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Claris FileMaker

Claris FileMaker

Overview

What is Claris FileMaker?

Claris' FileMaker is presented as a Workplace Innovation Platform, and is used to create a custom app. Manual processes can be automated with Claris FileMaker Pro, and apps can be created to manage contacts, track inventory, organize projects, etc.

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Recent Reviews

TrustRadius Insights

FileMaker has been widely adopted by small and medium enterprises in various sectors to address a wide range of business needs. Users have …
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All in One

9 out of 10
October 17, 2019
Incentivized
We use FileMaker Pro daily for building our product and gathering all the information into one section to make it easily accessible …
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FileMaker Pro

9 out of 10
June 29, 2019
Incentivized
FileMaker Pro is used as our ERP system, and is being used by the entire company. It keeps track of customers, vendors, and inventory.
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Pricing

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Platform Subscription

$21

Cloud
per month per user

Individual desktop license

$594

On Premise
one-time fee

Entry-level set up fee?

  • No setup fee
For the latest information on pricing, visithttps://www.claris.com/filemaker/pro

Offerings

  • Free Trial
  • Free/Freemium Version
  • Premium Consulting/Integration Services

Starting price (does not include set up fee)

  • $21 per month per user
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Product Demos

FileMaker/HTML5/JavaScript GPS Map Demo (iPad)

YouTube

Text Parsing in FileMaker : Live Demo - Example 1

YouTube

FileMaker Pro 11 Course for Beginner

YouTube
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Product Details

What is Claris FileMaker?

Claris' FileMaker is presented as a Workplace Innovation Platform, and is used to create a custom app. Manual processes can be automated with Claris FileMaker Pro, and apps can be created to manage contacts, track inventory, organize projects, etc.

FileMaker Pro is a low-code tool so users don’t have to be developers to make an app. Using FileMaker Pro, any problem solver can:

Drag and drop to create layouts.
Use built-in templates and add-ons.
Run apps on Windows and Mac.
Create mobile apps.
Share apps on phones, tablets, and laptops.
Make instant reports on the fly.


FileMaker Pro comes with built-in templates delivered through a marketplace. And Claris FileMaker Go for iPad and iPhone is a solution presented as ideal for mobile teams in the field or away from a desk. It can be used to (for instance) check inventory in the warehouse, create invoices during client visits, or perform inspections onsite.

Claris FileMaker Video

What is FileMaker Pro?

Claris FileMaker Competitors

Claris FileMaker Technical Details

Deployment TypesOn-premise, Software as a Service (SaaS), Cloud, or Web-Based
Operating SystemsWindows, Mac
Mobile ApplicationNo

Frequently Asked Questions

Claris' FileMaker is presented as a Workplace Innovation Platform, and is used to create a custom app. Manual processes can be automated with Claris FileMaker Pro, and apps can be created to manage contacts, track inventory, organize projects, etc.

Claris FileMaker starts at $21.

Microsoft Access, Quickbase, and Zoho Creator are common alternatives for Claris FileMaker.

Reviewers rate Support Rating highest, with a score of 8.6.

The most common users of Claris FileMaker are from Small Businesses (1-50 employees).
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Comparisons

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Reviews and Ratings

(169)

Community Insights

TrustRadius Insights are summaries of user sentiment data from TrustRadius reviews and, when necessary, 3rd-party data sources. Have feedback on this content? Let us know!

FileMaker has been widely adopted by small and medium enterprises in various sectors to address a wide range of business needs. Users have leveraged FileMaker to solve business problems and automate processes, such as time tracking, invoicing, reporting, and more. The software has become mission-critical for companies, with every employee using it on a daily basis. It has been utilized for office administration, invoicing, expenses, data collection, contact management, and inventory management. Companies have found FileMaker to be a versatile tool that eliminates islands of technology by providing a central database that can be accessed on any device from anywhere. It has been deployed on Mac and Windows desktops, web browsers, and native iOS and Android applications.

