Choosing FileMaker - Are You Making the Right Decision?

Along with being a popular relational database application, FileMaker is also used by businesses as customer relationship management (CRM) software. The tools and technologies provided by the FileMaker Platform makes it easier for developers to custom business solutions that work seamlessly with Mac OS X, Windows and iOS. So you can consider using the FileMaker Platform to manage and share critical business data in an efficient and secure way. However, you also need to compare the important features of the most recent version of FileMaker according to your specific requirements.

The need for FileMaker in large enterprises

File maker was born in early 1990. File maker Inc. is a subsidiary company of Apple. Hence, its flagship product i.e., file maker pro was designed to serve Apple customer through different platforms like MAC operating system, iPhone, iPad users. But later on understanding its potential it diverges to other operating systems like windows which make it a truly global product. Now it can be integrated to any operating system by the file maker developers and making it a enterprise standard technology.

FileMaker 13 - New Features and Updates

The 2013 version of FileMaker comes with over 50 new features. It also offers several enhanced design and development tools to make it easier for developers to build, maintain and publish a database on iOS and OS X. At the same time, the users also have option to access FileMaker Go on their iPads and iPhones to quickly add, edit, sort and search data, and create reports. These new features and updated make it essential for existing owners to upgrade to FileMaker 13 optimize the performance of their enterprise-level solutions.

FileMaker 13 Features for Web-Friendly Custom Application Development

Differences between FileMaker and Bento

Before we draw the difference between FileMaker (FM) and Bento (BN), let us know what FileMaker Pro and Bento are.

FM can be defined as a cross platform relational database application that is designed to integrate a GUI based interface with a particular database engine. This provides the users a unique option of modifying databases by incorporating newer elements into screens, forms or layouts, thereby giving the database an altogether new look.

Bento, on the other hand, significantly differs from FM in the sense that it heavily depends upon the templates as well as integrations with the other applications. By default, the data sources of Bento include Address Book as well as Calendar applications from Apple that can be directly customized or modified to fit in the requirements or the needs of the clients.

Technically speaking, Bento does not work across multi platforms (as it is not cross platform). It is only compatible with Mac, which runs Leopard 10.5.7 or beyond. On the other hand, FM works on Mac OS as well as Windows.

BN is designed to integrate directly with the Address Book from Apple for contacts, iCal for the purpose of Calendars, Mails for the purpose of e-mails, iPhoto for the purpose of photos or images, and the likes. FileMaker, on the other hand is designed to link up with all these tools, though there is still room for development through plugins or Applescript. Nevertheless, FM comes with a string of options that help it to get compatible with MS Office and make an array of functions like creating emails, accessing the internet browsers, adding various functionalities with the plugins, creating various web and internet solutions with the help of PHP, accessing various other external SQL databases.

Bento also restricts the total number of shared users to those who are present on any local network and the number also should not exceed 5. On the other hand, FM is capable of handling an unlimited number of users with the FM server across a vast region.

From the users’ point of view, BN is not as customizable as FM. Again, FM Pro is more powerful than Bento in robustness. However, from the point of view of usability, it is the simplicity of Bento that makes it so popular, as it allows the users to create a truly professional looking database with ease. This comes to the aid of people having a lesser degree of understanding. Again, on the other hand, FM Pro, much due to its extremely powerful features along with its pro-user qualities and capabilities, comes up as the most user-friendly tool that is used in today’s world, that helps users develop, customize as well as expand various solutions quickly.

From the financial point of view, Bento is much cheaper than FM. While Bento will cost $49.00 for an individual and $99 for the family pack, FileMaker Pro comes in at $299 for a single user and the cost goes up as the number of users’ increases.

Both FM as well as BN comes up with functionality that provides users a unique option of running databases on iPads and iPhones. However, thanks to the pre-built templates, Bento is more accessible to the users with lesser amount of work,

Let us look into the difference between FM and Bento in a nutshell:

BN organizes contacts as well as customers, track group projects along with task lists. It plans various company events, meetings, prints labels for mailing, inventory tags, records various domestic inventories with images, videos, lists wines, movies, other collections, tracks uniforms for school going children, organizes lesion plans, curriculums, sporting activities etc.

