Marketing and Related Issues

==== Market research====
Need desk based Market research / admin support to Sales Agent with access to CreditSafe, FileMaker Pro, Goldmine.

==== Marketing Tasks:====
*Pursue ''delicious ''links labeled: Marketing - to find prospective customers
*Pursue ''Word Document ''"Potential Customers" - to find prospective customers
*Pursue FileMaker "BizRules" file - to find prospective customers
*Setup Potential customers in GoldMine (or the application that fills the function of GoldMine), link in with Salesperson position
*Setup New customers in QuickBooks / FileMaker
 *Link up FileMaker with CreditSafe: See http://www.creditsafeuk.com/getdatawebservice/WhatIsGetData.aspx *

====== Telephone Number ======
03 is another non-geographic number that gives organisations a single national phone number and usually costs less to call than 0870 and 0845 numbers.

Q & A for Finding out a Client's Needs - Part I

====== Q and A = ======
Q. What will the database be used for? ======
- Could you please confirm exactly how, and what for, the Filemaker database is or will be used?
Have you already implemented this database software, and what kind of data is stored in there?
A. If we're going to use FileMaker Pro v10, it will be to manage our business.
This would include:

ITIL compliance

Service Management

Service Delivery

Contact Management

Job Scheduling for Cyclical, Proactive and Reactive Maintenance and Inspection

Task-Based Routing

Real Time Updates

Field and Office based Voice, Data and other Communications

Document Management

Customer Relationship (See what others did and buy in their system or copy their idea, for example: http://www.evolvit.co.uk/databases

Experience and Service Management

Web Integration

Online Sales and a host of similar operations that we do (or would like to do) in our growing business.

====== CRM software ======
Q. We also spoke about a CRM software.
Could you please confirm the exact use of this software.
What type of information/data will this be used for?
A. We need to look after our customers (reasons for this are self-explanatory - I hope . . .) and this entails:
Acquiring, Keeping and Upselling customers
Analysing Prospective and Existing clients,
Continuously improving Customer Service
similar operations required to maintain a steady flow of new business from our customers.
undefined

===== Reference =====
*For Data Access, see: http://subsonicproject.com/
*Reference Sites: This would do exactly what we were discussing in the past (RFCs, Problem Reporting, Bug TRacking etc.) http://www.datadesignlabs.com/IGotIssues.html

 *[[Mobile s | Mobile Specifications]] *

[[Phase II | FileMaker Phase II]]

 *[[Web dev medium | Web Dev]]

* ===== Glossary =====
 - Combox = Dialogue Box
 - KeyComb = Key Combination

Development Programme

Link Certificate and other documents to related Data

====== Filing corgi certificates ======

====== Pink copy of CORGI certificate to be added to CORGI invoices by looking up the site address in QuickBooks or FileMaker and match invoice number for date on certificate. Original certificate are to be posted to customer with invoice. ======

Would it be possible to have files linked to Records? 
Example: We have a PDF that arrived by eMail as an attachment and belongs to Durban Road. 

Example: Similarly, all the Certificates that we receive from NICEIC and EPC guys should be linked with their respective Property Records

Is it possible to have Hyperlinks to records? 
Example: When I eMail Berish I want thim to be able to click on a Hyperlink so that he can go straight to the record in question that I'm trying to show him.  
Maybe this is only possible in the FileMaker Pro Server (hosted online) version?

CONFIRM AN INSPECTION

====== A – PHONING THE TENANT TO CONFIRM AN INSPECTION ======
====== Upon receipt of the blue and pink British Gas appointment letter, a phone call should be made to the tenant as follows: ======
• Find out the tenant’s telephone number by searching in FileMaker (Start→FileMaker Pro→Hosts→Dashboard→Open→Properties→Control+F and insert data e.g. road name) or in the ‘Tenants’ list – a spreadsheet in Excel (My Network Places→shared on Server1→All Documents→Pacedream Limited→S Abraham→3-Star→3-Star Spreadsheets→TENANTS→Control+F and insert data). If the telephone number is not there, see B below. ======
====== Call the tenant and say, ‘I’m _____ calling from Pacedream Property Safety regarding your annual gas safety inspection. Did you receive a letter from British Gas (BG) about your upcoming visit scheduled for _____________ between the hours of 8-1/12-6? Confirm that the time is OK with them and record this information on the appointment letter with the date. If the time is inconvenient visit will have to be re-scheduled with BG – see C below. ======
====== In the Microsoft Outlook Calendar, make a reminder to call the tenant a day before the visit to confirm it once again. Include the time of visit and tenant’s telephone number. ======

