fmAccounting Link (Xero Edition) Videos Available

We’ve been busy recording a number of new videos that demonstrate how to integrate the fmAccounting Link (Xero Edition) solution and how easy it is to get up and running. The first three of these videos are now online and cover:

  • Private Application Setup and Authentication with Xero
  • Downloading Accounts, Tax Rates and Tracking Categories
  • Create an Invoice in FileMaker and Upload to Xero

You can find a list of all the videos on our fmAccounting Link (Xero Edition) Videos page. We’ll be recording new videos and updating this page over the next few weeks – let us know if there’s a particular video you would like us to record.

Using SMS Marketing to Drive Revenue

There’s an interesting article on the Xero blog about using SMS marketing to drive revenue – How to increase sales on a budget.

The article illustrates how an Auckland hair salon came invested $45 on an SMS marketing campaign to their existing customers to promote another one of their services that generated $24,000 in short-term revenue and up to $451,955 in long-term revenue.

This demonstrates an effective and appropriate use of SMS marketing to your existing customers – something fmSMS integrated with your FileMaker solution was designed to do.

fmAccounting Link (Xero Edition) and FileMaker Pro v14

We’re pleased to report that fmAccounting Link (Xero Edition) v1 is compatible with FileMaker Pro/Pro Advanced v14 that was released today. We haven’t encountered any issues so far in our testing and have been able to send single and bulk messages successfully.

If you encounter any issues with fmAccounting Link (Xero Edition) v1 and FileMaker Pro v14 please let us know.

fmSMS and FileMaker Pro v14

We’re pleased to report that fmSMS v3 is compatible with FileMaker Pro/Pro Advanced v14 that was released today. We haven’t encountered any issues so far in our testing and have been able to send single and bulk messages successfully.

If you encounter any issues with fmSMS v3 and FileMaker Pro v14 please let us know.

Why SMS Marketing is Powerful

We came across an interesting article this week on the Flying Solo website listing 4 reasons why SMS marketing is powerful. The article is aimed at an Australian audience but the principles apply all around the world. Here are their 4 reasons why SMS marketing is so powerful:

  1. You have permission (an there’s no junk/spam folder on mobile phones for messages to get lost in)
  2. SMS has extremely high open rates (98% of text messages are read by recipients and 90% within 3 minutes of delivery)
  3. SMS gets to the point
  4. Conversion is incredibly high

You can read the full article here. You can get more information about our FileMaker 2 way SMS solution fmSMS on the dedicated fmSMS website.

FileMaker Success Pack Promotion – 10% of Bundle Packs

FileMaker Inc. have announced a new promotion for the current quarter – you can save 10% when purchasing a 5-Pack or 10-Pack bundle.

The FileMaker Success Pack is a great way to get everything you need to develop and deploy custom business solutions for your team. This bundle includes FileMaker Pro licenses, a FileMaker Pro Advanced license, a FileMaker Server license, and a download of the FileMaker Training Series: Advanced ebook. Save 10% if you act by March 26, 2015. Contact us for more details.

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FileMaker Xero Integration Video Available

We’ve just published our first video that demonstrates how you can integrate FileMaker with the Xero online accounting software.

You can watch below or directly on YouTube via this link.

Databuzz now Xero Approved Developer

Databuzz is pleased to announce that we are now a Xero Approved Developer.

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Like many of our customers we use FileMaker Pro to run our internal business processes and as a Customer Relationship Management solution – we’re tracking all our Customers, Invoices, Quotes etc in FileMaker. Earlier this year we decided to make the switch from MYOB to Xero for our accounting software – one of the main reasons we switched was the Xero API, which allows us to integrate FileMaker with Xero seamlessly, something we could never do before with MYOB, particularly on the Mac platform.

We love working with APIs and the Xero API  is no different – it’s well documented, has a great previewer feature and let’s us test API calls on a non production Xero file. We’ve performed a number of FileMaker to Xero integrations this year, starting with our own FileMaker CRM. We’ve been able to eliminate the previous double data entry of customers, invoices and payments in both FileMaker and our accounting software. Now we just enter everything in FileMaker and click a button to push the Customer, Invoice and Payment data directly to Xero.

If you would like more information about integrating FileMaker and Xero please visit out FileMaker Xero Integration page or contact us – we’ve built a simple FileMaker CRM database that we can use to demonstrate how you can exchange data between FileMaker and Xero so you can see this in action for yourself.

