Building AI-Enhanced Workflows Across Your Organization

With FileMaker 2025, AI is no longer confined to individual apps. By combining Claris FileMaker’s native LLM capabilities with Claris Connect’s automation engine, organizations can now build end-to-end workflows that span multiple systems—without relying on extra middleware or third-party tools. This means you can harness AI to not only make smarter decisions inside FileMaker but also trigger actions across your broader tech stack.

From Single App to Multi-System Intelligence

In previous versions, AI-powered features were mostly limited to in-app tasks like summarizing records or generating content. With Claris Connect, those capabilities extend outward. A single AI trigger inside FileMaker can now launch processes across apps such as Slack, Google Sheets, Outlook, or a CRM—turning your database into an intelligent hub for your entire organization.

Examples of AI-Enhanced Workflows

  • Lead Intake: A prospect fills out a form in Claris Studio. FileMaker captures the record, uses an AI script to summarize or score the lead, then Claris Connect posts the summary to Slack and updates a Google Sheet.

  • Document Review: Contracts stored in FileMaker are run through AI to extract key terms. Claris Connect automatically sends flagged items to your legal team’s email queue for review.

  • Customer Support: AI summarizes incoming support tickets and routes them to the right department via Teams or Slack.

These kinds of workflows reduce manual effort, improve accuracy, and keep information flowing in real time.

No Extra Tools, No Extra Overhead

Because both FileMaker’s LLM features and Claris Connect’s automation are built into the Claris ecosystem, you don’t need additional APIs or subscription services to get started. Data stays inside your trusted environment while still connecting seamlessly to the systems your teams use every day.

Why It Matters

Bringing AI-enhanced workflows across your organization means:

  • Faster decisions by automating repetitive, multi-step processes

  • More consistent outcomes through standardized AI prompts and triggers

  • Reduced integration costs by eliminating separate middleware

  • Stronger data governance since sensitive information stays in FileMaker

With FileMaker 2025 and Claris Connect, AI becomes more than a feature—it becomes the backbone of cross-system workflows. From intake and scoring to document routing and reporting, you can build intelligent, automated processes that scale across your entire organization without leaving the Claris platform.

Interested in building AI-enhanced workflows tailored to your business? Reach out to Kyo Logic here.


 

 

 

Can Your FileMaker Do This: FileMaker vs AI Built Apps vs Enterprise Suites Guide

Can Your FileMaker Do This? FileMaker, AI-Built Apps, and Enterprise Suites: A Practical Guide

Teams have great options today. Enterprise suites like Salesforce or Oracle bring breadth and governance. AI-built apps (custom code with GPT-style copilots) offer full creative freedom. FileMaker 2025 (with Claris Studio + Claris Connect) adds a low-code layer for the everyday work: forms, approvals, exceptions, and quick changes.

This is about picking the right tool and helping them work well together.

The Landscape (What Each Does Best)

Enterprise Suites (Salesforce/Oracle/etc.)
Ideal as systems of record with strong data models, compliance, and mature ecosystems. Strong for standardized processes that don’t change often.

AI-Built Apps (custom code + copilots)
Great for new experiences and bespoke logic when you want full UI freedom or internet-scale delivery.

FileMaker 2025 (with Studio + Connect)
A natural fit as the operations layer for departmental workflows, field capture, and dashboards (the work that shifts month to month and involves real people and real context).

Why FileMaker (What It Does Uniquely Well)

  • Operations-in-a-box: Data, UI, scripts, and security in one place, so changes are fast and safe.

  • Governed agility: Roles, logging, and auditable changes without a sprawling codebase.

  • Field-ready inputs: FileMaker Go + Claris Studio handle photos, scans, GPS, signatures. No custom app required.

  • Event-driven automation: Event-Driven Connect turns record changes into Slack/Teams alerts, tickets, emails, and documents.

  • Standards at the edge: OData (Power BI), Data API/eDAPI, and JSON for clean hand-offs to the broader stack.