 ====== B – PHONING THE HOUSING ASSOCIATION ======
====== If the tenant’s telephone number is not in the Excel list, a further phone call to the Housing Association (HA) is necessary: ======
====== Find out the relevant Housing Association for the particular property concerned, which should be saved on the same Excel list (Control+F and insert data e.g. address) ======
====== Find the HA’s number in the ‘Housing Associations’ Excel spreadsheet ======
• Call the HA and, after introducing yourself and the company, say you are calling regarding a gas safety inspection for ____________. Do you have the tenant’s telephone number so I can contact them regarding their inspection? ======
====== Once they have given you the tenant’s telephone number (and name) install it into FileMaker (and the Excel spreadsheet) and proceed with A above. ======

 ====== C – CALLING BRITISH GAS TO REARRANGE AN INSPECTION ======
====== Dial 08459 500 400, (when menu is cited) press 3 and type our telephone number (when they ask for it) 08456 98 00 44. ======
====== Say you’re calling regarding a bulk contract, give them tenants’ address and postcode ======
====== Rearrange appointment for appropriate time 8-1/12-6, giving the engineer’s job sheet a further timing bracket if necessary e.g. preferably after 2. ======
====== Confirm with tenant - see A above. ======

 ====== When speaking to British Gas always take down the call centre, name and extension number of the person you speak to, as well as the job number for the inspection/repair as this will make following up on call-outs far more straightforward.

Software Protection

===== Integrate this Software Package into FileMaker:

http://uk.search.yahoo.com/search;_ylt=A1f4cfhG9PJKwhYA8n9LBQx.?p=filemaker+pro+development+%22anti+piracy%22+-mac&fr2=sb-top&fr=yfp-t-702&rd=r1&sao=1‎

===== OnTimer examples: =====

Work Scheduler to distribute the work evenly

http://www.filemakerworld.com/search/node/ontimer

===== Scheduler: =====

http://marineleisureuk.com/products/scheduler/

===== Management System: =====

http://marineleisureuk.com/products/servicemanagement/

===== Existing projects: =====
http://www.meritsolutions.co.uk/screens.htm

41. ontimer, see: http://fmpscripting.blogspot.com/search?q=ontimer.

42. See: http://fmpscripting.blogspot.com - might help you somehow?

43. See Inizar's entry in the following blog: http://sixfriedrice.com/wp/find-mode-dates-and-times/

44. See the Forum: http://filemaker.custhelp.com/cgi-bin/filemaker.cfg/php/enduser/std_alp.php?p_new_search=1&p_search_text=ontimer

45. http://www.soliantconsulting.com/blog/2009/05/countdown-indicator-demo/

46. http://www.seedcode.com/cp-app/ste_cat/filemakercalendar

47. http://www.google.co.uk/search?source=ig&hl=en&rlz=&q=connect+outlook+with+filemaker

48. http://www.nabble.com/Scheduling-program-to634471.html#a634471 - the link to the sample website doesn't work

49. http://www.nabble.com/forum/Search.jtp?forum=734&local=y&query=ontimer

50. http://fmpug.org/
For your scripts, relationships and layouts: http://www.goya.com.au/baseelements

Hints and Tips: http://www.digitalpoint.com/tips/filemaker.html

Please have a look at the following url, whose eMail address appears on the top 10 in TechNet:
http://sixfriedrice.com/wp/the-secret-life-of-find-mode-symbols/
They seem to know what they're doing, see:
http://sixfriedrice.com/wp/deleting-duplicate-records-in-filemaker/

Re: GIF in FileMaker Container (or was it Global?) Field: eMail the problem to: CNSImage @ cnsplug-ins.com

http://www.eweek.com/c/a/Database/FileMaker-9-Bulks-Up-without-Adding-Complexity/

http://sourceforge.net/projects/scuttle/

http://faq.filemakermagazine.com/wiki/FileMaker_Links

Contacts

1. We should use a Layout in the FileMaker File "Contacts" that allows for entering pertinent details regarding the abilities, services, prices and coverage area of each and every contractor.