In addition to its versatility, FileMaker Pro has proved valuable in specific industries. For example, it has been used in the medical sector for solutions like managing patient records and tracking medical data. Agricultural businesses have employed FileMaker to streamline processes related to crop management and inventory tracking. Similarly, transport companies have utilized the platform for tasks like logistics planning and fleet management. Additionally, FileMaker Pro's flexibility has made it useful in designing questionnaires, developing web applications, and creating custom solutions tailored to meet specific requirements across various domains.

Furthermore, FileMaker Go mobile platform has enabled fast and cost-effective custom application development for iOS devices. It has allowed businesses like Merch Media to manage contact information efficiently while processing orders and managing detailed data. Peer Bearing Company has customized FileMaker Pro to fit their specific needs, making it their primary software solution. In the education sector, FileMaker Pro has facilitated staff management, activity tracking logs, billing processes assistance, student progress monitoring, homework logging, report card generation collaboratively.

The software's impact extends beyond individual company functions as well. For instance, it has played a role in event planning by assisting with tasks like food and beverage tracking or organizing catalogs and libraries. Studios have relied on FileMaker Pro for production staff to search inventories and generate layouts. It has also been used as a replacement for Microsoft Access databases, providing improved reliability and multi-user access.

Overall, users have found that Claris FileMaker is an effective tool for solving various business problems, automating processes, and improving productivity across different industries. Its flexibility, adaptability to different platforms, and ability to streamline workflows have made it a valuable asset in managing data, creating custom solutions, and facilitating collaboration.

Seamless Integration: Several users have praised Claris FileMaker's ability to seamlessly integrate with other applications, specifically highlighting its commendable integration with the finance application MYOB. This integration feature has eliminated the need for manual data entry, saving time and improving accuracy in timekeeping processes.

Data Integrity and Confidentiality: Reviewers have expressed their satisfaction with Claris FileMaker's capability to maintain data integrity and confidentiality through its integration with MYOB. This aspect is highly valued as it ensures the security of sensitive financial information.

Improved Productivity: Many users have found that the integration between Claris FileMaker and MYOB has enhanced their overall productivity. The ability to integrate with other applications has significantly improved workflow by saving time and increasing efficiency. Users appreciate how easily Claris FileMaker integrates with MYOB for various business needs and requirements, showcasing its versatility and adaptability.

Confusing and Not User-Friendly UI: Several users have expressed dissatisfaction with the user interface of Claris FileMaker, describing it as confusing and not user-friendly. They have encountered difficulties in editing calculations and scripts, as well as creating print layouts compared to other software like Crystal Reports.

Lack of Essential Features: Reviewers have pointed out that Claris FileMaker lacks certain important features. These include a built-in version control mechanism, a centralized security module for multiple files, and a modular code structure. Developers find it challenging to work without these features, which impacts their productivity.

Limited Customization Options: Some users feel that FileMaker Pro is not customizable enough, particularly from the user side. They encounter difficulties in customizing the program's appearance and sending rich text emails. This limitation hinders their ability to tailor the software to their specific needs.

Users commonly recommend the following:

  1. Learn and explore: Users suggest learning what FileMaker is good at and how to get the best out of it. They recommend attending the DevCon conference to collaborate with other users and learn about the platform's features.

  2. Start small and customize: It is advised to begin with a small project to understand how FileMaker works and how easy it is to modify. Users suggest playing around and experimenting with FileMaker or hiring a certified developer for assistance. Updating to the latest release of FileMaker is also recommended.

  3. Consider customization and collaboration: Users highlight FileMaker's ability to connect to big data, design creatively, and build on a reliable data engine. They recommend hiring third-party developers for advanced customization. FileMaker is seen as a great platform for diverse mobile teams to build custom apps. Additionally, users highly recommend FileMaker for its seniority, usability, reliability, and the vast number of people available for collaboration.