  • Incremental modernization: Keep Salesforce/Oracle steady; add FileMaker where hands-on work happens. Quick wins, low disruption.

Who tends to benefit most

  • Departments of 10–200 daily users (Ops, Supply Chain, Field Service, QA, Facilities, Finance Ops)

  • Teams juggling spreadsheets, email approvals, and plug-ins

  • Organizations that need mobile/web data capture without funding a full custom app build

Where Each Typically Wins

Enterprise suites are strong for: deep modules (CPQ/ERP), strict compliance, global scale with unified governance.

AI-built apps are strong for: highly branded, external-facing portals; novel algorithms/services; full framework freedom.

FileMaker is strong for: rapidly evolving or highly custom internal workflows, immediate field capture, event-driven automations, and fast time-to-value.

How FileMaker Works Alongside Salesforce/Oracle

Common patterns

  • Keep the system of record in Salesforce/Oracle.

  • Use FileMaker as a system of engagement where people enter, review, approve, and act.

  • Bridge them with:

    • Claris Connect for “when X happens → do Y” workflows

    • Data API/eDAPI for JSON hand-offs

    • OData for analytics in Power BI/Tableau

    • SSO (Okta/Azure AD) for unified identity

Example flows

  • Case Management: A case in Salesforce triggers a FileMaker triage workspace (Studio forms + dashboards); updates return to Salesforce.

  • Manufacturing/Logistics: Oracle holds inventory; FileMaker handles receiving, QC, and exceptions on the floor; results sync back via Connect/Data API.

  • Healthcare/Education: Core records live in the suite; FileMaker covers mobile intake, audits, and scheduling with role-based access.

Quick Start (Non-Technical)

  1. Choose one pain point outside the suite (spreadsheets, email approvals, field capture).

  2. Mirror the workflow in FileMaker/Studio: one browser form + one small dashboard.

  3. Connect to Salesforce/Oracle via Connect or Data API (start one-way, then add updates).

  4. Trigger actions on events (status change → Slack/Teams → ticket/doc/email).

  5. Pilot for two weeks and measure time saved, fewer errors, and faster visibility.

Next step: Want to see how this can look in your environment? We can stand up one FileMaker/Studio workflow, one automation, and one suite integration so you can evaluate impact before scaling.

 

 

 

Container Field Optimizations: Metadata & Image Handling

FileMaker 2025 introduces significant improvements to how container fields manage and process images, documents, and other media. These optimizations make it easier for developers to build apps that handle large volumes of assets efficiently—while giving users richer, faster access to the files they need.

Faster Image and Media Handling

Container fields now process and display images more efficiently, improving performance for apps with media-heavy layouts. Users will notice faster load times when viewing records with embedded photos, logos, or scanned documents—especially on mobile devices running FileMaker Go or in WebDirect.

For developers, this means less time optimizing layouts and more time focusing on app logic.

Built-In Metadata Access

FileMaker 2025 introduces new tools to extract and store metadata from images and files in container fields. This allows developers to:

  • Automatically capture EXIF data from photos (date, time, GPS, camera settings)

  • Store and search by keywords or tags

  • Index attributes like file size or type for better filtering

This built-in metadata support eliminates the need for custom plug-ins or external scripts to manage file information.

Smarter Image Management Workflows

Combining faster rendering with metadata extraction opens up new possibilities for workflow automation:

  • Field Service Apps: Attach photos from site visits with automatic time and location stamps.

  • Quality Control: Store test-run images with embedded metadata to prove compliance.

  • Marketing Assets: Organize product images with tags for instant retrieval.

All of this happens natively in FileMaker, reducing the friction of managing large media libraries.

Why It Matters

Container field optimizations in FileMaker 2025 help businesses:

  • Improve app performance with media-rich records

  • Automate metadata capture for stronger record-keeping

  • Search and filter assets faster without third-party tools

For organizations that rely heavily on images or documents—such as manufacturing, healthcare, or field services—these improvements transform FileMaker into an even more capable media management platform.

