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Hospitals contain a wealth of data. Not only do physicians need to know immediate data – what may have happened to a patient and how – but also medical history and the complicated web of medical insurance.

These institutions may benefit from a custom database software that can provide the robust information processing systems that are also easy to use – much like database software FileMaker – which is why, according to BusinessWeek, many hospitals are seeking help to keep track of this wealth of data.

According to the media source, only 35 percent of hospitals have integrated electronic health records into their daily operation. In response to the rising IT crisis in America's hospitals, a group of New York healthcare providers created the New York Digital Health Accelerator. Started on May 10, the program will give 12 health IT startups the opportunity to design a custom database software that will, hopefully, improve the access and processing of medical data and records.

The program is backed by numerous hospitals and care providers as well as a slew of venture capital firms and the New York City Investment Fund. Startups have until June 1 to design and implement their software, which will be chosen over the summer.

One of the main goals of the operation is to improve the State Health Information Network of New York, a database that provides caregivers with a wealth of information, but requires an upgrade in access as many physicians are still unable to gain the necessary data from this source.

One example comes from the Maimonides Medical Center in Brooklyn. According to BusinessWeek, one woman was hospitalized due to a cough she claimed was "brought on by the spirits." She was given psychiatric medicine and released to her family, who the doctors kept regular contact with for two months before losing track. When the hospital finally found her, it turns out she had been admitted twice without the hospital knowing until months after the fact. 

In the world of major Division I athletics, being able to maintain finances and expenses is extremely important and most often schools will need a custom database software to be able to handle the imperative task. This may be especially true for the University of Texas' athletic department as it is the most funded college sports program in the country, according to USA Today.

For the past three years the newspaper has maintained its own custom database of major collegiate athletic finances and it found that no programs have earned or spent more than Texas. In the 2010-11 school year, the Longhorns raked in more than $150 million in revenue. Ohio State University came in second with a comparatively low $18.5 million. Furthermore, Texas expenses for football and 19 other varsity sports was roughly $130 million, which was nearly $11.5 million more than Ohio State spent on all 36 of its varsity teams. 

"There's nothing to stop Texas or other very successful financial enterprises with these gigantic television contracts from continuing to grow, grow, grow because their revenues match their expenditures," said former University of Arizona president Peter Likins to USA Today. Likins was also the head of a high-level NCAA panel that examined college athletics finances. "But the disconnect between what's happening in athletics and what's happening elsewhere in the same universities create stress, and the stresses will create a breakdown."

Furthermore, according to information the newspaper collected from its database, Texas' athletic program is one of only 22 in Division I athletics that operate in the black. This has become a touchy subject as economic factors add stress to higher education finances. In fact, the University of Texas' athletic department spotted $6 million to the school's academic side last year.

Some experts believe that a government intervention may be needed for the amount of finances flowing through these programs, while others fear that this may proceed for years due to the economic advantages that many schools and communities gain from programs like Texas'.

IT security is an increasingly important facet of operating a business – whether it be a small corner store or a major multinational corporation. This is especially true as many more companies are beginning to shift their data – an important aspect of decision making – from hard paper copies, to taking up space on hard drives and then to being stored in the cloud.

But, a recent BusinessWeek article cites that just because some businesses may have moved their data from the more manual services to the cloud, it doesn't mean they should skimp out on making sure that data is secure.

"They say they're getting rid of their IT department," said Joe Coyle, the CTO of Capegemini North America that created a service that helps companies determine whether they should migrate data to the cloud or not, to BusinessWeek. "I say, 'No. You still have to do this.'"

According to BusinessWeek, the biggest threat to cloud-stored data may be the company's inability to understand who is responsible for keeping it protected. Global tech provider IBM is customizing each contract it creates for clients before they start using their services for cloud computing to increase data security awareness.

This means some of the company's contracts go into great detail on what exactly happens when a server goes down or gets breached, while others hardly mention it.

Furthermore, more often than not, when a company leases space on a server to store data on that server it will most likely be in a remote location. The data's location complicates everything to the point where about 74 percent of IT security providers say that more training is needed for cloud issues.

In order for companies to maintain an accurate track on their data, they may want to consult a software application development company that can create a custom database software to store the data, regardless if they use the cloud as well. 

A new report from entrepreneurial firm Growthink, Inc. has shed some light on exactly what metrics business owners and executives may want to be monitoring and how to accomplish this.

