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We now offer an SMS service that allows users to send out messages from Filemaker to employee’s phones that provide information about where and when the employee needs to be on a job site. The employee then can confirm they have seen the calendar update with a button. Managers can view who has confirmed or not. Managers can then follow up to help keep employees accountable. This is a good tool for businesses that don’t have a set schedule up until the end of the scheduling term, giving the ability to be flexible. Once schedules are finalized, they are published to the web, and SMS messages are sent. This tool helps streamline communications to employees quickly, users will have details of the final schedule within 1 minute of finalizing.

It feels like we use Google for almost everything today, and with good reason. Google offers cutting-edge software tools that we integrate into our database solutions to help increase productivity, and save time for our users. This new feature we are offering gives users the ability to enter in a street address and city, then press a button to automatically populate the zip code. Remove the extra step of going to google maps and looking up the zip. This feature is being quickly adopted by a lot of our users today. If interested please call PCM Software. This feature does require a google API account through PCM Software.

PCM strives to create interfaces that adapt seamlessly to various screen sizes without compromising usability. We support 3 platforms, MacOS, Windows, and iOS. These devices come in a variety of screen sizes. 

For one client we we able to provide the ability to view their WOs from their phones. We eliminated pinching and resizing which makes the experience easier on the iPhone. In doing so, we also kept the larger computer view. The application is smart to see the device and give the user the best view. 

Another client wanted a mobile time clock for the phone. We converted our iPad views to support the smaller iPhone view. All functions were retained with some adjustments to the interface. The end product is intuitive and convenient clock-ins and clock-outs on a pocket size device.

We have devised new techniques and new styles for fine-tuning the look between all devices. We also consider the scalability of the solution and future devices. Let us know what you think.

Intuit has announced recently that the 2020 version of QuickBooks desktop will be discontinued on May 31, 2023. They will offer a Quickbooks Desktop 2023 version but it is only subscription and approximately three times the price of the online version. 

If you log in to the website and try to buy QuickBooks, you are steered towards QuickBooks online. It is clear that their long-term main product is QuickBooks online. 

We have recently developed a QuickBooks connector for Filemaker. This connector lets us push data from Filemaker to QuickBooks online. Yes, it only works with QuickBooks online.

We can customize how you use this connector within your system. So we could send invoices to QuickBooks, once a week, once a day, or manually one at a time.

We can also communicate with other areas of QuickBooks.

I understand that upgrading to a different version of QuickBooks can be challenging. But it may be very worthwhile considering Intuit’s stance and the new Filemaker-QuickBooks connector.

If your business only takes checks you may get inquiries for other types of payments. With very little set up your Filemaker solution can offer multiple payment methods. This solution includes a payment portal. 

A payment portal is a third-party that collects the funds from your customer on your behalf. Then they put the money in your bank account. The payment portal offers multiple ways of paying like credit, card bank transfer, etc. We use a payment portal called Stripe.

Let’s walk through the steps in filemaker

1. Find the invoice you want to offer other payment methods.
2. Click the ‘Stripe’ button. This sends the invoice to ‘Stripe’
   In the above step the invoice is sent to stripe along with the email address of the contact person on the invoice.
   The client will receive an email which will say they have an invoice to pay from your company.
3. Click the stripe follow up button to see if the invoice has been paid.
4. Enter the payment if paid

Set up required for the stripe payment portal
PCM installs the straight buttons and code. Set up a stripe account. Stripe needs your bank account to transfer the money they collect.

Our current notices can be given to users for almost any condition that exists in the database with the following means. Login, module open, change of value, email, SMS text message. Sometimes even several of these can be used.

There is another way that is growing in popularity. Because of smart phones users are already conditioned to check a badge on their applications.
The badge can also list multiple alerts, and provide a button to quickly view the records with the alert.
Badges can be assigned per employee. This is very interesting for management because the badge for one purpose can be assigned to a worker and also a manager. This helps overcome unforeseen circumstances. For example let’s say we had an employee out for maternity leave and the badge assigned was increasing. The manager should notice the higher number, and resolve the responsibility of this task.

The thing we like about this notification system is that it is persistent and works well with management. We have found many company tasks that can be assigned and managed with this tool. Other ways like SMS message or email do not give us a visual that something needs attention. Batches can make a difference in your business.