With faster image handling and built-in metadata access, FileMaker 2025 makes managing container fields more powerful and efficient. Developers can build richer, more responsive apps while users gain quicker, smarter access to critical media assets.

Want to see how Claris FileMaker can streamline your image and document workflows? Reach out to Kyo Logic here.

 

 

Audit Logging and Activity Monitoring in FileMaker 2025

FileMaker 2025 introduces enhanced audit logging and activity monitoring, giving organizations greater visibility into user actions, data changes, and security events. These improvements help businesses strengthen compliance, protect sensitive data, and troubleshoot issues more effectively—all without relying on third-party plug-ins or complex customizations.

Track User Actions in Real Time

The new logging features record detailed user activity inside your FileMaker solutions. Administrators can see:

  • Which users accessed which records

  • What actions were taken (view, edit, delete)

  • When changes occurred

This real-time tracking is invaluable for teams managing sensitive or regulated data, as it provides a clear record of who did what, and when.

Monitor Data Changes and Security Events

Beyond user actions, FileMaker 2025 now logs key data changes and security events. These logs can include:

  • Field-level changes, such as updates to key values

  • Authentication attempts, including failed logins

  • Privilege set changes and role updates

  • API token usage for integrations

This granular view of system activity helps administrators quickly identify anomalies or unauthorized behavior.

Why It Matters for Compliance and Governance

Enhanced audit logging isn’t just a technical improvement—it’s a critical step toward meeting regulatory requirements such as GDPR, HIPAA, and SOX. With built-in logging, you can:

  • Produce auditable records on demand for compliance reviews

  • Demonstrate controls over sensitive data

  • Strengthen internal governance and accountability

By keeping all this information inside FileMaker, you also reduce the risks and complexity associated with external monitoring systems.

Building Better Oversight Into Your Apps

Developers can configure these new logging features to feed into dashboards or reports, making it easy for managers and compliance officers to review activity at a glance. This transforms audit logs from static records into actionable intelligence.

With FileMaker 2025’s improved audit logging and activity monitoring, businesses gain a built-in solution for tracking user actions, data changes, and security events. These tools make it easier to safeguard sensitive data, meet regulatory requirements, and maintain system integrity—without adding extra layers of software.

Want to explore how Claris FileMaker can strengthen your audit trails and compliance workflows? Reach out to Kyo Logic here.

 

Token-Based API Security in FileMaker Cloud

With FileMaker 2025, Claris FileMaker Cloud introduces a more robust approach to API authentication: token-based security. This enhancement is designed to protect data in transit, simplify integration management, and meet stricter compliance requirements like GDPR and HIPAA—all while making API access easier to administer.

What Is Token-Based API Security?

Traditional API authentication often relies on static credentials or passwords embedded in integrations. Token-based security replaces these credentials with temporary, revocable tokens that are issued for a specific session or scope.

This means:

  • Credentials aren’t hard-coded into scripts or third-party apps

  • Tokens expire automatically, reducing long-term security risks

  • Access can be revoked instantly without changing every integration

Benefits for GDPR and HIPAA Compliance

For organizations handling personal or sensitive data, token-based API authentication supports compliance in several ways:

  • Granular Access Control: Tokens can be issued with specific permissions for limited resources or time periods.

  • Reduced Exposure: Tokens expire automatically, minimizing the window of vulnerability if compromised.

  • Auditability: API access logs show exactly which token was used, when, and for what purpose—critical for audits.

These features align with best practices for data protection and regulatory compliance.

How It Works in FileMaker Cloud

Developers and administrators can now:

  • Generate tokens programmatically when a session begins

  • Use tokens to authenticate API calls instead of embedding credentials

  • Revoke or rotate tokens from a central dashboard without touching scripts

This approach makes integrations both more secure and more manageable, especially in large environments or when working with multiple third-party systems.

Why It Matters

Token-based API security in FileMaker Cloud gives IT teams and developers peace of mind. It ensures integrations remain secure by design while reducing manual credential management. This is especially valuable for businesses that must demonstrate GDPR or HIPAA compliance without slowing down development.