According to the firm, there are certain Key Performance Indicators (KPI) that businesses must keep track of in order to accurately gauge their performance and current state of affairs. Growthink calls the cumulation of these statistics a company's "financial dashboard." These KPIs include: sales, new customers, subscribers, press mentions, website visitors, products manufactured and the costs of goods sold.

"You can not improve what you cannot measure," said Dave Lavinsky, president and co-founder of Growthink. "You need to track your progress to make sure you are always getting closer to achieving your goals. Your financial dashboard allows you to achieve these two objectives."

According to the report, in order for businesses to build an accurate and customized financial dashboard, they must first choose which KPIs to include. Although monitoring all of them would be excellent, that level of data management can be overkill for small businesses that may not have the technological means to do so.

Furthermore, these companies must also choose how often to monitor these KPIs. In order for businesses to retain the most accurate information from data sets, the indicators must be monitored on a routine basis, eliminating any possibility of outliers or uncontrolled variables altering the information.

In addition to a regular schedule of database monitoring, companies should have a standard to compare their results to. Without having other figures – either from previous years or goals that have been mandated by executives – the data lacks a sense of perspective that could be essential in making decisions to improve business productivity.

Small businesses may want to invest in custom database software in order to store and incorporate these KPIs into one succinct and customized financial dashboard. Consulting FileMaker developers may help businesses with the integration and development of this database. 

With more companies switching to cloud computing as a means to store essential documents or work papers, many employees are taking advantage of this by working remotely. Oftentimes working away from the desk can increase morale and cause a nice change of scenery to the usual office space, but sometimes it can cause communication issues that could prove costly.

The use of a custom database software like FileMaker can be very effective for those who are working remotely as it can store and share many important documents and information between employees.

If employees wish to combat these risks and maintain a productive workday away from the office, they may want to adhere to some of these tips provided from major technology website, Wired.

According to Wired, working remotely can be very easy, it just requires a "digital omnipresence." Being in all digital places at one time is needed in order to successfully complete the necessary work and assignments, while still maintaining excellent communication with fellow employees. Wired says that the use of cloud based services can easily help share documents from personal computers to colleagues in the office.

Also, those working remotely will need to ensure they aren't missing anything nor leaving anyone out of the loop by informing co-workers that they will be out of the office that day. This level of communication is critical to the point where Wired suggests that employees and managers working away from their desk take the effort to respond quickly to inquiries and even "over-communicate" to ensure that nothing gets lost between one computer and another.

If business owners wish to give themselves or their employees the opportunity to take advantage of this technology, they may want to consult a FileMaker developer. 

Many companies collect data on their customers, everything from online clicking habits or shopping patterns. But although this data may be stored in a custom database, it won't do much unless the employees know how to use it. To that effect, FastCompany has offered three tips for companies to follow to accurately use its data.

According to FastCompany, businesses should be able to give the customer a sense of control while taking advantage of the data. For example, when major retailer Target first started to recognize pregnant customers based on their purchasing patterns, rather than directly affronting them with prenatal products, Target would send flyers that included only a few of those products with an abundance of random items mixed in.

Although the company was able to increase sales by accurately marketing to the right customer, it was done in a way that wasn't on-the-nose and made the customer feel in control of their decisions.

Also, when companies are directly talking to customers or clients it's important for the employees to have a wealth of data available on hand, but to only mention what is necessary. Although this is very similar to the first rule on allowing the customer to feel as if they still maintain control, this is more about privacy.

When FastCompany's contributor, Sean Madden, was speaking with a representative at Amazon he asked if they could send it to his "Northeast Ninth Avenue" address without previously mentioning that he listed it. The representative said yes and that was it. Discretion has become a key way for companies to use data when it comes to customer relations.

But, in order for employees to successfully practice these tips and tricks, FastCompany says that they must first have the right tools to get the job done. By investing in a database software or custom application development, managers and executives can ensure they will provide their customers with the proper tools to effectively use customer data. 

According to Inc. Magazine, "data is the new oil." As business productivity software and custom database solutions become increasingly popular, it's become even more imperative that companies keep up by investing in a custom application software to help hold and organize all the data that's being used.

This goes for all companies, from major corporations to small business and fledgling startups.

Inc. Magazine states that small businesses need to measure everything in order to get the greatest benefit from using data and analytics in business operations. The magazine gives an example from Ampush Media, a major marketing company, measuring the time customers spend between questions on a mortgage site.

"We started to look at the time between steps," said Jesse Pujji, the co-founder and president of the company. "We noticed that for more than 5 percent of visitors, if they hesitated more than two to three milliseconds at a step, we would lose them. We set up the site so that whenever there was that kind of hesitation, it would deliver an inspirational message, such as 'Low rates are just a few clicks away.' That improved conversion rates by 30 to 40 percent."

