We Know Your FileMaker System Better Than You Think

Whether your original developer has moved on, your system has grown beyond what it was built for, or you've just inherited something you don't fully understand, this is a situation we deal with regularly.

The situations we see most often

The most common reason organisations come to us about their existing FileMaker system is that something has changed, the person who built it has gone, the business has outgrown it, or it's quietly accumulated problems that nobody has tackled.

"Our developer retired / left / is unavailable"

This is the most common scenario. You have a working system, a body of institutional knowledge that walked out the door with the developer, and no one to call when something breaks. We take over support, get up to speed quickly, and establish ourselves as the new point of contact.

"The system works, but it's slow / unreliable / difficult to use"

FileMaker systems that were built quickly, or that have grown organically over many years, often accumulate inefficiencies. We audit what's there, identify the root causes, and fix them, without unnecessary changes to the parts that work.

"We need to add functionality but nobody knows how it was built"

We analyse the existing system using FileMaker's Database Design Report tooling alongside our own DDR analysis tools, build an accurate picture of the architecture, and develop new features in a way that fits the existing structure rather than fighting against it.

"We need to connect it to other systems"

Sage, Xero, SAP Ariba, Microsoft 365, Shopify, we add REST API integrations and Claris Connect workflows to existing systems regularly. Your FileMaker system can sit at the centre of your business, not in isolation from it.

What we can do

System audit

Impartial assessment of your existing system, architecture, performance, security, and structural quality. We use our own DDR analysis tooling to surface issues that aren't visible without it.

New features and improvements

Adding functionality to an existing system without breaking what's already there requires careful analysis. We do this well, it's a significant part of our day-to-day development work.

Customer and supplier portals

Build secure web-facing portals on top of your existing FileMaker system, letting clients or suppliers interact with your data without needing FileMaker access.

Mobile and web access

Extend your existing system with FileMaker Go for iOS devices and WebDirect for browser-based access, without rebuilding anything from scratch.

Third-party integrations

Connect your FileMaker system to Sage, QuickBooks, Xero, SAP Ariba, Microsoft Graph, and others via REST API, ODBC, or Claris Connect.

Reporting and dashboards

Custom reports and interactive dashboards built from your existing data, without needing to restructure anything you've already got.

Legacy system modernisation

Older FileMaker systems often predate modern UI conventions, security standards, and FileMaker Server requirements. We upgrade them carefully, preserving what works, modernising what doesn't.

Version and server upgrades

Moving to a newer version of FileMaker Server or Pro, or migrating to Clockwork Cloud hosting, we handle the upgrade and validate everything before you go live.

How we approach taking over an existing system

We start with an honest audit

Before we touch anything, we analyse your system properly. We use FileMaker's Database Design Report alongside our own analysis tooling to build an accurate picture of the architecture, the scripts, the relationships, and the data. We'll tell you what we find, including things the original developer may not have flagged.

We don't change things that don't need changing

A system that your team knows and relies on is a valuable asset. We make changes carefully and deliberately, fixing what's broken, improving what's slow, and leaving alone what's working well.

We document as we go

One of the reasons system handovers are painful is poor documentation. We build up knowledge of your system systematically, and we share it, so you're never again dependent on a single person who holds all the knowledge.

We've done this hundreds of times

Taking over FileMaker systems from other developers is a regular part of our work. We know what to look for, where the typical problems are, and how to establish a reliable support relationship quickly.

Start with a free system review

One hour, no charge. We'll look at your system together, tell you honestly what we see, and discuss the options. No obligation.

Book a Free Review

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