FileMaker Cloud’s new token-based API security offers a modern, secure way to manage integrations—perfect for organizations that prioritize data protection and compliance. By replacing static credentials with dynamic, revocable tokens, you can build faster, safer connections to your apps and services.

Want to learn how to implement secure, compliant integrations with Claris FileMaker Cloud? Reach out to Kyo Logic here.

 

 

 

Smarter Deployment for FileMaker Server: JSON Parsing, SSL, and Admin API Improvements

FileMaker 2025 isn’t just about AI and UI upgrades—it also delivers critical improvements to FileMaker Server, giving IT teams more speed, security, and control over deployments. From faster JSON handling to simpler SSL setup and expanded Admin API functions, this release makes running FileMaker Server more efficient and less of a headache.

Faster JSON Parsing and Schema Patching

FileMaker Server 2025 introduces major performance gains in JSON parsing, making data exchange and API-driven workflows significantly faster. For solutions relying on web services, integrations, or heavy JSON payloads, these improvements mean quicker response times and more reliable performance.

Additionally, new schema patching tools make it easier to apply updates to layouts and structures without full rebuilds—helping teams maintain uptime and reduce disruption during upgrades.

Let’s Encrypt SSL Integration

SSL setup has historically been one of the trickier parts of FileMaker Server deployment. With built-in Let’s Encrypt support, SSL certificates can now be generated and renewed automatically. This dramatically simplifies secure deployment and ensures connections remain compliant without manual certificate management.

Expanded Admin API Functions

The Admin API also sees important new capabilities in FileMaker 2025, giving administrators finer control over server performance and behavior. New functions include:

  • Flush pages to manage cache and improve responsiveness

  • Script engine control for better process management

  • Additional insights for monitoring and diagnostics

For IT teams, these expanded tools provide better visibility and more proactive management options without needing to dive into the command line.

Why These Server Updates Matter

For businesses running mission-critical solutions, these enhancements reduce complexity and risk:

  • Faster JSON parsing improves integrations and web app performance

  • Schema patching shortens upgrade cycles

  • Automated SSL ensures secure connections with minimal effort

  • New Admin API controls give IT teams the flexibility they need to keep systems running smoothly

FileMaker Server 2025 brings meaningful improvements that simplify deployment, boost performance, and strengthen security. These updates help IT teams spend less time on maintenance and more time on delivering value to end users.

Interested in optimizing your FileMaker Server environment? Reach out to Kyo Logic here.

 

 

Bringing AI to Your PDFs: Using RAG and GetTextFromPDF in FileMaker

FileMaker 2025 takes a big leap forward in document intelligence with the introduction of GetTextFromPDF and support for Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG) workflows. Together, these features enable developers to extract content from PDFs, feed it into AI queries, and deliver smarter, context-aware responses—all from within FileMaker.

For organizations managing contracts, manuals, reports, or compliance documents, this unlocks powerful new ways to make data more accessible.

Extracting Text from PDFs with GetTextFromPDF

The new GetTextFromPDF function allows developers to pull plain text directly from PDFs stored in FileMaker container fields. This removes the need for external tools or manual copy-pasting.

Example use cases:

  • Extracting contract terms for automated review

  • Pulling specifications from technical manuals

  • Making historical reports searchable inside FileMaker

With documents converted into structured text, your FileMaker app becomes a repository for smarter queries and workflows.

Adding AI with Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG)

Once text is extracted, FileMaker can apply RAG workflows by sending relevant content to an AI model. Instead of relying on generic knowledge, the AI can answer questions based on your own documents.

Example use cases:

  • Ask “What’s the warranty period in this contract?” and receive an AI-generated response grounded in the extracted text

  • Search policies and instantly surface the relevant compliance rules

  • Build knowledge bases that combine multiple PDFs into a single, AI-driven query system

RAG ensures responses are not only intelligent but also accurate and based on your organization’s actual content.

