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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.

"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.

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.