Attribute Ratings

Reviews

(1-25 of 47)
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Crissy Loughridge | TrustRadius Reviewer
Score 10 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
Incentivized
We use Filemaker as an applicant tracking system for our recruiting firm. The database literally runs our business from recording interactions with clients and candidates to scheduling and texting and emailing straight from the software. All our reporting, payroll, everything except invoicing is done through Filemaker. It literally runs our business and I've been very happy with the way it has performed and adapted with new add-ons and features each time there is an upgrade.
  • Customized database
  • Reporting
  • Wide scope of features
  • Interaction with other software
  • Not easy to initially set up
I have set up Filemaker databases for many different businesses. Where it shines particularly well is when there are many aspects of a business and keeping track of all the people, resources and products is difficult. Filemaker make it easy to keep all the information in one place where reports can cover a broad variety of things or hone in on one specific area. I've used Filemaker for over 10 years and have run a business with entirely remote workers utilizing Filemaker Server. There are endless add-on products but we have used the mapping program, texting, and calendar. All have been excellent products and highlight the ability of Filemaker to adapt to whatever your specific industry is.
ahmed baidak | TrustRadius Reviewer
Score 10 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
Develop cross-platform database applications (Windows, Mac, iOS, and web). This allows my company to launch an application that allows all employees to communicate with customers to provide the best services and technical support to improve the performance of the service provided to the customer and to communicate with customers and employees in solving problems or making suggestions
  • Ease of creating a database for employees
  • It is easy for developers and IT specialists to improve the performance and manufacture of applications
  • Ease of following up on customers and monitoring their opinions, whether positive or negative
  • Some updates in languages, including Arabic, are missing
  • When sending long emails, it is not the easiest thing
  • It needs to be a little faster
It is perfectly suitable for many different projects, making it easier for developers to track customers, help them in the best way, and provide a database to provide better service
otherwise Not very suitable for large projects that need a lot of complex systems that are important to have available, but it is rather useful
Score 10 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
Incentivized
FileMaker is used widely at this large company serving many different departments in many different capacities. This in itself speaks highly of the product in that it can be used to serve so many different needs. Obviously, a company of this size has many large enterprise solutions but those do not handle the needs of individual departments that need highly customized solutions to streamline their operations. Spreadsheets and documents can only be stretched so far before they become their own issues. FileMaker fills in that large gap between what spreadsheets can easily handle and where the large enterprise application takes over. That is a large gap and that is also FileMaker's sweet spot!
  • Adaptable to most any use.
  • Easily scale from small tasks to very large complex solutions.
  • Create fine grained user roles.
  • Connect to other applications using a REST based API.
  • Allow other solution to connect using a REST based API.
  • Not great for use by multiple developers at the same time.
  • Could benefit from built-in audit logging of field level changes.
FileMaker handles the small to mid-size company or department use extremely well. Scaling beyond that is not its sweet spot.
Score 10 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
Incentivized
Claris' FileMaker software suite provides the backbone of our entire business operation, and virtually all transactions company-wide are handled by the database built on the FileMaker platform. It handles everything from CRM, to generating quotes, contracts, invoices, and handling all equipment inventory needs, etc.
  • multi-user support
  • database integrity
  • simple user interfaces
  • speed
  • efficiency
  • better utilization of web/cloud support (its coming, but roll out has been slow it seems like)
Claris as an open platform offers so many options for rich database development to accomplish any task within almost any business application you could throw at it. I cannot think of a scenario where the options Claris affords couldn't suite
Score 1 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
Incentivized
We use FileMaker Pro as a backend and front end for our second hand car store. It has a low learning curve, which makes it ideal for non-developers to maintain both the front end and product store. One might compare this to Microsoft "Access" software. Like "MS Access" it offers a fast environment, but after a while, when your company starts to grow, it may become rather obsolete and cumbersome when it just does not fit into a professional environment. Nowadays it has become one of our legacy products that we can't "just" get rid of.
  • Offers a fast way to store things like "products" on which screens can be build in a fairly easy way.
  • There is a low learning curve, which means that non-developers can use and maintain this.
  • It offers separate environments (test and production), that are fairly easy to keep synchronized.
  • Data is stored in a "hidden" layer that is very difficult to port to a "real" database. This makes it difficult to query using standardized query language, and difficult to import/export to other relational databases.
  • There can be only one session open at any given time. This makes it impossible for more than 1 person to maintain it at any given time.
  • The user interface is a bit chaotic, and the environment itself seems overly complex. Compared to, say, MS Access this makes it a seemingly very professional tool, when in fact it's a rather amateur way of exposing data. Much like MS Access, but MS Access does not pretend to be any more than that.
If your company is really small, I can understand the need for a product like this. However, I would go for MS Access... FileMaker Pro can not be integrated with other systems (like MS Access can at least be handled by C# for instance, and can be integrated with MS Excel or even SQL server). I'm really not sure in what scenario one would choose for FileMaker Pro. If your application or company grows bigger, you're going to have a problem to move to another environment. Also, the fact that only one person can work with the backend at any given time is a problem in a somewhat larger company.
Kelly Turner | TrustRadius Reviewer
Score 9 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
Incentivized
Our company has used FileMaker Pro for many years. Our primary client-tracking solution is a FileMaker Pro database, and it is used by every employee at our company on a daily basis. Because of this, FileMaker Pro has become mission critical for us. Its accessibility makes us more agile as a company as our workflows and processes evolve over time.
  • Intuitive, user-friendly database management
  • Powerful scripting features
  • Easy to create attractive layouts from templates
  • I'd like to see more granular control of user access, such as the ability to allow certain users to modify a field while others are only allowed to view it, etc.
I think FileMaker [Pro] is a great solution for a small business wanting to take the next step from managing data with Excel spreadsheets to actually using a database. It is very intuitive to use and manage. A tech-savvy user can learn to use FileMaker [Pro] very easily without advanced skills as a developer.
Score 10 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
Incentivized
FileMaker Pro is being used across the whole organization. We originally used it to track the houses we've built. Once that foundation was established we expanded its use to manage almost every process in the organization. We use it for budgeting, tracking opportunities, automatic contract generation, construction scheduling, colour selections, options management, change orders, and after sales service. We use it to feed real time information to our website, we've created an online purchaser portal, and our staff have both desktop and mobile access to the data.
  • Highly customizable. The software is easy to set up to match our existing processes.
  • Fast customization. New features can be added quickly and easily.
  • Open standards. Easy to get info from and push info to the outside world.
  • Have had challenges feeding data to a php website. Are moving to the new Restful API for this.
  • Would like to be able to send rich text emails. Can now do it with CURL commands but not the easiest.
  • Has very detailed layout editing tools, but built in themes with more auto layout functionality would be helpful.
In our situation it is well suited to our organization because one of the owners of the construction company has some programming experience and was able to use FileMaker to make all of the existing systems in the organization electronic. It has been a work in progress and the system has grown with the organization. When we want to shift to meet new market needs or changing government regulations we can move quickly to adjust our electronic processes.