Smarter Document-Driven Apps

By combining GetTextFromPDF and RAG, developers can build FileMaker apps that:

  • Transform static PDFs into searchable knowledge assets

  • Automate compliance checks and reporting

  • Empower employees to query documents naturally, without needing to dig through lengthy files

This makes FileMaker a powerful platform for industries where document management and accuracy are mission-critical.

FileMaker 2025 turns everyday documents into intelligent, searchable resources. With GetTextFromPDF and RAG capabilities, you can build apps that not only store PDFs but also understand them—delivering real-time insights and smarter workflows.

Interested in exploring how Claris FileMaker can power AI-driven document intelligence? Reach out to Kyo Logic here.

 

 

Semantic Search in FileMaker: How to Use Vectors for Smarter Text and Image Queries

FileMaker 2025 introduces a groundbreaking set of vector and embedding functions, bringing semantic search directly into the platform. Instead of relying only on exact keyword matches, semantic search understands meaning and context, making it easier to surface the most relevant content—whether you’re querying text descriptions, product data, or even image metadata.

This shift opens the door to more intuitive, AI-powered search experiences inside FileMaker apps.

What Is Semantic Search?

Traditional search is literal: it looks for exact matches between keywords and fields. Semantic search, by contrast, uses AI vector embeddings to represent the meaning of text or images. Queries and records are transformed into vectors (mathematical representations), and results are ranked based on similarity—not just matching words.

For example:

  • A keyword search for “laptop” only finds exact matches.

  • A semantic search for “portable computer” will also surface “laptop,” “MacBook,” or “notebook” entries.

FileMaker’s New Vector Functions

FileMaker 2025 introduces vector operations that enable developers to normalize, compare, and manipulate embeddings directly. These include functions for:

  • Creating embeddings from text or image metadata

  • Normalizing vectors for consistent comparison

  • Adding and subtracting vectors to explore relationships between terms

  • Performing similarity searches to return the most relevant results

Real-World Use Cases

  • Product Catalog Search: Customers searching for “running shoes” will also find items described as “trainers” or “athletic sneakers.”

  • Knowledge Bases: Employees looking up “safety procedures” can also surface related documents like “workplace compliance” or “OSHA guidelines.”

  • Image Metadata: Searching “sunset” can bring up photos tagged with “dusk” or “evening,” even if the keyword doesn’t appear.

By embedding semantic search in FileMaker, businesses can create smarter, more user-friendly search experiences that save time and uncover hidden insights.

Why It Matters

Semantic search makes FileMaker solutions more intuitive for non-technical users. It reduces the frustration of missed results, supports more natural queries, and helps organizations unlock the full value of their data—text, documents, and images alike.

With vector and embedding functions, FileMaker 2025 brings the power of semantic search directly into your apps. From smarter text queries to image-based lookups, these tools provide context-aware search that delivers the right results faster.

Want to explore how semantic search in Claris FileMaker can transform your data experience? Reach out to Kyo Logic here.

 

How Claris Studio and FileMaker Now Work Together Seamlessly

With FileMaker 2025, Claris has taken a major step forward in unifying its platform. One of the most powerful enhancements is the seamless integration between Claris FileMaker and Claris Studio. Claris provides multiple ways to connect FileMaker with Claris Studio, including Claris Connect, which supports intelligent, trigger-based workflows. These connections make it possible to set up responsive, event-driven interactions—so your systems can exchange data seamlessly as soon as something important happens. Businesses can now securely publish FileMaker data directly into Claris Studio, opening the door to scalable web apps and external data collection tools—without the need for complex third-party integrations.

Secure External Access to FileMaker Data

Previously, extending FileMaker data beyond the organization often required custom APIs, plugins, or external hosting solutions. Now, Claris Studio provides a direct bridge, enabling developers to publish FileMaker data securely to the web. This makes it possible to:

  • Share data with clients or partners in a controlled environment

  • Create portals for vendors, contractors, or distributed teams

  • Collect inputs externally while keeping FileMaker as the system of record

Scalable Web Apps and Forms

Claris Studio isn’t just about basic web views. With support for 100,000+ records per view, Studio can handle enterprise-scale datasets. Developers can build:

  • Customer intake or service request forms

  • Survey and feedback systems

  • External dashboards for reporting and analysis

All of this runs on the Claris platform, reducing dependency on outside web frameworks.

