Case Study
Using FileMaker Go frees up desk space and allows Jeremy to keep track of all company data
risk of things spiralling out of control. Aside from making notes on endless pieces of paper and occasionally using Excel, I had no real system in place to record what was actually happening in the growing business on a day-to-day basis. Without this I was not really in control of my operation.”
Getting in Control, Getting Ahead
As Arnold puts it, “It didn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out that some form of business automation would need to be put in place, but I wanted to be in control of what is a people business and not become subservient to a computer system. The ‘computer says no’ scenario was not for me.”
In 2010 Arnold paid IT consultants DataTherapy a
visit. DataTherapy
specified and helped him to implement a system built around FileMaker Go.
“Prior to this, I had only a vague idea of what actually constituted a database and how one could improve my business,” emphasises Arnold. “It was all about getting better organised.
“We tracked everything through piles of paper notes and, almost overnight, found we could record each job
“Without FileMaker my workforce
would need to be dramatically larger to deliver the same results” - Jeremy
and enter progress updates into the database remotely, as they occurred, using none other than an iPad.
“That certainly liberated a lot of desk space and made us look a whole lot
more professional, but the big bonus for me was being able to track each passport or visa application in real time and know exactly what its status was. Rather than emailing and calling clients 30 times a day with updates, automatic emails are now distributed via the database. We save time and cost and the customers get a better service. What’s not to like?”
In addition to improving service levels, FileMaker Go ensures Alletson Arnold keeps a tight rein on its cash flow. For instance, the £160,000 per month spent on credit cards on behalf of clients can now be automatically reconciled against statements. “Gone are the days of creating my own invoices in Excel. The database will generate it for me.”
As Alletson Arnold’s employee
numbers have grown, Arnold has been able to use FileMaker Go to manage their time sheets; staff who are paid by the hour sign in and out using an iPad with signature capture (verified by a team leader). Importantly, the system simultaneously enables the effective
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