It is well suited to teams or organizations that do things differently than their competitors and want their electronic systems to be reflection of who they are instead of using a canned system that forces them to work the same way everyone else does.

It is not well suited to teams where there is high turnover of employees and managers as custom systems may never get a foothold or be maintained in that environment.
Score 5 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
Incentivized
We use FileMaker Pro (KeyStone) to maintain schedules and keep employee records. It allows us to maintain a large amount of information in one space and has the capability to run a variety of reports and other features that are useful to me. It is being used by only a few individuals across a number of different departments.
  • This program is able to store a large amount of information that is easily accessible.
  • This program can run a variety of reports that can be helpful with my everyday tasks and projects.
  • This program has very easy search functions.
  • This program can be difficult if you have an environment that is distracting because it does confirm changes. They are automatically saved.
  • This program can be frustrating when entering data in multiple fields because the tab button does not send you to the next field, it jumps around.
This program is well suited for companies or individuals who are looking to hold a bunch of data in one place and need to keep it organized. I'd say it is most appropriate for larger organizations but could be useful anywhere there is a Human Resources Department, especially. Overall, it is useful but frustrating at times.
David Renberg | TrustRadius Reviewer
Score 8 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
Incentivized
We use FileMaker to keep track of our transactions and revenues associated with sales and commissions paid. We also keep track of various aspects of each sale and how each category breaks down compared to total sales. We hired a developer to design a custom program for us to use for these purposes on FileMaker.
  • It is extremely versatile, if you are, or have a good programmer, it can be used for many purposes to organize data.
  • It seems to not take a ton of RAM to run, my computer has no issues running it.
  • Although the file can be stored in a cloud, I like that it is a locally run program, regardless of internet access.
  • It is very technical, you have to really know what you are doing to come up with the initial use.
It is suited well to help organize lots of data in the same place. Not worth the cost of implementation if a basic spreadsheet works for your purposes, but if you have lots of data associated with each entry, it works well. QuickBase is an excellent alternative and is internet-based, but not quite as customizable.
October 17, 2019