2. When I enter details of an engineer, there are details that need to be entered which are specific to every industry.  
For example, an EPC engineer has a "Assessor's accreditation number (i.e. NHER004856), a NICEIC has a register number and so on.  
Then there are the qualifications, which will help us decide what kind of jobs to send his way.  
Furthermore we need to know this engineer's pricing structure. 

3. Can we have a Field to save "Company Registration number 05182524"? This will become more urgent once we have regular need for checking Credit Rating.

Requests For Change

====== Compare: ======

Juwel Design ERP Brief
Start from the ground up, aiming for FIleMaker 9 or 10 for Windows, with target date to go global within 12 months, giving quarterly milestones. Goal is to enable users of existing ERP/other implementations to integrate with our ERP-Ready system in the sphere of Field Services, Planned maintenance, Periodic inspections, Facilities management etc.,

====== Options: ======

1. FileMaker: for all data driven tasks and needs, with feed to/from Accounting, ERP, PipeLine (GoldMine, Act! etc.), Unlimited users via Web Server, Easy Customisation, Implementation, Integration
2. Collect FileMaker-designed products from various developers (JobTracker, EasyContact from Holland, Outbound Sales Diary from @003 Expo @£60.00 per hour)
3. MYOB: Limited to only 2 users, Links to FileMaker, only on Windows
4. QuickBooks: Limited to 5 users (except enterprise version, which is not yet tested), limited with file size, limited with customised reporting, Problem with "pending" invoices.

 * Bill Items By Class ‎ ‎

5. SAGE: cumbersome, links to FileMaker on Windows,
6. Hansa: One "Super" seat with option to link in up to 6 FirstOffice users linking to FileMaker using data files

====== Links: ======

‎http://www.newmillennium.com/index.php?src=gendocs&link=Business_Software_Overview

‎FileMaker Accounting

Tweak existing FileMaker

*Tweak existing FileMaker / QB dichotomy
 *Start defining requirements *Look through possible existing OTS
 *Evaluate Demo's - put Questions to vendors
 *Ask for reference sites
 *Multi-User, Multi-Office, Multi-Tier, Multi-Language etc.

===== Embed PBX Web Interface within FileMaker: =====
http://www.digium.com/en/search/?q=filemaker&cx=000646719971617706768%3Avxxaa7il5o0&cof=FORID%3A10#778

http://www.24usoftware.com/PhoneCompanion http://www.24usoftware.com/PhoneCompanion

===== Platforms: =====

====== FileMaker - small company ======

 ====== Servoy - Medium company - ultra-thin client deployment platform ======

Office Communications Server 2007 R2

http://office.microsoft.com/en-gb/communicationsserver/FX101729111033.aspx?ofcresset=1

==== More Features '''''HERE'''''  ====
More Requests

List of contact types - add supplier, etc.

Add a notes field to the phone table

Change header for phone/email to contact details

Reduce phone table size to half and put in its place a search box

When creating a new order you should select a company staff who actually placed the order

And this info will appear when the orders table is displayed

Initial check tab change title to job address

Add access details to the first tab in the orders table

Products ordered add table containing existing orders for that property should show payment status of all these existing orders move bill to info to the first tab (initial check)

The payment details need to be on the same tab as the products ordered

Supplier tab add supplier details and notes about the supplier

Integrate with the To Do list on Trello Website

Proprietary system for website

*Proprietary system for website CMS, CRM, Estimating (tendering), order tracking / job ticketing and accounts (Purchase orders, sales & purchase invoicing).  Is there a system that does this?  I have recently been evaluating our companies procedures and looking at ways to improve and streamline our processes. There are lots of solutions (not necessarily FileMaker) that provide some of the above but I have seen anything that ties it all in together. In a perfect world the system I imagine would provide:

• CMS website - integrated with google analytics

• CRM - tied in with the analytics as above with the ability to extract customers details for email & direct mail campaigns.

eMail campaigns for fundraising, event registration etc.

