We approach all client engagements as long-term partnerships. We want you to succeed, and to help you along the way! Helping you achieve your goals is our mission. Our focus is to develop a database solution that will be intuitive and user friendly regardless of the size and type of your business or organization.
The FileMaker Development Process
- Phase I: Site/System Survey
- Phase II: Define & Design
- Phase III: Develop & Revise
- Phase IV: Deploy & Maintain
Phase I: Site/System Survey
This is where we learn more about your business operations and identify the outline for the project.
For prospective clients, the initial consultation is always free. We look at it as a way to get to know more about your business and determine your project needs, which will allow us to support you and your business in the upcoming project on an ongoing basis.
After this analysis you will receive a technical overview with recommendations based upon what we have learned about your business operations along with a proposal that outlines the project and provides an initial estimate of development and consulting hours required.
Phase II: Define & Design
This is where we design in detail, a solution that best meets your needs and include details on how it will be executed.
In the Define & Design phase, we lay the foundation for the project by meeting with the your team and reviewing the finer points of the project. Understanding your business, processes, and how you work with the software is critical to developing and designing a successful solution. This phase allows us to analyze your existing system, current business processes, methodologies, as well as your short-term and long-term objectives in seeking a custom solution.
We will discuss the details of the project either on-site, by phone, or by online meetings. We will then construct an Entity Relationship Diagram to define the foundation of the database structure that acts as a blueprint for the new system. This document will also include a schedule of how each phase will roll out, along with any updates to the estimate of development and consulting hours required for the project. The greater our knowledge of all aspects of the project as revealed through this phase, the more accurate and comprehensive the estimate will be. In Phase II, clients often appreciate the input we provide based on our observance of their business processes, especially since our recommendations usually result in more efficient and effective solutions.
This is where we create a solution, issuing progressive revisions for you to evaluate and test, which we will continue to revise as changes occur.
In the Develop & Revise phase, we approach projects using the spiral development technique. This is the process of gradually targeting in on the right solution to limit the opportunity for a project to get off-track. The client is involved each step of the way, with regular meetings to offer feedback and monitor the project’s progress. The spiral development technique ensures the software meets our client’s needs in a timely manner.
Phase IV: Deploy & Maintain
This is where we deliver the finished product, take it online, and continue to support and maintain your system in a way that will allow your database solution to grow with your business.
Our development process is an ongoing collaboration between our professional team and yours. We will work closely with you to hone each project into a finely tuned solution that fulfills your unique business demands. We are able to share knowledge gained from new technology and hands on experiences, which can allow us to suggest different approaches that you may not have previously considered. Oftentimes we help clients break the habits of less efficient routines and replace them with new, and often times more effective practices. It’s this continuous give and take of client feedback and testing that helps us to produce and maintain the very best possible solution for your business.