All in One

Score 9 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
Incentivized
We use FileMaker Pro daily for building our product and gathering all the information into one section to make it easily accessible throughout the company. This helps us when creating the merchandise since all the information we need is in one program. It creates an easier process when bringing merchandise to life.
  • The ability to store all different types of information. This eliminates the needs for additional programs.
  • The ability to pull multiple styles of exports. There are so many details and you can build the exports to be exactly what you need.
  • It can be used across multiple departments, allowing each one to contribute the information they need to build the product.
  • Descriptions only allow for a minimum character count, forcing a lot of abbreviations.
  • When merging styles, it can remove images.
  • Sometimes, information can be missing when pulling exports.
We're building information on clothing, and this gives us multiple categories so we are able to plug in and grab the info we need.
June 29, 2019

FileMaker Pro

Score 9 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
Incentivized
FileMaker Pro is used as our ERP system, and is being used by the entire company. It keeps track of customers, vendors, and inventory.
  • FileMaker does a good job of allowing customization to layout and design for ease of use.
  • FileMaker allows us to control who can access certain areas in the system for security and business needs.
  • FileMaker is user-friendly for data entry purposes.
  • Building reports can be cumbersome.
  • We're unable to print a doc generated in FileMaker without having to download the pdf every time.
  • You're unable to sync a line added to a purchase order after the PO has already been synced to QuickBooks.
FileMaker Pro is good for tracking inventory and sales. Financials are better suited to software like QuickBooks.
Score 9 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
Incentivized
We currently use Filemaker Pro across our entire organization as the tool to create our VIN Numbers for the boat trailers we manufacture. Filemaker generates the VIN label, tire tags, and the certificate of origin to be able to register the trailers through DOT. It has been formatted to include all relevant and legal data to be able to register with the DOT.
  • Formatting for specific needs
  • Capacity to store data is huge
  • Server support if interested but not necessary.
  • Autosave can be a huge con
From what I can tell Filemaker Pro is very versatile. The best function is the ability of mass data collection. This tool makes it easy to collect data and organize it effectively for better use. Another pro is that you can use third-party programs and combine them with Filemaker to get better functionality.
December 19, 2018

FileMaker Pro At Work

Score 8 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
Incentivized
FileMaker Pro is used across our organization. We utilize its flexibility and scalability to manage and monitor our core business.
  • FMP allows us to easily add information and fields to existing applications as our business needs dictate.
  • FMP works very well with a workforce that is spread throughout the country.
  • FMP allows us to add roles to individuals so that we can tailor their views to what they do.
  • FMP Server can be difficult to work with at times. Not easy to migrate to a new server.
FMP is well suited to organizations that need a tightly integrated system that delivers interfaces targeted at specific job roles.
FMP is not suited for quick, on-time solutions. This may be better suited to another app such as excel.
Lynelle Ehart | TrustRadius Reviewer
Score 7 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
Incentivized
Our entire organization has used FileMaker Pro for many years for our event planning. It helps track food and beverage as well as setup needs for hundreds of events. We can add budget cost centers as well as A/V equipment and other needs we may have to the event plan.
  • tracks dates & times
  • tracks food and beverage
  • tracks costs centers
  • The food and beverage portion is a bit clunky when trying to type what you need
  • There is not enough space in the rooms needed portion for a large campus-wide event
It is very well-suited for events and meetings using one or two rooms.