Although measuring the clicking habits of online shoppers is extremely important for small businesses – even if they do not primarily conduct e-commerce – measuring other aspects of business from inventory to employee payroll is essential to ensure that this raw data can be turned into information and insight on how well the company is functioning.

Companies can achieve this clarity by investing in a custom database software that can accumulate and display this information to fit the business owner's needs and increase business productivity. 

For many small to medium sized businesses (SMBs) the day-to-day challenges of business operations can be the most expensive and challenging aspects of the company. As many businesses are started to be conducted exclusively online, it has become essential for SMBs to utilize software systems that allow for increased productivity and workload efficiency. Mashable – a popular technology resource – has recommended some ways that managers and business owners can improve in these areas.

Mashable suggests that business owners or managers keep track of software updates that help improve business productivity on software they are currently using. For example, FileMaker recently released its latest update, FileMaker 12, that has since been downloaded more than 100,000 times and includes new features that help improve the usability of the software on PCs as well as on mobile devices, whose use has also become increasingly popular.

Furthermore, by using a custom database software or other custom application development, Mashable suggests managers organize or eliminate "junk" from employees' PCs. By committing regular time to maintenance and organization of hard drives, employees can ensure that their computers – an essential ingredient to the workplace – run efficiently over extended periods of time. This will save the business time and money in not only streamlining productivity, but also saving fiscally by not having to purchase new equipment.

In addition to organizational and maintenance care, Mashable suggests that executives invest in a business productivity software system that is dynamic enough to tackle many tasks. Rather than using multiple programs for similar activities, investing in one database that can be customized to perform an assortment of tasks can eliminate software that may actually be unnecessary. By doing this, businesses should see an increased productivity and organization. 

Organization and document storage is, oftentimes, either an ignored issue or one that consumes too much time and energy from employees or even CEOs. Although some companies may have their own ways of dealing with organizational debacles, one lost paycheck or a misplaced contract can be the difference between success and failure for many others.

To ensure that small businesses or startups are able to perform at their best, Inc. Magazine has listed a few areas of business management that may need some extra technological help for organization.

According to Inc., storage is always an issue with business, big or small. File storage capabilities have gotten the point that having multiple hard drives to back up tax forms and shipping receipts can seem outdated, let alone keeping actual hard copies of documents. Businesses may want to invest in a custom database software that utilizes cloud services to store their documents with little to no physical imprint than the device that was used to file it.

Furthermore, most standard database programs – much like Microsoft Excel – are efficient and productive, but don't fulfill the number of duties needed by business owners to help with customer relationship management. Some companies may need to keep track of when sales representatives have called a potential client or when executives need to document what was discussed in a teleconference. For this, a much more dynamic database may be needed to hold all of the information.

Also, contracts are a major concern with small businesses or startups. Any company that outsources its workload or hires independent contractors may have a number of different types of contracts it needs to use. While cloud storage solutions can assist this process, companies may want to speak with FileMaker consultants that can develop a custom database software that can not only store essential customer information but keep any number of contracts in one easy-to-access location. 

Innovation is a major part of business and technology, especially for small to medium sized businesses (SMB) as major legislation from the government continues to shake up the landscape.

Although one thing does remain certain is that the more a business can expand the better. According to Inc Magazine, expansion of small businesses or startups can seem much like being a teenager in that it can, oftentimes, be measured in growing pains and changes.

The magazine uses CleanScapes as an example. The Seattle-based company originally started as an exterior cleaning service and then grew to an even larger garbage collection company that operates on a pay-as-you-throw business model.

Being able to identify different opportunities for growth similar to CleanScapes' is one of the signs of a small business in the middle of maturation, according to Inc. The magazine states that once a business has set its roots in an industry it may begin to see how it functions or malfunctions, which can create many opportunities for expansion.

Furthermore, these new insights into the industry can help create differentiating factors. As companies develop and mature, their differentiators start to come out. Inc goes on to explain that "disruptive innovation," which is a way to approach an old problem with a new solution, is a way for companies to differentiate themselves and a sign of developing an identity.

Although all these developments mark change – which is imperative for many small businesses to expand – it's important for SMBs to maintain a dynamic database software to keep track of the day-to-day essentials amidst all this innovation. By seeking FileMaker consultants for custom application development, companies in the middle of puberty stand a better chance at developing than others.