Retail Company Expands to Multiple Sites

A San Francisco-based retail company with 15 employees manages its business with a FileMaker database. The company recently acquired an additional location in Denver with 10 employees. To extend database access to the Denver office the company contracted with the phone company for point-to-point DSL service between the two cities.

Problem

Unfortunately, remote access was slow and expensive, especially when the overhead of VPN encryption was added to the mix. The company's confidence in the system was very low, productivity was down. The company evaluated many alternative solutions but these required either the implementation of a costly new database in addition to the T1, or additional remote access software which would increase ongoing costs. Either approach would have taken significant time and company IT resources outside of FileMaker Pro development, while not solving the immediate problems the company was experiencing.

Solution

SyncDeK was installed into the existing FileMaker Pro database in San Francisco running on FileMaker Server. A copy of the database was deployed on another FileMaker Server in Denver. SyncDeK Server is set up in San Francisco to automatically and continuously synchronize databases at each location every 10 minutes.

How It Works

SyncDeK provides super efficient replication by sending only modified record data. SyncDeK also encrypts all data without adding overhead to end-user client sessions, and never requires direct outside connectivity to either server. Plus data replication continuously backs up data-- making recovery easier and more complete. In the event of a server crash SyncDeK log files can be used to bring a recent backup file up-to-date within minutes of the crash.

Results

Due to the new design the system is no longer overloaded and the company has not experienced a system failure since the SyncDeK integration. Access times are very fast for end users, productivity is high and confidence in the system is way up. The company is planning to start sharing data with their manufacturing office in China, and SyncDeK will seamlessly synchronize a third FileMaker Server with the other two.

Product: Multi-Server Starter Kit

Proven Benefits

• Reduced costs for data-communications & administration.
• Improved productivity for remote office staff.
• Enhanced security from continuous backup of dynamic data.
• Leveraged existing resources, keeping database in FileMaker Pro.