It works well if there aren't tons of instructions. I say this because their field for this is a bit short and we sometimes run out of room when detailing our needs.
Mandi Kohlmeier | TrustRadius Reviewer
Score 7 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
Incentivized
We use FileMaker Pro to help organize our catalogs of backgrounds and props. We also built a custom set up to help maintain a library of animal talent for our shoots. It helps us to search by MANY different methods as well as generate quick PDFS that we can send to clients and other people in the studio. Most of the production staff in the studio uses FileMaker Pro. You do have to have the system stored on a server so that many people can access that, but for a larger company like ours, that wasn't really an issue. The ability to format the program and generate layouts that work best for your needs is pretty great. Although that part of it can be tricky, and takes a bit of time to learn. Searching inventories is really simple, though.
  • FileMaker Pro makes searching through internal inventories very easy. You can search by many different keywords.
  • FileMaker Pro is very simple to use when populating the inventories and catalogs.
  • The software is very customizable. Which is great for many different types of uses and businesses.
  • Customizing FileMaker Pro can be tricky for people who aren't super familiar with that type of work.
  • The software is really good, just needs a little more user friendliness or simplicity.
It is very good to use for creating internal libraries. To store collections of props, on screen talent, backgrounds, anything that you would need an inventory for.
Score 9 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
Incentivized
FileMaker Pro is the key to our business. It is our CRM as well as our data management. We use Filemaker Pro and Filemaker Go combined to create mapping and routing for our clients. All reporting is customized via FMPro.

FileMaker Pro is essential to our business, making sure that we are organized and stay on top of our day to day operations.
  • Customized database. We have all the information that we need and could possibly want at our fingertips.
  • Organization. We have client information, vendor information, and personnel information organized in a logical and secure way. Because of the custom settings, only certain people are able to view all of the data - while others are only allowed to view what is needed.
  • Working with FMGo - we are at the forefront of reporting technology. Our people personal work independently across the country and we see their results in seconds.
  • Making changes is sometimes difficult and we do work with an FM developer. While we like our developer, we do wish it was easier to do on our own.
  • FMPro is sometimes glitchy with how it outputs data. Because we've been working with it for so long and it's so customized, we have work arounds, but something we just want to be able to export things as spreadsheets in the first place. :)
FileMaker Pro works well for companies with large amounts of data. It's fully customizable so you can get exactly what you want and how you want it (which a few restrictions.) It is costly, but overall it's worth the investment.

Filemaker Pro would likely not well with companies who are more creative and fewer data heavy. There is little room for creative ideas, it is more...numbers/by the book focused.
Score 8 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
Incentivized
Filemaker is the heart of our organization. It runs every department in one to degree or another. For each department, we have automated processes which have cut down on hours of work for our organization. Each business work flow is highly custom, and therefore an out of the box solution was not going to work. Filemaker has allowed us to put in place a solution that is tailored to the way we like to do business but also allows us to grow and change process flows quickly that wouldn't be possible using standard development technologies.
  • Develop custom solutions very fast
  • Simple to use for non-developers
  • Easy rollout of solutions company-wide
  • Easy setup of server to host custom solution
  • Developer features need to be beefed up - namely adding the ability to search code for a phrase or keyword and the ability to do the same in the "relationship graph" in the database.
  • Add ability for users to edit the same table record at the same time by version control.
  • Allow Filemaker Server to use more than 1 core; currently multi-processing is not supported and it can be tricky to find just the right server to support the application you've built to the fullest capacity.
Despite limitations, Filemaker Pro is perfect for a company which is in constant flux and which requires a custom work flow which an out of the box solution doesn't provide.

