, and many companies struggle to keep up. So, instead of deploying a few second-rate handheld devices to employees, many businesses have decided to optimize the resources at their workers’ disposal by allowing them to bring their gadgets into the office.

Doing so reduces spending and builds efficiency, perhaps the two biggest factors driving the majority of business decisions ever year. So, why doesn’t every organization adopt this policy? The trouble is, many companies have a difficulty entrusting employees to store data on their personal devices.

However, the benefits of using a high-powered personal device are too important to pass up. This blog’s aforementioned previous entry suggested building a custom database software system to help manage information on personal devices, and FileMaker is the program to help businesses get there.

In addition to providing the tools companies need to develop strong software programs to run on iPhones, Androids and any other personal mobile device, FileMaker can allow organizations to host their apps in the cloud. That way, individuals with powerful smartphones and tablets can use their devices’ internet capabilities to access information from the cloud. This is an ideal solution because it capitalizes on the advantages of using personal devices without damaging a company’s security efforts.

Managing data and allowing it to assist business initiatives is complicated enough, but there are related factors that must also be considered. When organizations are faced with a treasure trove of information and have specific directives in mind for their digital files, they must construct solutions to get their data to add operational value. However, that's only half the big data battle. The other side of the equation is equally as vital: where is the information going to go?

As this blog has stated in the past, using FileMaker to build a comprehensive database software solution to perform crucial tasks like data deduplication will go a long way toward mitigating the risks of overgrown data volumes. However, there is still the matter of where to store that information. In today's increasingly virtual world, more organizations are ditching physical machines and opting for hosted services to help store, view and manage pertinent data.

Cloud computing is a perfect compl​ement to custom application development. Businesses create solutions designed to manipulate data and use it to gain insights into key metrics, but hosting the solution on-site sets organizations up for myriad risks. Disaster recovery and information security efforts can be compromised should an organization suffer from an unforeseen incident. Meanwhile, using FileMaker to host an application in the cloud allows businesses to protect their information from targeted attacks and allows them to streamline the recovery process should they ensure a system shutdown. 

Using cloud computing to manage custom applications also introduces several new advantages, namely mobility. By allowing employees to manage data and processes on smartphones and tablets, companies can attain a new level of operational efficiency. Working with a FileMaker-based development firm will let companies obtain these solutions quickly and easily, ensuring the delivery of a strong return on investment.

Of the many advantages gained by investing in new software systems, one of the most important is the increased level of security. Organizations that procure new solutions can go a long way toward protecting sensitive information and preventing theft.

That’s why many companies in the cargo management industry have implemented software designed to track cargo and prevent theft. This is becoming a pressing issue as well. An article in the online publication Fleet Owner examines the rise in this crime. Randy Ortiz, the president and CEO of LoJack, told the news source that cargo criminals are using more advanced systems to assist their malicious activity.

“Cargo theft is becoming an increasingly sophisticated and lucrative opportunity for professional thieves, requiring businesses to take progressively more steps to ensure their mobile assets are protected both proactively and reactively,” Ortiz said. “To do so, businesses are relying on new technologies more and more for safety and security services.”

By using software to better track shipments and inventory levels, companies can give themselves a better view of real-time operations, which can assist in identifying and stopping criminals. A custom database software system designed to monitor all important pieces of information can allow cargo security professionals to make better decisions as it pertains to the management and protection of cargo.

For example, when work gets busier and cargo shipments build, organizations become increasingly vulnerable for theft. It is at these times when companies must put forth a stronger effort to fight off crime and protect cargo. Using software to keep everyone on the same page can reduce the risk of theft going unnoticed.

Ultimately, the risk of theft is one of the biggest threats to any organization. Investing in custom application development and using FileMaker to create solutions designed to fight off these threats can significantly increase profit margins at any organization.

 

 

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.