• Estimating - We are print management Co so tender each project to a select few suppliers. This would ideally have the ability to run reports such as a conversion rate for a particular client / supplier.

• Job ticketing - book in successful estimates.

• Purchase orders - raise purchase orders that tie in with job ticket to send to suppliers.

• Other accounts requirements - It would be nice if the system had full accountability or tied in with an accounts package.
See: http://my.advisor.com/doc/RYLEG04

• All the above would need to be available online using FileMaker or a browser.

Are there any existing Filemaker (or other) solutions that provide this (or close).

If not what would a realistic budget be for a bespoke solution?
Francis Grogan grgprint Management Ltd Tel: 0113 383 3888  Email: francis@grgprint.com

*Francis Grogan Director at grgprint management:  In case it's not obvious it would also need to integrate a client and supplier database and have individual log ins for different users (users being employees).

Daniel Shanahan Database and Web Developer at New Leaf Data:

Can you say more about the CMS website portion? There are many available - Joomla!, Drupal, WordPress, etc. What is it you want to do with a web Content Management System?

Likewise, I'm curious what you have in mind for a CRM - what exactly do you want from it? Estimating and Invoicing (along with client management) can be done in FileMaker.

Job ticketing as well, though it depends what you want.

There are several web-based project management systems that allow clients to view the progress of jobs and submit tickets. I can send you a sample FMP database that I built for client management (invoices, payments, projects, etc.).

Contact me if you would like to see it.

Stephen Dolenski Certified FileMaker Developer: Another option is Expression Engine.

Mark Lemm Owner, Lemm Tech Enterprises and Computer Software Consultant:

I have built most of this sort of this (except for the web piece. Not sure why you need that exactly) for a client using fileMaker 9. It's feeds data directly into QuickBooks Pro Enterprise on the back end for accounting purposes.

You can definitely build something like this in FileMaker but you are in the 30 to 50k range USD for this sort of project. FileMaker is one of the few platforms that can tie everything together with a single technology versus using multiple web based technologies and a separate back end database to do the same thing. How many users are we talking here? -Mark

Jonn Howell President at DataExperience, Inc. and Owner, DataExperience, Inc.: Call this man. He is such a system professionally developed for FileMaker 11.  

Allen Imbarrato President, Ki Systems, Inc. 

800-946-2854 

http://www.kibizsystems.com

Skype: allenimb

Francis Grogan Director at grgprint management: Thanks to all for the responses so far. 

I'll try and address some of the queries...  First a bit more background to the company: We used to be print manufacturers, but are now a broker which means we are more service orientated. We deliver savings to buyers of print by using our network os print providers, each of which have their strengths and weaknesses and all of which offer us trade discounts for the volume of work we send to them. We in turn can apply a small markup and 'earn our crust' so to speak. The company is only a three man operation at this time so we are not a big concern.  On each estimate request from a client we compile the specification and enter this in our estimating system, choose 2-4 suppliers (from the suppliers list) who are the most suitable for the job and send them our price requests. All the prices are entered into our system, the best option chosen "for use" and a percentage markup applied before this quote is sent to the client.

The client then gives the instruction to proceed at which point we will mark the estimate as "won" and create a job ticket from the estimate details. From the job ticket we will raise a PO and send this to the supplier. 

The job will be produced and delivered and we will send a sales invoice. The CMS & CRM function is to help bring the company inline with modern technological sales and marketing techniques. 

We'd like to be able to update our website content, add special offers, capture the details of visitors, track their behavior on the site and utilise those contact details to follow up leads with emails, sms and direct mail marketing techniques. 

These campaigns and contact attempts would be tracked within the CRM and those details tied in against the customers account within the management side of the software. 

We would also like the ability to extend the website to using a shopping cart function. If the best way to run the accounts side is to plug it in to a existing package such as quick books or sage that wouldn't be a problem so long as it worked well. As for hardware I have two Linux servers here both running Red Hat that could be used or we could look at a hosting solution. 