One example is that my company requires orders to be submitted where based on product type, purchase location and company category all impact the price that is charged. I've used several e-store solutions and most of these are very cut and dry. You can have a product with 1 price, the only exception is a coupon code. Filemaker allowed us to create an store that allows our users to create an order based on our crazy pricing structure.













May 21, 2018

FileMaker Finesse

Tessa Peterson | TrustRadius Reviewer
Score 6 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
Incentivized
FileMaker Pro is used across the whole company in every department. It is the main ERP we use. And works well enough in every department but it does work better for some departments than others.
  • It is very customizable. Our IT department can add or remove anything our company needs which helps as we grow and our needs change.
  • Our purchasing department likes the fact that creating a PO is intuitive and sending POs to our vendors is very simple.
  • Our sales department likes that quotes are always saved along with a version of any changes. It also turns quotes into invoices with a simple click which makes the fast-paced sales easier.
  • One issue we have is that the accounting portion of this software is not easy. It takes a lot of extra labor to do easy things. Like creating debit memos.
  • Because it is so customizable it can open things up for errors that shouldn't have been there so people weren't allowed to add whatever they wanted.
  • The last thing I would say is that the version we use does not allow us to pull a lot of marketing reports and we always have to involve IT to help pull the simplest of reports, like if we want a list of email addresses for our customers.
If you have salaried salespeople it's easy to teach them to create quotes and invoices. If they can do that, they can also learn to create purchase orders so cross training is very easy. It is less appropriate to use to reconcile the every changing bank balance of a business. We always do that outside of FileMaker.
Score 10 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
Incentivized
We use Filemaker Pro across the entire organization. Everyone is trained and we use it every day for Contacts, Leads, Deal Registrations, Quotes, Purchase Orders, Time Keeping, Shipping/Receiving and Expense Reports. I don't think it poses any problems in our business, we have always used it and will continue to use it happily.
  • It works great for Quotes and Purchase Orders.
  • One thing I love about Filemaker is how it interacts with MYOB our Finance App
  • Filemaker is always great at timekeeping
  • I have no complaints regarding Filemaker, I think its a great app
Filemaker is a great tool for adding serial numbers from orders and keeping track of Support Contracts and when they expire or need to be renewed.
Score 9 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
Incentivized
We run Filemaker for Sales, Stock control and Reporting. We typically moved from segmented spreadsheets to relational database and this mostly translated to less time on admin and more on sales.
  • Reporting is very easy and managers setup their own custom reports.
  • The layout tool is very WYSIWIG and simple to master.
  • The scripting is very straight forward with very little programming understanding required.
  • The online SaaS versions are still a bit slow.
  • Would love to see true SaaS services.
  • Built-in Adwords and similar integration, typical of other SaaS tools
Based on my experience Filemaker works extremely well for up to 10 users but have very little experience with larger setups.
Score 9 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
Incentivized
FileMaker Pro is used across departments to manage a massive database that tracks our sellable products. Currently, we have approximately 20 users at any given time, all of whom can actively update the database as long as they are not updating the same record. The program manages a variety of information about the product, which is highly modifiable and easily updated via Excel imports or manually inside of the record. Customized exports are used to generate report outs and access real-time information regarding our available inventory.
  • The relational database management system makes the program highly customizable to fit the needs of any product. You can add a ton of information to each record and update your inventory on a regular basis with an Excel import or manually inside of the record. It has the capability to incorporate barcoding, which can manage your available inventory with ease.
  • The scripting language allows FileMaker to automatically calculate complex algorithms automatically or generate report outs with the click of a button. This allows for greater UI, especially with active users who are not familiar with writing code. Almost all of our internal data is linked to the FileMaker database
  • The server license allows many users to update the database in real time, which is handy if your inventory is constantly changing. We have users with Macs, PCs, iPhones and handheld tablets linked to our FileMaker database and they are updating the information constantly throughout the day.
  • If you invest some time into formatting and scripting the database, there is a high ease of use for users without knowledge of any programming or FileMaker itself.
