Features & benefits of Claris FileMaker Pro

Here are some of the features and benefits of Claris FileMaker Pro that make it a popular choice among businesses worldwide.

Easy to use

FileMaker Pro is a user-friendly application, which makes it approachable for people who don't have deep technical skills such as database development. Team members can get up to speed without investing significant cost and time in extensive training - a major benefit for organisations, as it overcomes the mistakes and bugs traditionally associated with transitioning to a new system.

Suitable for small, medium and large businesses

Cross-platform relational databases are used by businesses of every size to organise, store, change and recall information. A business deploying a CRM, for example, needs to record customer data - purchases, when they were made, and when a customer is likely to buy again. Analysing that data is invaluable in formulating marketing strategies, and FileMaker Pro gives businesses a powerful way to do it at a fraction of the investment of expensive dedicated database software.

Robust platform

Although FileMaker Pro is easy to use, it has the robust capabilities of far more expensive database applications. It's ideally suited to DIY developers - a database can be created by simply dragging and dropping an Excel spreadsheet onto the FileMaker app icon. Developers who aren't the DIY type can choose from a wide range of layout themes and starter solutions covering everything from invoicing to asset management. For more complex needs - integration with third-party systems, or web portals - certified professional FileMaker developers can build the solution for you. Creating dynamic summary reports is easy too: record lists and subtotals based on sort order, such as sales by client with per-client totals.

Flexibility and personalisation

FileMaker Pro can connect directly to an email server - no plug-ins required - allowing businesses to email letters, invoices and reports straight from the database. Several features allow for personalisation per team member: FileMaker can keep track of searches and let people revisit recent results, or save frequent searches without repeatedly re-entering data, so information is retrieved quickly and easily.

Control over data analysis and presentation

Claris FileMaker Pro offers extensive control over scripts, letting users perform different actions with their data. Scripts can be as simple as sending a report to a printer, or considerably more complex. Because scripting is based on general programming logic, users can easily check for errors and control the database's behaviour. Scripts can be triggered automatically by basic actions - modifying a file, changing a layout, editing a field - instead of always requiring a button click.

Improved communication

FileMaker Pro is accessible across different operating systems, which makes access easy. Cloud hosting services make it simple for the system, its information and customer data to be shared by the whole team in real time, from anywhere in the world.

Data importation

Importing files and data is a simple, stress-free process that can be completed in one step. Because there's no need to repeat it, it saves considerable time that can be diverted to tasks needing more attention.

Integrations

FileMaker Pro integrates with popular third-party software such as Microsoft SQL Server, IBM DB2, Oracle, PostgreSQL, MYOB, Xero, Quicken/Reckon and MySQL - making it easy to streamline business workflows.

Data security

The admin team holds complete control over the roles and permissions of users who have access to the app, so team members can only access the data they're permitted to see.

Useful components

The platform spans several components that serve on different devices and platforms:

FileMaker Pro

The core desktop app for building and using solutions on Mac and Windows, with the full set of development and customisation tools in the latest edition of the platform.

FileMaker Go

Available free for iPhone and iPad from the App Store. Users can connect over cellular data or Wi-Fi; changes are stored on the device and synchronised to the cloud. Ideal for organisations whose team members are constantly on the move.

FileMaker Server

Hosts solutions, and automatically backs up and logs usage and performance statistics. Once five or more users need to work on a database together, a server is required to house the team's collaborative effort.

FileMaker WebDirect

Claris FileMaker's own web technology. WebDirect lets users access their system in a browser such as Firefox or Google Chrome - handy for devices where the native apps aren't available.

FileMaker Cloud

Our FileMaker Cloud and managed services provide an external hosting environment within the Amazon Web Services data centre in Sydney. It offers reliable, secure access for clients who prefer to "set and forget" all things technical, minimise administrative overheads, lower up-front costs, and improve deployment speed and scalability.

FileMaker has stood the test of time, providing its development platform for over 30 years. Its ease of use and graphical interface have made it a popular choice for small businesses, departments and business units within large corporations looking to achieve operational economies.

If you'd like to find out more about FileMaker and whether it can help grow your business, we can help. Get in touch through our contact page →