FileMaker on the other hand manage customers, vendors as well as employees, helps in tracking projects, various deliverables, workflows, coordinate events, meetings, manages inventoiesy and assets, produces invoices, charts sales reports, distributes facilities, organizes compliance, manages students’ registrations, organizes, analyzes research data, and so on.

You can hire developers from top custom filemaker development companies in India who can help you with your database requirements within allocated budgets and time schedules.

We provide filemaker database development services. If you would like to discuss with our certified filemaker developers from our team, please get in touch with us at Mindfire Solutions.

FileMaker: A Credible Platform for Mobile Apps Development

Are you eyeing a mobile application development that can do away with the distribution via a huge consumer push on an application store? Well, thanks to the introduction of an advanced platform of database development, the thought has now actually become a reality. You can now consider achieving the purpose with the help of FileMaker application development. The subsidiary of Apple actually brings forth a good number of examples of small businesses benefiting from such a service introduction.

Today, a number of small businesses are using mobile applications internally to monitor and track chief business functions like inventory management. FileMaker makes absolute sense and stands as a great alternative for small businesses already using the software of database management to make the business process automatic. Additionally, it also stands as a great alternative for businesses wishing to develop specific applications pertaining to internal or in-store kiosks use.

Moreover, instances like organizations and businesses wanting to use mobile apps for better management have also become quite frequent these days. Today more and more businesses are willing to automate the entire manual process. Additionally, small retail stores are also looking forward to exhibit promotions and products in kiosks inside the stores.

A bit about FileMaker

The platform of database development of FileMaker involves a release of the application under Apple. The main aim of the platform is to stand as an alternative to application release for developers. Since, a number of FileMaker developers have already benefitted from the service, the recommendation of this particular application stands high. Add to this the supporting benefits of Apple and you know the reason behind such a wide range of acceptance.

Now, it is to be noted that the benefits of this application has specifically stood true for small businesses making use of mobile applications. However, it is to be remembered that most people tend to make a mistake in judging FileMaker as an option, especially in cases where it should emerge as the primary element of application distribution.

FileMaker Makes the Development Process Easy

Now, when it comes to designing a mobile application by making use of a FileMaker Pro, you will be delighted to know that the process involved actually tends to make the approach easier. The application platform comes loaded with templates that enable easy resize of existing applications allowing an access in a wide range of mobile device including the iPad.

If the mobile device features a touch-screen interface, even then the application hardly presents any problem. The fonts can be easily adjustable and the selection box sizes can be increased to suit the approach of a touch-screen interface. Additionally, FileMaker Pro when used as a development platform also allows distribution of applications via email alongside copying the same into iTunes. These usually tend to run on any mobile platform through the free mobile applications, FileMaker Go.

Additionally, there is also another scenario of distribution for small businesses that frees you from the worry of coordinating the information and prices of a mobile application with a desktop application. Investing in a release of FileMaker Server ensures an automatic update of mobile applications. This stands important in situations or cases where inventory and pricing information are subject to rapid changes. The application runs equally well on both Windows and Macintosh.

FileMaker Promotes Easy Usage Facility

Introducing a revolution in the world of small businesses through mobile applications has become easier with the service of FileMaker. All you need to do is download the application and indulge in the fun of developing software via the platform. This particular application is touted as an easy platform as against others benefitting small businesses largely.

Such enhanced and improved features of the application easily promotes the credibility of the same in the industry as small businesses can never go wrong with the platform and success is bound to come through its use. So, wouldn’t you want your business to taste success by indulging in the use of the FileMaker application?

We provide bespoke database development services. If you would like to know more about the expertise of our expert filemaker developers, please visit Mindfire Solutions.