Downside:  From some of the indicative costs I have received it would appear my idea's were a bit pie in the sky. I have no idea in what would be involved in starting this from scratch but had hoped that someone might have written something similar that they might adapt to our needs. 

As a small company our budget would no where near stretch to the £30k plus figure mentioned. £5k would be at the top end of our budget if we could get a solution to fit all our needs.

*Mark Lemm Owner, Lemm Tech Enterprises and Computer Software Consultant: 

Thank you for providing more details about your situation. Yes in my opinion you are dreaming but you may be able to find a prebuilt solution for a low price and then customize it yourself. At $100/hr for programming (just using that as a guide) $5K is just over a week of work and I don't think someone could adapt an prebuilt solution much less built one from scratch for you in just over a week. 

You could start slowly and over time built up your system with all the features you want to spread out the cost. I still think FileMaker is a good platform to go with because it can to pretty much everything you want but it sounds like you want a top of the line system (which is fine) but my not be realistic for a firm your size.

*Daniel Shanahan  Database and Web Developer at New Leaf Data: I agree with Mark. It may be beneficial to think of your "system" in phases. What do you need first? What can you live without for now? Also, it may be helpful to consider the value a particular phase might have. For example, say that the first phase needs to organize the data of print providers and print buyers with some CRM functionality (e.g. a dashboard showing who to call this week, tasks to do, etc.). What is the value of such a phase? When it is implemented, how efficient will your three person team be? Will this efficiency increase your revenue? This may help put the £30k in perspective.

==== FileMaker Integration ====

===== Integration =====

*FileMaker plugin to fulfill most/ all requirement listed below:

 *Bluetooth keyboard - hardware dependent; not FileMaker Pro related

 *App for integrating Contacts with calendar

 *NavelLab's ReadMore App. Should have a Built-in Daily Reading Schedule to set reminders for Reading What, When, Where and if with or without a learning partner

17/09/2009
Link shopping basket to FileMaker
We need to connect the Order ID, Invoice Number and Bazaar Reference all into FileMaker

 * Add from-postcode address finder

 * Shopping Gateways

 * Add the following Industry Standard Shopping Gateways, to maximise our sales turnover success rate

 * Google Checkout

 * Amazon Basket

 * PayPal verified

 * Authorize.Net

 * GoDaddy.Com Secure Site

 * Enter all our regular small customers into the eShop database - see separate entry for instructionson how to do this - who we decide should always prepay. Then we could accept orders whilst logging on with their details (that we have assigned to each one of them) thereby giving a seamless service to our customers and we save time in the office too.

 * (alternatively, use one generic Username and Password for ALL retail customers - this needs to be explored if this is possible as eventually we want to link into FileMaker so maybe we should keep all records separate after all)

FileMaker Discussions: List Management

=== previous records for reference ===
Sent: 06 May 2009 10:51
Is there a way in FileMaker to have records in a selection list (i.e. Engineers) whom we used in the past, we stopped using them – so now they are not to appear in the selection menu but still need to show in previous records for reference?

====== Database ======

*What is [http://searchsqlserver.techtarget.com/sDefinition/0,,sid87_gci542529,00.html FileMaker Pro] ? **See [[Start FileMaker|FileMaker]] **Does it make a difference what Hard disk is used for FileMaker **Data Centre : SearchVirtualDataCentre.co.UK provides a comprehensive online resource for IT professionals seeking cost-saving strategies and looking for help with creating, implementing, managing and updating UK data centres utilizing virtualisation technologies for server consolidation, disaster recovery, lab and test, desktop centralization or other production usage. **To look up version details of FileMaker Pro and its OS, see here: FMChecker - a "Get Info" for FileMaker® Pro Databases, Do you know what all the FileMaker Pro files on your hard disk are all about? ... On what System and FileMaker version has a file been used and when last? ... [http://www.fmchecker.com/ http://www.fmchecker.com/] *Scripts on FileMaker Pro [http://fmpscripting.blogspot.com http://fmpscripting.blogspot.com]