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Development - Great tools, great results
At The Alchemy Group, we use the powerful Filemaker® Pro database application to create multi-platform solutions that will give you everything your enterprise needs. As Filemaker Business Alliance Associates and Certified FileMaker Developers, we are able to make maximum usage of FileMaker's host of features, staying on the cutting edge of this fast-growing technology. We are known as innovators in the field of FileMaker development; whether it's simple workflow management systems, online credit card processing services, handheld inventory scanning, or putting your store on the Web, we're the FileMaker gurus you've been looking for.

All of our development is performed in a methodical and thoroughly documentable manner so that your solution is as fast, stable and scalable as it can possibly be. Common FileMaker development standards are adhered to so your custom solution can easily be modified in the future. Our documentation is thorough and our training is very friendly.

The Development Process:
Our development process is carefully designed to give you a solution that will best suit your needs. Developing a custom solution for your office is a team effort, combining your input with our expertise and guidance. At The Alchemy Group, we make sure you, the customer, are involved in the process every step of the way. You will work directly with the person creating your database.

Consultation:
We start with a free consultation to establish the scope of your project. In this meeting, we interview you and, if necessary, other key staff members to ascertain what is needed. Often, the questions we ask prompt our clients to take the larger view of the project, and help them to focus and clarify. Streamlining and enhancing your workflow, without adding unnecessary features, is key to making your business more efficient.

Discovery:
The Discovery phase is the most important part of the project. Here, we establish just exactly what the solution will do, who will use it, how it will automate workflow, and what sort of user interface and reporting capabilities it will have. This part of the process typically takes up to 20% of the entire project.

Read the Requirements White Paper to learn more (may require Adobe Acrobat Reader)

Functional Specification:
The Functional Specification is completed once the Requirements have been established. This is a synopsis of the application's functionality, and is used to help the developer meet the solution's requirements. Once the client approves this, development can begin.

Development:
In the Development phase, the actual building of the application takes place. The developer may have additional questions at this point, regarding details of the project. Part way through this phase, the developer may show the client one or more demos of the software, to get feedback on interface and functionality.

Testing:
Once the solution has been developed, thorough testing is implemented. This begins in our offices, with exhaustive crash testing -- trying to make the solution fail to find its weaknesses and fix them. Then, we repair whatever bugs we may find and move the application to your facility for further real-world testing with key personnel. Once the application is working to everyone's satisfaction, the solution can be implemented department- or enterprise-wide. Throughout this process, we're there to support you.

Training:
We understand your company's concerns when making a change to a new way of doing things, so let us smooth the way for you. User friendly. That's us. Our applications are easy to learn. And we are there to give your staff the patient, friendly, and thorough training they need when transitioning to a new system.

Ongoing Support:
At The Alchemy Group, we will be there for you. We offer several technical support plans to suit the way you like to do business. We can install remote access software to allow us to support your users more effectively, and also offer on-site support options. We prefer to establish long-term relationships with our customers. We want to be a part of your business family, and make you a part of ours!

 

"Designing a good database is not a function of knowledge, skill, or training. Only one factor is universally essential to the process: listening."
– Bob Shockey

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