No More Third-Party Workarounds

In the past, businesses often relied on middleware or custom development to extend FileMaker apps to the web. With Studio’s integration, those workarounds aren’t necessary. FileMaker remains the secure backend database, while Studio provides a modern, scalable front end for external access.

Why This Matters

For developers and businesses alike, the seamless connection between FileMaker and Claris Studio means:

  • Faster deployment of web-facing solutions

  • Lower costs by eliminating third-party hosting or integrations

  • Greater confidence in data security and compliance

  • More flexibility to expand FileMaker’s reach beyond internal teams

The integration of Claris Studio and FileMaker is a game-changer for organizations that need to extend their data beyond internal users. Whether it’s building external portals, scalable data collection apps, or secure reporting tools, you can now do it all within the Claris ecosystem.

Want to explore how Claris FileMaker and Claris Studio can streamline your web apps and data collection? Reach out to Kyo Logic here.

 

 

 

 

What is JSON and Why It’s Vital for Modern FileMaker Systems

If you’re still thinking of FileMaker as a standalone database for internal apps, you’re missing out on what makes it a modern business tool. A big part of that evolution? JSON.

Even if you’re not technical, understanding JSON will help you see why upgrading to FileMaker 2025 is critical for keeping your systems integrated, automated, and future-proof.

What is JSON?

JSON (JavaScript Object Notation) is a lightweight format for organizing and transmitting data. It’s the lingua franca of modern software, used by virtually every API, web app, and cloud service.

Think of JSON as a super-flexible digital form that can carry data like:

  • Customer records

  • Order details

  • Inventory updates

  • API responses

It’s structured, yet highly adaptable—perfect for dynamic systems that need to exchange data cleanly and consistently.

Why JSON Matters in FileMaker

Older FileMaker versions struggled to communicate with other apps because they couldn’t easily read or write data in JSON format. But in current versions, including FileMaker 2024 and 2025, JSON is fully embraced with powerful new capabilities and integration with other applications. FileMaker 2025 brings new JSON functions and significant performance enhancements to enable AI and manage significant data integrations.

This means you can now:

  • Integrate with APIs easily: Talk to web services like Slack, QuickBooks, Claris Studio, Shopify, or Salesforce.

  • Build better dashboards: Use structured JSON data to power analytics.

  • Simplify workflows: Claris Connect and Event-Driven Connect rely on JSON for payloads.

  • Store complex data structures: Store flexible, nested data directly in FileMaker without needing dozens of related tables.

  • Consolidate FileMaker scripting: JSON allows FileMaker elements to communicate far more effectively with other components greatly streamlining code and enhancing performance

Real-World Business Benefits

1. APIs & Automation

Want FileMaker to update your CRM, notify a Slack channel, or send customer data to QuickBooks? JSON is the bridge that makes it possible.

2. Cross-System Consistency

Instead of copy-pasting or manually re-entering data between apps, JSON enables automatic, structured data syncs.

3. Fewer Workarounds

In legacy systems, connecting to other apps required complex plug-ins or brittle workarounds. Now, native JSON support in FileMaker means cleaner, faster, and more reliable integrations.

4. Future-Proofing

Most modern SaaS apps speak JSON. If your FileMaker system can too, you’re set up for the next wave of digital transformation.

If your FileMaker system isn’t JSON-ready, you’re:

  • Stuck with manual processes

  • Limited in your ability to integrate with cloud apps

  • Slower to adapt to modern workflows

Upgrading to FileMaker 2025, with its newJSON capabilities, isn’t just about new features—it’s about ensuring your data can move, connect, and create value in an increasingly digital world.

Need help modernizing your FileMaker system? Contact us for a JSON-readiness assessment and let’s unlock your data’s full potential.