 

 

fmSMS 10% Off During FileMaker DevCon 2014

Databuzz will be exhibiting once again at the FileMaker Developer Conference 2014 where will be showing fmSMS v3.5 and how easy it is to send and receive SMS/TXT messages with FileMaker Pro, FileMaker Server, FileMaker WebDirect and FileMaker Go. If you’re attending DevCon make sure you stop by our booth for a demo of how fmSMS works or if have any questions about integrating SMS functionality into your existing FileMaker solution.

We’re also offering a special DevCon discount from now until the 1st August, 2014 – you can get 10% off fmSMS using our special DevCon purchase link at:

http://www.fmsms.com/devcon/

Even if you can’t make it to DevCon in person you can still take advantage of this offer. I look forward to catching up with as many attendees as possible – please stop by our booth and say hello.

Databuzz releases fmSMS v3.5 with FileMaker WebDirect Support

Databuzz today announced fmSMS v3.5, an upgrade to their award winning solution that lets you send and receive SMS/TXT messages from within FileMaker Pro.

fmSMS allows you to send an SMS from FileMaker Pro to almost any mobile phone in the world via one of the supported SMS Gateways, reaching over 860 mobile networks in more than 220 countries. SMS is great means of direct communication with customers, staff, suppliers, and students.

fmSMS v3.5 has been updated to support FileMaker Pro v13 and FileMaker WebDirect allowing access via a web browser on a desktop or laptop. fmSMS also includes support for sending messages from FileMaker Go running on the iPad or iPhone. Databuzz will be demonstrating fmSMS v3.5 at the 2014 FileMaker Developer Conference, to be held in San Antonio, Texas from July 28-31, 2014.

What’s New in v3.5

  • updated for FileMaker Pro v13
  • added support for FileMaker WebDirect
  • expanded supported SMS Gateways to over 50 providers internationally
  • added support for the new Perform Script On Server script step (requires FileMaker Server v13)
  • bulk SMS in FileMaker Pro v13 now uses the new List of summary field for faster performance
  • updated for FileMaker Go v13*

SMS is perfect for appointment reminders, phone messages, promotions, segmented marketing, school absence alerts, and password confirmations. With SMS you can reduce your costs and play less “telephone tag”.

fmSMS works with multiple SMS Gateway providers internationally and supports the following features**:

  • Send single and bulk SMS messages (messages are typically delivered in under 15 seconds)
  • Send long messages (greater than 160 characters)
  • Works with over 50 SMS Gateway providers internationally
  • Delayed Delivery – send a message now for delivery at a future time
  • Alphanumeric Sender ID –
  • Delivery Receipts – track the status of sent messages
  • Message Logging – track the history of all sent messages
  • Message templates – create an unlimited number of pro forma templates
  • 2 Way SMS – allow recipients to reply to messages and have them appear in fmSMS

“fmSMS is now easier to integrate into a customer’s existing FileMaker solution than ever,” said Andrew Duncan, Director of Databuzz. “We’ve simplified the licensing and included support for the entire FileMaker platform – you can now send an SMS from FileMaker Pro, FileMaker Go, FileMaker WebDirect or FileMaker Server.”

Availability, Pricing, and Compatibility

fmSMS v3.5 is available now from the fmSMS website at http://www.fmsms.com. A 14 day trial version is available for both Macintosh and Windows. Workgroup Licenses start at AUD $495.00. fmSMS requires FileMaker Pro v12 or FileMaker Pro v13.

Upgrade Information

fmSMS v3.5 is a free upgrade for owners of fmSMS v2/v3.

* FileMaker Go support requires the fmSMS file to be hosted by FileMaker Server

** Not all SMS Gateways support all features of fmSMS. Some features might incur additional charges by your selected SMS Gateway. Some features require hosting by FileMaker Server v12/v13 with Custom Web Publishing using the PHP API and a static IP address. See our website at http://www.fmsms.com for more details.

Media/Customer Contact:

Andrew Duncan

Phone: +61 418 468 103

sales@databuzz.com.au

http://www.fmsms.com

http://www.databuzz.com.au

About Databuzz: Databuzz is a long standing member is a member of the FileMaker Business Alliance and has been developing and deploying FileMaker solutions for clients in Australia and internationally since 1999. Our clients are individuals, small-medium businesses, government agencies and multi-national corporations. Databuzz was founded by Andrew Duncan, a Certified FileMaker 13 Developer. In 2010 Andrew presented a session at the annual FileMaker Developer Conference on integrating SMS/TXT Message Integration with FileMaker. For more information please visit our website at http://www.databuzz.com.au.

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