  • Cross-platform consistency - the iPhone version is not nearly as functional as the desktop version, which could cause troubles if you want to update your inventory with a mobile device while actively performing a task. The layout is cluttered and inconsistent.
  • The development of a functional database will require a highly skilled FileMaker programmer, or multiple people working to address specific requirements for the database. This could take months to construct and can be costly if you want to create a highly customizable database with the proper scripts.
  • The Excel exports are rather simple and require re-working if you are trying to make anything visually appealing. I'm sure more backend programming could be performed to address this issue, but for the average user, the programming and links can be rather complex.
The communication between records and customizable information linked to multiple sources provides an infinite number of possibilities when tracking complex inventory items. If you like or need to see a lot of information about your inventory item, FileMaker is a powerful tool to organize and track your data. Essentially our entire business is linked to the FileMaker database in one way or another. If you do not have large amounts of information pertaining to your inventory items, then you might be able to get away with an Excel database that utilizes macros as it is far easier to perform the backend programming compared to FileMaker.
Doug Fish | TrustRadius Reviewer
Score 10 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
Incentivized
FileMaker serves as the “brains” of the operation. Every order is entered and tracked through the entire production process. Employees can see at a glance everything they need to know about an order.... what raw materials were ordered, when they arrived, changes requested by a customer, when the order is expected to be delivered.
  • Sorts and classifies data according to your exact search parameters.
  • Makes detailed information easy to find.
  • Produces up to the minute progress reports.
  • Have typically needed to purchase outside reference materials to help understand harness the powerful FileMaker.
FileMaker is perfect for a company needing a custom data tracking solution that fits the way they do business.
Sam Goodwin | TrustRadius Reviewer
Score 6 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
Incentivized
We have used FileMaker Pro with our day to day operations in our business. It was used to track projects and integrated into some marketing functions of our business. It helped with organizing, accessing customer records and did some reporting. It would help us print directly from the database into Word format as well.
  • Easy to complete a mail merge inside the system, without having to download contacts and re-upload them. Very simple to print personalized post cards or emails to groups of clients at one time.
  • Lots of customization options, for reports, mail merge etc.
  • Easier to do online
  • Making it simple to format and changes
It was difficult to navigate at first, however after time it became easier. The version I used did not have a cloud base application, this was a major downfall for us. It was very versatile in creating queries, and manipulating mail merge features. Being able to group data was very easy.
Score 8 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
Incentivized
My client was in need of a database solution that could be easily maintainable as their old database software was not being supported anymore. I recommended that they use FileMaker Pro because it was MacOS and WindowsOS friendly as well as low-code.
  • No prior knowledge of programming languages required
  • Drag-and-drop UI builder
  • Auto-population of PDF forms
  • Flexibility with Script Builders
  • Exporting data can be a challenge for many-to-many table relations
  • Limited to just the tools given to you by FileMaker
  • Expensive to host on the cloud or on-premise
If your organization requires a low-code and flexible database solution, FileMaker Pro will work great. We were successful in implementing the system because many of the manual processes of the company are now automated through the script builder. However if your organization has very complex queries and/or very complex needs, you should look elsewhere as FileMaker limits you to the tools they give.
David Simpson | TrustRadius Reviewer
Score 10 out of 10
Vetted Review
Verified User
Incentivized
FileMaker Pro is used as a replacement for Microsoft Access databases for my customers. FileMaker Pro provides multi-user access, better reliability in networked deployments, installation directly on IOS devices. FileMaker Pro data files also offer much greater data capacity of up to 7TB per file compared to the 2GB file size limit of Microsoft Access. Automated conversion from Access to FileMaker Pro is performed with FmPro Migrator Platinum Edition software.
  • Greater File Size - 7TB per file, compared to 2GB per file with Access .ACCDB files.
  • Reliable multi-user networking thru Peer-to-Peer or server based implementations.
  • Improved developer productivity.
  • Capability of being run locally on IOS devices with the free FileMaker Go client software.
  • It would be nice to have some automation improvements.
FileMaker Pro is well suited for low-code situations where a custom app needs to be customized for specific customer needs.
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